Interesting question.

A lot of great things have been created on the back of serious strife. The "Starving Artist" thing. The Blues is a case in point here. Wonderful music that lifts you when you're down but originally written under a cloud of oppression.

Beethoven was stone deaf when he wrote the 9th Symphony and the Missa Solemnis and we all appreciate what works of genius they are. I'd go as far as saying that the 9th symphony is one of the greatest achievments in Western civilisation.

But great work also comes from periods of great joy.

Jon Anderson seems to me to be one of the most contented people I've ever met and he comes up with some of the most beautiful music I've ever heard.

The same thing applies to Literature, Painting, Poetry and Sculpture.

So in answer to your question I'd have to say Yes and No. You need inspiration to create but that doesn't always have to be negative inspiration. It can be very positive too.

The American poet Joyce Kilmer (1886-1918) famously wrote about trees having been inspired by their beauty.

I THINK that I shall never see
A poem lovely as a tree.

A tree whose hungry mouth is prest
Against the sweet earth's flowing breast;

A tree that looks at God all day,
And lifts her leafy arms to pray;

A tree that may in summer wear
A nest of robins in her hair;

Upon whose bosom snow has lain;
Who intimately lives with rain.

Poems are made by fools like me,
But only God can make a tree.

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Beautiful and inspired by beauty, not angst.