The Creative Process
Where does the process actually begin for artists? For me, it may begin in a dream, or a nightmare; on a mountain top, or during the steep, sweaty, uphill climb. Maybe the drive to work. Is it the journey or the destination that manifests it?
Fun fact: Historians agree that Leonardo da Vinci commenced the painting of Mona Lisa in 1503, working on it for approximately four years and keeping it himself for some years after.
I am currently working on my next hanging mobile. Trying to substantiate a clear vision of what I want to portray. But just like everything else, it's a process. As I sand and hammer and paint and file, the vision manifests on its own; with its intricacies that say so much to some, and nothing at all to others.
Many an artist have written about the journey of creating. It goes something like this: there's the idea or vision in your minds eye, the beginning steps of gathering supplies., the first few paint strokes, hammering, annealing, firing, etc., the mulling over and second guessing of the piece, the fine tuning and final details, and finally, you discover your magnificent creation.
Lets look at this step by step in an attempt to give readers insight on what an artist actually experiences and endures during the journey
- the idea in your minds eye -
You can see it. It may not be clearly defined, maybe its an abstract image in your mind. Something that excites you, something you want your audience to discover about the intimate, hidden parts of your soul.
- the beginning steps of gathering supplies -
Paint, colors choices, materials, found objects, cut outs; the options here are infinite.
- the first few actions steps -
The throwing of clay, sawing of metal, the first few brush strokes, meditating; whatever your medium.
- mulling over the piece -
The piece is well underway. This is where many artists begin to doubt their work. The thought, "this is shit", can pick at you with a distressing urge to chuck it all and start anew. You hate it, you love it, you hate it, and so forth. Hang in there, this is part of the process.
- fine tuning and final details -
You start to love it! You can see now that it is something you want to share with the world. You do final touch ups to make it just perfect; adding highlights here, texture there, a little more filing, a bit more hammering
These are just brief details of the artistic process. There is actually so much more an artist does in order to design and create their work of art. And even SO much more goes into the process of getting it to a place where it can be found and seen by the masses. This may be a good topic for my next blog; The Infinite Number of Steps it takes to successfully sell your art online.
My point is that creating and selling art is no easy feat and can amount to a full time job plus overtime. Yet, it is all more than worth it to be blessed with the opportunity to express yourself creatively, gift the world with your artistic expressions, and maybe simultaneously be able to pay the rent and eat. Ha!