Definition and Motivation

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As artists and creative types, we all work on many projects, sometimes in a variety of mediums. Our work encompasses the vastness of our experiences, our dreams, our sorrows, our search, and how we choose to see, comment on, and impact the world. However, we often become known for or associated with one particular project, potentially losing some of the depth of the work as a whole and, at the worst, leading us to get stuck in a rut of creating the same type of art again and again because it is expected/profitable. One of the things I love about teaching is seeing students experiment and have breakthroughs. Many are still defining their artistic vision and voice. They are realizing their passions, they are excited, and they are willing to experiment and challenge themselves beyond preconceptions.

Too often we lose this sense of play and freedom when we grow up, graduate, or decide to make art a career choice. If left too long, this can stagnate into a lack of inspiration or a type of creative block. In The Creative Habit, Twyla Tharp wrote about being in a rut:

“It’s going to happen sometimes: Despite all the good habits you’ve developed, the preparation rituals, the organizational tools, the techniques for scratching out pre-ideas and actual ideas, there will come a time when your creativity fails you. You stare at the canvas, the screen, the keyboard, the empty room - and it refuses to meet your eyes.”

Then there is the rut of being defined by a particular type of work you have done in the past, which may start out as accolades, but can, over time, build up into walls of definitions and expectations that keep you confined by what you have done in the past.

Sometimes it takes patience to wait for the next inspiration, the next influx of creative mojo that will get a project back on track. Often reframing the “problem,” a change of scenery (physically or mentally), and finding ways to create in other aspects of your life (so you do not focus on this lack) will help the process work through to its next phase. However, if, like me, patience is not your strongest virtue, or you have a deadline, or you just want to have some fun, I challenge you to remember why you began making art in the first place. I’m serious. Stop and really think about it. What is the driving force behind your need to create?

If you need a place to begin, think about:
Your favorite contemporary and favorite historic photographers/artists.
Artists that work with a similar subject matter to yours but in a different medium.
The first photograph you remember looking at and why it made an impression.
Your favorite author.
The book that was most influential in your adolescence life.
The music you listen to when you are creating.
What you do when you feel stressed (going for a walk or a drive, watching a movie, meditating, cooking, etc.)
The main colors in your home.
Your favorite time of day.
What you notice first when you look through the viewfinder.
The impact and importance of the tactile experience of your work.
How the change in season affects your work (and your mood).
Which of the five senses besides sight compels you most to create.
The emotions that you feel when you are most inspired.
How comfortable you are being vulnerable in your art.
How your physical environment shapes your inspiration.
Adjectives to describe your lifestyle.
Magazines, newspapers, or blogs you read on a weekly or monthly basis.

All of these are elements of life that inspire how and why you create and running through the list may spark a reminder of something you need to try.

And, back to the earlier question, why do you do what you do? What is the motivation at the core of your work? Defining this beyond a specific image or body of work will allow you to find the connections between everything that you do - every preparation, rut, inspiration, and success. This is different for each of us, but immensely important to know.

“[An artist] is a political being, constantly aware of the heart breaking, passionate, or delightful things that happen in the world, shaping himself completely in their image. Painting is not done to decorate apartments. It is an instrument of war.” ― Pablo Picasso

The definition of art and its place in the world is constantly evolving, something we clearly see in photography which has been redefined over and over since its inception. Rather than debate what tools can or cannot be used to create art, where it belongs, what it is supposed to mean, buck the trend and just go out and create. Push the boundaries. Find the medium and the expression that works for you. Experiment and try things out until you find your place. Then keep experimenting.

Keeping all of this in mind, I give you your homework for the week (to be discussed in our Wednesday Round Table discussion). Create a photograph that shows what inspires you and write a few words about it. Show us the physical thing, place, person, or take this in a different direction and use personal metaphor to describe your motivation.

(For me, the sensory experience of cooking and the community that it involves were some of my earliest inspiration. Which means you will likely be treated to my personal take on artsy food shots on Wednesday.)

So, what will you reveal to us this week?

Definition and Motivation

3266092786_ebd4ea01be_o.jpg

As artists and creative types, we all work on many projects, sometimes in a variety of mediums. Our work encompasses the vastness of our experiences, our dreams, our sorrows, our search, and how we choose to see, comment on, and impact the world. However, we often become known for or associated with one particular project, potentially losing some of the depth of the work as a whole and, at the worst, leading us to get stuck in a rut of creating the same type of art again and again because it is expected/profitable. One of the things I love about teaching is seeing students experiment and have breakthroughs. Many are still defining their artistic vision and voice. They are realizing their passions, they are excited, and they are willing to experiment and challenge themselves beyond preconceptions.

Too often we lose this sense of play and freedom when we grow up, graduate, or decide to make art a career choice. If left too long, this can stagnate into a lack of inspiration or a type of creative block. In The Creative Habit, Twyla Tharp wrote about being in a rut:

“It’s going to happen sometimes: Despite all the good habits you’ve developed, the preparation rituals, the organizational tools, the techniques for scratching out pre-ideas and actual ideas, there will come a time when your creativity fails you. You stare at the canvas, the screen, the keyboard, the empty room - and it refuses to meet your eyes.”

