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08/10/2005: "Source of Inspiration, Part I"

A work of art captures the moment, the emotion, the thought, empowering it with an eternal meaning that touches minds and souls of others. An artist translates ideas into his/her personal language of expressions, shapes and colours that can be read by somebody outside the immediate circle. We react to work of art because we are familiar with the emotion it represents. We had experienced something similar ourselves or we are weary and cautions about possibility of coming across it one day. It makes our imagination race ahead while our memory retraces moments past.



An artist chooses images and styles we see in his/her work. The more unique and individual they are the more spontaneous and consuming all is our reaction. But how does the artist decide to which image/idea give the priority, which one is allowed into the world of his/her artistic expressions? The life is so intense, filled with emotions to the brim. How to capture that powerful image, that precious moment? Some artist keep diaries, use some other forms of documenting world swirling around them, others do a lot of developmental work or employ cross-discipline and cross-genre techniques. Artist draws inspiration from his/her personal experiences and interpretations of the surrounds, even if he/she can point to a at first glance seemingly unrelated and detached event, piece of information, etc. as a source for a certain image.

Does everything that happens in the artist’s world eventually reappear in some way or other in his/ her body of work, being documented and observed in some shape or form? Is there really a part, a tiny corner of artist’s being to which Graham Green referred as “a chip of ice”, due to which an artist even in most dramatic and most private personal moments is able to evaluate the situation as a possible material to be used in future work of art. Images and experiences settle down into some creative bank from where they can be retrieved when needed to be transformed and adapted to the required style.

However we would like those images to be honest and first hand, very real and as personal as possible. We want to see the soul in the work of art. Are we asking too much – to put inner and secret self on the show? It’s an emotional ride isn’t? The reality is that the more open and honest is language use by the artist the more direct and wider lines of communication are available in the creative process. Is there a cost to it that we are not always aware of? Yes, I feel we need to talk about it a bit more.

Replies: 3 Comments

on Saturday, August 13th, Jillian said

Whether it is a conscious attempt or not, this will always occur, the artist's essence will seep onto canvas.(We will be confonted with both the ugly and beautiful aspects of ourselves, even if we are not purposely sitting in an emotional space to create.) How Ironic that we sell this? (our essence) Ive been continuously working on a self series, oddly enough confrontation of self brings me away from self. However although viewers can derive some familiarity from what I express I feel that the world (my subjective world) I am expressing is something that NO viewer can completely experience, no matter how hard I attempt to portray my inner reality and bring them there. This leads to feelings of extreme lonliness. I am only 20 years of age, and already I am experiencing this, So yes, there is that price to pay,But probably not more than the benefits creating provides. I most likely feel this lonliness because I have been exposed to few people/true artists that have been to planes I have been to Have you ever experienced this?. I am continuously longing for my niche ( A hard thing to find on LI) I greatly appreciate your thoughtful blog, as it is not often I hear people speak in such a genuine manner. More people should speak like this, as speaking is also an art.

on Thursday, August 11th, Hyacinthe Baron said

Here is the bottom line: I keep saying it over and over...to me visual art is about seeing...absorbing...translating, and then in an act I call transmigrational...creating an impression drawn from the inner being.
Duchamp said it to me...one must need the tools to accomplish this...one cannot deviate if one doesn't have the skills in the first place.

In other words, drawing is the language that shades the artist's emotions and allows for expression...the foundation on which all color is built...

Is there a cost to the artist? You ask it. Of course and well worth the price of admission...to be a oner in a world jammed with people...to stand alone and out from the maddening crowd...to receive the rewards of admiration from others, to be beloved for what you have created and to be able to leave somethng in this world that will linger long after you are gone...a drawing, a painting, a print, something tangible that you made.
The IRS thinks the only value of such a work is the cost...of the materials, the paper or the canvas, the bit of paint squeezed from the tube...but we know the passion for making art and the creative process are more valuable than anyone but an artist will ever know.

on Wednesday, August 10th, Vlad said

Talk's cheap! Just do it!