A brief Google search shows me that this is not an uncommon question.
These days I find that I am continuously rediscovering myself as an artist, and today I settled down with my coffee to revisit this very basic query- why do I make art? Rather than posting links to answers others have given or writing my own thesis, I thought I would extend the invitation to any and all who feel the itch to share their thoughts.
Please leave your two bits; whether a single word or an entire paragraph, if you are an artist, is this something you consider once in a while? Why do you make art?
artboy68
Because creativity is the secret to happiness? Because we all continuously create, whether we are aware of it or not, so it is better to create mindfully something that is beautiful or meaningful than to thoughtlessly create something ugly or damaging?
How are those for thoughts?
Lots of question marks . . . would seem to indicate that I’m not sure!
The reason I would do it is to express myself. Its an extension of me. Be it dancing or sketching, art lightens up a heavy heart or say multiplies the joy felt. Art helps in expressing any sort of emotion in the purest form.
I like to think that whatever art is, its how i feel inside, my imagination breaking free of a cage. Its my way of being able to release lost love, betrayals, letdowns, moments of bliss, feelings of happiness and bottled up exitement. This is why i think more artists are finding their way into the art world not by supporting a current trend or fad instead by showing the world what it is to see through their eyes and their minds. This kind of art makes life more interesting, because theres so many different ways to view the color blue for example: each in in its own context, hue, expression, and emotion.
I’d probably never give it a thought except that people ask often. In my case, it falls somewhere between habit and compulsion.
There’s an element of chasing that high when you finally hit your flow and everything starts to unfold beautifully and almost by magic.
And there’s something in the feeling of creation–not a feeling of power, but a feeling of focus and excitement and satisfaction. Very few other things give me that feeling.
Irv says it so well. My art rarely sees the light of day since I’m concentrating on the written word, but there’s that compulsion, that urge, to still create. And I enjoy it, even when I’m the only one looking.
Because I NEED to make art. It’s one of the ingredients necessary for my wellbeing. I asked myself the same question a few years back, inspired by kids I was teaching. The question took on a life of it’s own, so I wrote a book about it. “Portrait of a Girl and Her Art” poses the question to many young women. The responses vary, but all the young artists found profound value in the process.
I agree with all of the previous comments. It’s big and wonderful and it’s simply who I am.
For me when I take photographs and I know I have the composition right, the colour right, the light right.. it just feels wonderful.
When I am out with my camera ( or creating a photo at home) all my worries vanish and there is just me and my camera in the world. I LOVE it !
if i am not making something —- i cannot find myself….
have to.
there is no option whether or not to create,,, interestingly i am not certain i have ever really asked myself this question… it has always seemed to be equal to food and water…
hmmm… yes. i simply make art because it is a need.
I must agree with you- I am finding lately, while struggling to defend my studio time, the longer I stay away the more miserable I get…
It is seeing and showing myself. Art or non-art, i summed up my life past, present and future into this.Without art it would be impossible.
http://www.managementexchange.com/hack/long-term-capitalism-challenge-see-and-show-challenge-solution-and-metrics
Freedom of expression is the greatest feeling. To be able to bring a part of yourself to the world without worrying about what anyone may think. We all have a form of creativity, each one unique.
I was gonna say Fame and Fortune, but that clearly won’t wash… : (
I think control is a factor. We can’t control the real world, we can’t control other people, we can’t make things be the way we’d like them to be.
But Art gives us the illusion of control for a fleeting moment or two. Successful artists seem to express the hopes, wishes, and frustrations of many other people.
Thanks Mark!
Although I am not an artist in the way you are, I still consider myself an artist … musician, song writer/poet, budding photographer. Why? It’s so interesting to read everyone’s answers. For me, for as long as I could remember, I’ve been writing poetry as most times it was my only outlet for what was going on in my life. I tend to keep my deepest thoughts and feelings private, so when I write it is the only way I can process things and understand sometimes what I’m actually feeling. Anyway … that’s my 2 cents.
Being relatively shy in person, expressing myself through creative means has earned (from those who know me) the phrase “closet extrovert”…
I love it. That’s awesome. I’m probably that way myself.
Looking at art in the broadest sense of the word, I would say that we all have artistic gifts and though they vary from person to person, we all have the ability to create something… a fab dish, a great poem, a story, a drawing, a couture piece, a surgical procedure, and so on.
Why do I write? I do it because I feel compelled to craft a post, to create a piece of private writing, or even to take a photo. I do it because I must…. and it helps me clarify my thoughts, my questions, and perhaps my fears. I enjoy it most of the time, and I appreciate the feedback I get when I share some of my work. Great question…
I reckon we create art for communication or catharsis
Mmmm… catharsis…
Funny, this question has been in the air a lot lately, at least partly because my son just finished his BFA in Illustration. I haven’t been looking at it directly, but it’s just outside my field of vision all the time.
In order for me to make art I had to stop asking this question. I had to learn how to make time to show up and then learn how to get out of the way of what was happening. I still don’t know why, but I know it lets me articulate things that I can’t say, and I don’t even know what they mean. It’s a way of dreaming out loud, I show it to others partly to encourage them to take care of their own necessary daily practices, and partly because people tell me they enjoy seeing the work. That feedback has kept me doing the work out in the open, and has opened all kinds of other doors and connections. Of which you are one, and I’m grateful for it!
Thank you Kate, for this comment. I am struggling with the two prerequisites you mentioned; making time to show up, and and getting out of the way. Life sometimes seems to throw everything in the way of creativity, and as a part time artist I have to really battle to carve out time for art making. I definitely feel the same way about the feedback from showing the work I’m doing; it is truly a motivator and keeps me going.
Cheers
Self expression.