Then there is the rut of being defined by a particular type of work you have done in the past, which may start out as accolades, but can, over time, build up into walls of definitions and expectations that keep you confined by what you have done in the past.

Sometimes it takes patience to wait for the next inspiration, the next influx of creative mojo that will get a project back on track. Often reframing the “problem,” a change of scenery (physically or mentally), and finding ways to create in other aspects of your life (so you do not focus on this lack) will help the process work through to its next phase. However, if, like me, patience is not your strongest virtue, or you have a deadline, or you just want to have some fun, I challenge you to remember why you began making art in the first place. I’m serious. Stop and really think about it. What is the driving force behind your need to create?

If you need a place to begin, think about: ·       Your favorite contemporary and favorite historic photographers/artists. ·       Artists that work with a similar subject matter to yours but in a different medium. ·       The first photograph you remember looking at and why it made an impression. ·       Your favorite author. ·       The book that was most influential in your adolescence life. ·       The music you listen to when you are creating. ·       What you do when you feel stressed (going for a walk or a drive, watching a movie, meditating, cooking, etc.) ·       The main colors in your home. ·       Your favorite time of day. ·       What you notice first when you look through the viewfinder. ·       The impact and importance of the tactile experience of your work. ·       How the change in season affects your work (and your mood). ·       Which of the five senses besides sight compels you most to create. ·       The emotions that you feel when you are most inspired. ·       How comfortable you are being vulnerable in your art. ·       How your physical environment shapes your inspiration. ·       Adjectives to describe your lifestyle. ·       Magazines, newspapers, or blogs you read on a weekly or monthly basis.

All of these are elements of life that inspire how and why you create and running through the list may spark a reminder of something you need to try.

And, back to the earlier question, why do you do what you do? What is the motivation at the core of your work? Defining this beyond a specific image or body of work will allow you to find the connections between everything that you do - every preparation, rut, inspiration, and success. This is different for each of us, but immensely important to know.

“[An artist] is a political being, constantly aware of the heart breaking, passionate, or delightful things that happen in the world, shaping himself completely in their image. Painting is not done to decorate apartments. It is an instrument of war.” ― Pablo Picasso

The definition of art and its place in the world is constantly evolving, something we clearly see in photography which has been redefined over and over since its inception. Rather than debate what tools can or cannot be used to create art, where it belongs, what it is supposed to mean, buck the trend and just go out and create. Push the boundaries. Find the medium and the expression that works for you. Experiment and try things out until you find your place. Then keep experimenting.

Keeping all of this in mind, I give you your homework for the week (to be discussed in our Wednesday Round Table discussion). Create a photograph that shows what inspires you and write a few words about it. Show us the physical thing, place, person, or take this in a different direction and use personal metaphor to describe your motivation.

(For me, the sensory experience of cooking and the community that it involves were some of my earliest inspiration. Which means you will likely be treated to my personal take on artsy food shots on Wednesday.)

So, what will you reveal to us this week?

Action & Reaction

"Art is not only a form of action, it is a form of social action. For art is a type of communication, and when it enters the environment it produces its effects just as any other form of action does.” ~ Mark Rothko

I spend a lot of time asking people what they want to do with their lives and their art.

This may be a byproduct of being a teacher, or the reason why I have a passion for the profession in the first place, but one way or another it is a question that comes up daily and one I am genuinely interested in answering. It is also a question I ask myself frequently. Why do I do what I do (and what is it, exactly, that I am doing)?

The answer continues to change and to shift with every experience, with every meeting, with every image, and yet I know that ultimately I create because I have to. There is no choice for me - it is a physical, mental, and emotional need and I begin to feel crazy when I am not actively engaged in creating work. The medium and process may shift, but the act of creation, and the desire to discuss art, life, and the implication of our actions and choices remains constant.

Art opens doors of connection and communication, allowing a shift in perspective, encouraging people to see in a slightly different way, to be open to previously unacknowledged possibilities. There is an understanding that we all see and create differently and thus we are able to be more open to seeing another’s perspective than in any other form of dialogue or discourse. Art breaks down barriers and becomes an equalizer, an opener. Whether it is loud and boisterous or subtle and unassuming, art changes the world.

There is power in any act of creation, of any action. I ask you to think about not only what you create but also your intentions, and then to think about the consequences. For too long I have heard artists talk about work that is created with no clear intent, work that does not take responsibility for itself. Perhaps there are times when a rose is simply a rose, and surface beauty may be the only goal, but the art that I am drawn to create and to admire has teeth. Meaning. It challenges its creator and asks something from viewers - to engage, to question, to think, to go deeper. Whether I like it, whether I agree with it isn’t as important as the experience of interaction and the possibility of expansion. As artists it is our responsibility to create work with personal meaning, to own our power, and to act thoughtfully and intentionally.

Art is not responsible for change, but it has the ability to open consciousness in such a way that conversation, connection, and compassion can flourish. Understanding this power opens the world of art, and thus the world, to more and more possibilities.

Don’t limit yourself by what you think you can and cannot do. Dare to imagine and dream and honestly ask and answer the question - why do you do what you do? And how can you do more?

Feel free to comment here - I would love to hear about your motivation, your dreams, your intentions.