Is there such a thing as wrong design? So much of our creative activity is the result of our perceptions and anxieties about ourselves and artwork in general. If we are preoccupied with whether or not we are sufficiently prepared to do art ... (For example, I often encounter students who exclaim: “I am not artistic …”, “I don’t know much about art”… or they focus on “I didn’t go to art school”, etc …). I have found that these preoccupations inevitably create profound barriers to creative endeavors. So too, anxiety about being “right” or “wrong” inhibits our creative ability. By giving value to the idea of right and wrong relative to creative activity, it is as if we are carrying around weights, which are bound to inhibit spontaneous movement!
Ask yourself ... Can having a dream be right or wrong? Can we have a right dream? Better yet, can we make a right or wrong dream? If we evaluate dreams along a right/wrong continuum, we are measuring with a totally worthless instrument! Instead, we can examine our dreams with intensity or integrity. Or, we may choose to ignore them … but each confrontation with dreams has its own rewards. So too, with any deliberate act of creativity! Whenever we create, we need to get beyond the criteria of right and wrong when “judging” our work. Instead, we might substitute something more beneficial, and certainly more meaningful, by attempting to evaluate the “trueness” of our work.
To believe in the rightness or wrongness of a work of art is inherently debilitating to your creative process, and to your feelings of self worth! This notion of right and wrong design is a learned construct; a notion that has come from outside ourselves, not from within! Generally, it is determined by local customs and tastes, and it always sets us up to be either a winner or a loser. Not surprisingly, it creates intense anxiety, as this notion requires that we look to others to know who we are and how we are doing!
So … throw out your judgmental art critic … give them "the boot"! Now you can begin to allow yourself to be original and spontaneous! I guarantee that over time, you will find that you have become more productive and that you engage in more spontaneous and creative activities You just have to drop the weighty values of others!
So let’s begin that liberating process …
When you engage in any creative endeavor, avoid judgmental thoughts and words, especially during the initial phases of creating the work. Keep your mind open; have a “let’s see where this goes” attitude. Allow yourself to play and experiment; set aside preconceptions, specific expectations and conclusions!
As you approach completion, rather than judge, carefully and fully describe what has occurred and what you see … that Creativity Journal might come in handy right about now! Although this may sound like an unimportant or possibly silly exercise, just the opposite is true … it is an extremely powerful intellectual process! By reflective describing, you, in essence, provide yourself with feedback. This feedback may surprise you with the observation of subtle qualities of the work that you may have never noticed! This exercise, is, in fact, vital to all subsequent work that you may do … it is part of how we grow as artists!
While describing, it is important to remember here, that your purpose is not to be looking for ways to improve the work (there goes that judgmental, fault-finding critic again!). The focus here should be loving observation … looking and “seeing” for the first time. “See” the piece as if you were caressing an infant! Observe “your baby” in every detail! Think of it as “active seeing”!
By now, you are probably asking yourself … "so, just what is the purpose of this active seeing?" Am I right!?! Well, to begin, consider that just because we have created something it doesn’t mean that we have “seen” all of its complexity of meanings. We often do things consciously, while unconsciously inner expression seeps through. Even the marks of our hands or tools can carry meaning!!! And … it is often these subtleties that go unobserved … even though we, as well as, others are “aware “of them on a more visceral level. So, the first benefit of this exercise is that it makes us more sensitive to, and aware of our patterns of expression.
Obviously, the more we look, the more we “see”. So, in a very real sense, our own creations become opportunities for us to understand and learn about new aspects of our inner selves. Each work of art that we create is dense with meaning … and the greater our awareness of its subtleties, the richer our experience of the act of creation, as well as, our appreciation of its products.
“Every new creative enterprise -- as it unfolds, probes unknown terrain, and tests newly acquired strengths -- is initially fragile. If the shadow of judgment falls too early and too heavily on barely emergent newness, it invariably finds itself deficient. We must protect the emergent from the too-wise, too-informed eye of critical judgment. If not, we risk squashing awkward but promising shoots before they can develop to maturity."
(London, P., 1989)
I couldn’t agree more! Now, GO PLAY! Explore like a child! Don’t worry about the final project … enjoy the process! Everything will fall into place, in time. The most important thing you can do to develop your artistic vision is to begin by asking yourself: Is this an honest work of art? Have I disclosed what I know and how I feel? How deeply did I allow myself to explore and express myself? Have I explored any new “territory”? Did I take any chances? Any risks? Does this work resonate within me, or with what I think others expect? Does the work ring false? Or did I get close to the center of myself?
If you are true to your inner vision, your art will reflect an authenticity of feeling. Contrary to “popular” belief, a work of art is not just about how it looks; rather it is primarily about its depth of meaning and its ability to resonate in the hearts and minds of others.
So get out in that studio and think about the words of Picasso: “When you create art, you create the world!”
Till next time, Glow Bright!
Liz
