Conceptual constraints on creativity: A case study of an undergraduate visual artist

Abstract

Constraints are often viewed as potential inhibitors on creative thinking and making. However, current research suggests that there may be enhancing impacts of constraints on creativity. The current paper presents a case study of one undergraduate mixed media artist (the author) across a series of eight artist trials where for four trials the completed artworks were conceptually constrained (that is, based on a topic specified by an external source) and four trials were unconstrained (that is, based on a topic autonomously generated by the artist). Ratings anonymously provided by peers, blinded to the research question, revealed that certain aspects of creativity tied to novelty are heightened in conceptually constrained visual arts outputs (e.g., surprise and playfulness) when compared to unconstrained, which, instead, tended to show heightened harmoniousness and other qualities. This suggests that conceptual constraints on visual artist outputs can increase peer rated creativity defined by novelty and originality