Artists Are Inventors Too: How Curiosity Becomes Creativity (and Innovation)

This blog was inspired by today—it’s National Inventors Day.

When we think of inventors, we often picture labs, blueprints, and big, technical ideas.
But invention doesn’t start with machines—it starts with curiosity.

National Inventors’ Day honors inventors of the past, celebrates the creators of the present, and encourages the architects of the future. Observed on February 11th, the day recognizes the genius behind innovation and design, while also exploring the stories behind some of history’s most unexpected inventions.

And here’s the part we don’t talk about enough: artists have always been inventors.

How Artists as the Original Inventors

Long before patents and prototypes, artists were experimenting, observing, and asking “what if?”

Artists invent new ways to see the world. They test ideas through materials, form, and process. Many of history’s greatest breakthroughs sit at the intersection of art, science, and imagination.

Here are just a few artists who were also inventors in their own right:

1. Leonardo da Vinci – Artist, engineer, visionary (link to Wikipedia)

2. Buckminster Fuller – Designer, inventor, systems thinker (link to Wikipedia)

3. Hedy Lamarr – Actress, inventor, and co-creator of frequency-hopping technology (link to Wikipedia)

Their work reminds us that invention isn’t only about technology—it’s about creative thinking.

How Art Builds Inventive Thinkers

When we create art or set out to make something, the first thing we reach for is materials.
Those materials can be anything: paper, scrap wood, leaves, glue, fabric, found objects.

Through art, we explore:

• Textures

• Patterns

• Shapes

• Color

• Structure
  
  

This kind of experimentation naturally:

• Encourages problem-solving

• Builds confidence in trying new ideas

• Teaches that mistakes are part of discovery

These are the exact same skills inventors rely on.

DIY Paper Heart Doily: A Mini Invention Lab for Kids

One of my favorite ways to teach inventive thinking is through simple materials—especially ones you already have. Creating with what’s on hand keeps curiosity moving instead of coming to a standstill just to buy supplies (a real creativity mood-stopper).

This paper heart doily craft is a throwback to my own childhood—making Valentine’s Day cards for friends and family. I remember doing this during my Girl Scout days, when we created cards together and delivered them during a breakfast visit to an assisted living home. The seniors loved them—and we loved making them.

With just paper, folding, and scissors, kids get to experiment, discover, and invent.

Supplies

• Paper (white or colored)

• Scissors

• Markers, crayons, or colored pencils

• Glue stick or tape

• Optional: stickers, glitter, scrap paper

• Valentine's Day Decorative Heart-Shaped Paper Doilies

Directions

1. Choose your starting point
   You can make your own doily from paper using the steps below, or use store-bought Valentine’s Day heart-shaped paper doilies if you’d like a quicker option.

2. Fold the paper (if making your own)
   Start with a square piece of paper. Fold it in half, then fold it in half again to create a smaller square or triangle.

3. Draw half a heart
   Along the folded edge, draw half of a heart shape. This will form a full heart when opened.

4. Cut and experiment
   Cut along the heart outline. Try cutting small shapes along the edges—dots, triangles, or curves—to create decorative “doily” details.

5. Open and discover
   Carefully unfold the paper to reveal your heart doily. Every design will be different—and that’s the magic.

6. Turn it into a card
   Fold another piece of paper in half to create a card base. Glue your handmade doily or a pre-made store-bought doily to the front.

7. Decorate and personalize
   Add color, patterns, drawings, or stickers. Inside the card, write a message or draw something special for the recipient.

   
   

Creating the Future, One Curious Idea at a Time

Artists aren’t just makers—they’re thinkers, explorers, and inventors. When we give kids (and adults) the space to create, experiment, and play, we’re nurturing the very skills that shape the future.

So this National Inventors Day, let’s celebrate curiosity, creativity, and the artists who have been inventing all along.

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