The Importance of Creating with Intention
INTRODUCTION
As a company dedicated to artistry, I feel that this blog post does not come as a surprise. But to many, creating with intention sounds counterintuitive. In the art world it is a common directive for beginners to “start with no end in mind.” Put the pencil, brush, pen, etc. on the paper and start drawing or painting. Although mindless creativity has its merits - I believe it should only come after we know why we are creating something in the first place. To get started, here’s what you can expect in this blog post.
Introduction
“Why” We Create Art Helps Create Context
How Context Relates to Artists
Intention Develops Understanding
“WHY” WE CREATE ART HELPS CREATE CONTEXT
I should be specific with what I mean by “know why we are creating.” As part of this blog’s introduction I want to be clear that the “why” in being creative does not always (nor often does) have to fall into the stigmatic, artistic category of gloomy, esoteric, or any other common descriptor of brooding artists. The “why” in what we create simply means creating a frame of reference before beginning the creative process. It is IMPORTANT to know your intentions when beginning something that requires your creative attention and develop context for your expectations and final product.
Art does not always have to have meaning, but I believe art should always add to your life, not subtract. When it comes to having a “why” to being artistic the extremes are true extremes. On one end, for example, companies such as Painting with a Twist inherently provide a context for painting; enjoy the company of others, be silly, and use painting as the glue that holds the social interaction together. On the other hand art can be used as true therapy. For some personalities it helps them escape terrible situations or resolve emotional wounds from their past. But no matter how we frame the process, knowing the context allows you to match expectations with your current emotions and situation.
For those that are wildly unartistic, art is often viewed as a waste of time (a sentiment I genuinely understand). More often than not, that is because it is judged within the context of productivity or usage. I will be the first to admit that art has never been important because of its usage - it is important because of its cultural fluidity and ability to engage an audience. It is my belief that if we take those that view art as useless (or even with contempt) and reframe their expectations to match their surroundings, the value they place on art and the creative process begins to increase. It is no longer about production but the people that surround you in the artistic process. If you are painting with a significant other and hate painting, don’t paint to make something beautiful, paint to solidify a memory you have with someone you love. Art that acts as a catalyst for something else is still art.
HOW CONTEXT RELATES TO ARTISTS
As an artist, understanding the “why” behind your creations is not about creating meaning from nothing, it is about being transparent about your own process and intentions. In doing so, your ability to be honest with your audience and with yourself improves drastically. It also helps with developing stages in your artistic process; creating an artistic series, finding ways to express yourself as you grow emotionally, finding ways to better connect to others, and on and on.
In my opinion, the most important result that comes from connecting the “why” of your art with your expectations of your art is peace of mind. When our expectations and actions do not have the same backbone, we are left dissonant. All too often artists will start a creative journey because of their love for the process and place expectations on themselves that do not match that love. If art for someone is a cathartic process it would be a sin for that person to place pressure on their creations. If they try to develop meaning from a finished product that was never supposed to have meaning, the joy of the process has been lost and so has the entire purpose. All who create do not have to share the same reason. It is important that we understand what our own reason is.
INTENTION DEVELOPS UNDERSTANDING
As artists we often find ourselves misunderstood. And for those who do not call themselves artists, there is no reason to understand if they do not hear something based in truth. I believe that intentionality helps bridge the gap between those two issues. Artists would benefit from establishing expectations that match their reason for loving art. In doing so, I believe being misunderstood would be a thing of the past. It does, however, require you to be honest with yourself. After all, reasons for being creative exist on a massive spectrum and it is very easy to fall into the trap of “what do others expect or think of me?”
To those that made it to the end this blog post I hope you have something positive to walk away with. Stay creative but more importantly, stay classy.
Blue
