How To Create Art And a Life
Creativity or the process of creating always begins and ends with a question. “What am I going to create” and “Is it done?” As a creator or artist, one thing I’ve noticed over the years is everything I have ever made began with the question of “what to make?”. Then an unending series of questions that I had to answer and take action on to produce the creation. The Thing.
This is true for all human beings. It is also true that we are all creators and artists. We are made in the image and likeness of God. The Creator of all there is. When it comes to our personal lives we are the authors of our own books or story. We ask the question of what am I going to make today? everyday. What am I going to create? My moods, thoughts, feelings, manifestations, and actions all begin with that same question. This implies that WE are responsible for how our lives develop, change, grow, or diminish, and are created.
ARTWORK
With artwork, we decide or choose what to make. What medium? (a painting, sculpture, song, or writing). Each medium has its own collection of almost endless options to choose from. This can be overwhelming. But once begun the excitement builds. An example might be a drawing on paper. Will it be charcoal, pencil, crayons, or ink? The artist’s picks... Then what subject will it portray? Nature, people, objects, fantasy, love, anger, or simply beauty? The artist’s picks... Then how detailed should it be and approximately how long should the artist work on it? The artist picks… In our lives, we also pick who to hang out with, learn from, imitate, emulate, copy, model, and be influenced by. All of it goes into the creation that is “our lives”. These choices constitute creation or the process of creating not just Art but our life.
LIFE
In my life, I’ve created cool things. Photographs, sand sculptures, and faux rock projects or Things. Some have been better than others. I’ve also created times in my life or Experiences that have been better than others. All the while trying to answer the question of “what to make today” in a more positive, productive, effective, and beautiful way.
CONCLUSION
With a piece of art, we choose when to stop working on it even if it’s not really done. In life, we don’t. God does. In the meantime answering the daily question of what we will create today continues with added brushstrokes, colors, and textures, which are the incredible masterpiece of art that is your life and YOU!
- Dave :)