I have a child who has tested with a GAI in the highly gifted range, and he has been drawing since he could hold a pencil/crayon etc. He draws creatures, fish, solar/planetary systems, whatever he is currently interested in. He is incredibly prolific, drawing at least 25 drawings a day often more (that said, his current media of choice is a pencil, so he doesn't spend any time coloring them in). His are not always accurate, but most of his drawings are original creations out of his head, so I don't really worry about that.
So yes, I think art and imagination can be part of it. Sometimes creative kids have a hard time with regular school, especially if they would prefer to draw things that they are imagining than the things that the school project requires that they draw. Or the things they are imagining in their heads are more compelling than what the teacher is teaching.. etc.
