Creativity involves original thought through a process with four distinct stages: investigation, incubation, inspiration, and verification. This is exemplified through Claude Monet, who was fascinated by haystacks in different seasons near his home. He went through the stages of initially investigating and sketching the haystacks, mulling over ideas during incubation, having an "Aha moment" of inspiration to capture their essence through a series of paintings, and verifying his original thought through the completed works. Creativity can also be seen in improvisational jazz music, where musicians like John Scofield explore new ideas through experimentation with familiar musical themes and formats.