Creativity is at its best for me in twilight (metaphorically speaking).
Very bright lights/loud sounds = Make me purely receptive and outer focused (all senses are basically receptive in nature, right)
Very low light/low sounds = Make me sleepy and comatose.
So when there is just the right amount of visual/sound intensity,
I can simultaneously access the inner and outer spaces,
And let the outer cues stimulate the inner space well.
The thresholds of sensitivity may however vary from person to person.
Creativity is an “inside -> out” action.
While, sensing is an “outside -> in” action.
There is ‘sensory appetite/hunger’.
When that is adequately satisfied,
Naturally, there is a sort of retreat to the dark to digest/process it all.
This processing is then what I think is often the source of creative works.