Is it Art, Yet?
When does creativity cross the line into being artwork?
Let’s start off by agreeing that there is just no way that we can all agree on what art is. For literal centuries, humans have been arguing about if certain pieces should be considered art or not. I like to imaging the first cave painting going up and the creator leaning back, looking at it and thinking, “Man! I nailed it!” while another member of the clan two rows back shouts out, “My daughter could do that and she’s only four!”
What I want to explore today is at what point in my own creative process I would consider what I am doing to be art. Of course, this comes with the caveat that I am my own harshest critic, and sometimes I questions if some of my pieces can ever be called art, but I will do my best to put all that aside and be open to the possibility that I am a better artist than I will allow myself to believe I am.
With that self-doubt drenched preamble out of the way, allow me to walk you through the steps I take to create a painting, and ask “Is it art, yet?” at every step of the way.
Step 1 - Planning
Ok, so let’s say I have an awesome idea for a painting. I can see it in my mind’s eye and it is amazing! I can picture the colors and movement and I can almost taste the contrast. It is a thing of beauty and I can experience all of it every time I close my eyes.
Is it art, yet?
Well, no. No it is not. Not at all. See, everyone, from the most esteemed creative to that CPA who swears that they do not have a creative bone in their body can use their imagination. We all have the ability to think of things and imagine. Unfortunately, at this point in human evolution, despite our handle on technology and understanding of the human mind, no one has the ability to experience my imagination while it is still inside my brain. Until I go through the act of actually using that imagination and creativity to make something on the outside of myself, I really don’t think that you can call it art.
Step 2 - Materials
Ok, so I have an amazing idea. Now is the time to gather the things that I need to birth that idea into the real world. For me, that means gathering together a blank canvas and paints and markers and probably some pouring medium and rubber gloves. I will probably pull an easel into the middle of the studio and turn on some music. At this point, I can look down at the pile of supplies and start to imagine how they will all come together to turn my vision into reality.
Is it art, yet?
Probably still no. While I can imagine an artist or two through the ages taking their supplies and attaching them to a blank canvas or empty frame and calling it something like “Painter’s Lament” or some other stupid title, the gathering together of creative medium does not, in itself, constitute art. It’s kind of weird to think, though, that this pile of objects are the exact same items that will come together to (hopefully) create art, yet without creative vision, they are just… stuff. Without creative vision, they are not art.
Step 3 - Creating
For me, painting is a multi step process, so let’s check it out at each stage and see if it can be considered art at any step along the way, shall we?
Step 3a - Blacking Out the Canvas
The first thing I do with a canvas is paint the whole thing a solid color. Most of the time this is all black. I use 1 1/2” deep canvases that are intended to be hung without frames (something that artsy people call a “gallery edge”). For this to work, I paint the sides of the canvas black along with the front. I work on a blacked out canvas because I would prefer spaces where my paint is thin to show as dark, rather than light. While this does cause issues when painting with colors that don’t cover so well (I’m talking about you, Yellow), it looks better than having white canvas peeking through. When I am done with this step, I have a completely black (or sometimes grey) canvas.
Is it art, yet?
While I have seen pieces of art that are completely white, black, or blue covered canvases sell for insane amounts to collectors, I am going to say with some certainty that NO, this is NOT art. While I will concede that the first person to present a blank canvas was offering something that had never been done before, this is not art. This is not creativity. Yeah, you may be able to sell it to someone, but the ability to get money for something you made does not make it art. No, a blacked out canvas is not art.
Step 3b - Poured Paint
The next step in my process is to mix the colors I have selected with pouring medium so it is thin and can be poured onto the canvas and swirled together to create moving colors. At this stage I am intentional about the colors that I have selected, how they pair up against the color next to them, where they go on the canvas and what they create. I am also very intentional about how bright the colors are. I have to remember that my next step will include drawing black lines all over the paint, so it will end up darker than the final painting. This step may end up looking like random, swirling paint, but I generally have a good idea what is going on.
Is it art, yet?
Well, there are times where I get done with the paint and think, “That’s looks pretty good!” The truth is, though, that it has not taken the steps that it needs in order to achieve the vision that I have for the piece. I watch a lot of artist videos on Instagram and there are many times where a painter will create a beautiful background in a painting with depth and texture and I will think, “That’s it, right? That’s done? Because it’s beautiful!” However, as I continue to watch, the artist adds to the piece and their creative vision is unveiled as they add more layers and the final piece is so much more than the initial step, regardless of my enjoyment of the early stages. So, no, I would not call it art, yet. It might be something that someone could view and enjoy, which is all great, and others may call it art, but as I see it, it is a step in the journey to a piece of art.
Step 3C - Lines
One of the things that sets my style apart from other abstract artists is my use of hard, well defined lines in my paintings. I do this by adding black lines with acrylic paint markers. This stage is also where my artistic vision and exploration of the piece comes to life. This is where I get to transform a few swirls of color into a piece of art that conveys intention and feeling to the viewer. This is where I take that vision that I have for the painting and permanently imprint it onto the canvas. This is the step where it transforms from the materials into the physical manifestation of my imagination.
Is it art, yet?
Yeah… at least I think so. There will always be arguments out there that debate what is needed for something to be considered art. Some might argue that one cannot create art without proper education. Others may say that it’s not art without the proper amount of sacrifice, or soul. Yet others will say that something cannot be art without being original and set apart from everything else.
Forget those guys, though… at this stage I see my paintings as art!
What do you think? At what point in a creative process is it art?