Defining Your Art
November 22, 2009 by Douglas
What is it that you do when it comes to your art? Perform music, paint, draw, dance, write, act, film, edit and post – some other art form? Your aim is probably to develop something aesthetically pleasing but is there a recent theme that you’re moved to work from?
Why so inquisitive? Well – it intrigues me to know what it is that other artists do, how you might define your own art, and even your approach to the creative process.
I really want to encourage you to share your thoughts on this.
My guess is when we look back through the posted comments; they’ll reveal a descriptive array of thinking that resembles an ornate fabric of creative diversity woven together, which reflects what inspires us to do what we do.
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well, I cannot define my own art and a way of self-expression. God gave me so much talents… But, i think He didn’t give me an ability to tell about myself:)
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Years ago, as a theatre major at Kean University, I had a professor, James Murphy, he would say, It’s much more difficult to be a great actor or write a great Broadway hit when you’re young because you haven’t had much life experience. When you are young and anxious to start your career in theatre this is not what you wanted to hear. But he wasn’t saying this to discourage anyone; on the contrary, I think he would be pleased if you tried to prove him wrong. What he wanted the students to know was the process of creating great art is cumulative, the complexity of characterization comes from living life, observing, and embracing people’s idiosyncrasies.
I am a storyteller-I paint stories! For me, life is the greatest source of subject material. Things I read, stories people share with me or stories from my own life fuel my imagination. I love intertwining tension with dramatic devices such as satire, paradox, irony, and suspense. The basic ingredients for the making of a great novel, play or movie also make for an excellent painting.
I spend as many hours in my office reading and writing as I do in my studio.
I have an art journal where I keep notes, magazine clippings and cryptic sketches. I almost never complete a full sketch; I work the composition entirely in my head. It is funny, sometimes I get very strong images and I know exactly how I am going to complete a painting; other times an idea ruminates for months, maybe years before finally becoming a painting.
This process is infuriating to my husband who believes that by sketching I could work out all the problems before getting to the canvas. However, if I spend too much time working out the sketch on paper I exorcised the need to put it on canvas. I do not know why this happens any more than I know why I need to express myself with painting. It is a mystery to me. The creative process is different for everyone.
The only way I can achieve creative nirvana is to live life to its fullest, continue to learn, and persevere over life’s hardships with a positive attitude, and the ideas start flowing.