The Theory of Artistry

Mar 08, 2008 - 07:35 AM PST

An artist is the creator of a world no one has been to before. Even if they draw, paint or photograph from life; they are still creating it from a new perspective, a new minds eye. There will always be those who pretend to be an artist, those who cannot see the different perspective. They may be able to draw, paint, sculpt, photograph, dance, or play music mechanically. That does not mean that they understand what they are doing. They don't understand that they are a creator of not only the piece, but of worlds unseen. These worlds need to be respected, not exploited.

Too many artists manipulate the worlds instead of allowing the worlds to thrive on their own. This may sound like an oxymoron but please think about it. How many of your artist friends look at what they make and just give up because they don’t like it. They are giving up on a world, on a thought that will never be finished until they get back out there and do it. As well are the artists that over do their works. They finish something, say it is done, feel it is done, but for some reason they continue to work on it. One reason some continue is because someone else said they didn’t think it was good enough, others because it doesn’t fit some agenda that they feel they must achieve. Why take the steps away from this world rather then accept it the way it is.

This does not mean that if someone takes a step away from a piece thinking it is done, and then later seeing that, in fact, it was not done and completing it is abusing the world. As a matter of fact these are the artists that are listening to the world. Every true artist knows the feeling, “it looks great, but I know it needs more. It needs something.” This thought has plagued a true artist for days, weeks, months, in some unfortunate cases years. These are the artists that respect the worlds they create, the artists that have their heart and soul in the worlds, in their pieces.

Every artist should strive to get to this point in their work. To be able feel what they are creating, feel for what they are creating, feel with what they are creating. Once an artist of any kind has mastered this they have reached a fulfillment in their passion that many try to reach, and even more pretend to achieve.