Originality vs Influence
A professor once told me that before you begin painting, you must decide what type of painting you want to make as far as the style.. whether it be representational, abstract, realist, impressionist, minimalist and etc. I disagree. I told him that if you always decide on something predetermined, how can you discover new territory? Its important to start the journey sometimes not knowing exactly where you are going and to be open to experimentation. Of course it can be helpful if you are sure you know what you want to do and to strive towards it, but sometimes knowing exactly what you want can kill the spirit of discovery and the energy that shows its face because of that. Like life, every artist must find their own path and to think that there is only one correct way to do art is a limitation that goes against the creativity and freedom of expression that great art speaks for. Constant innovation and strange new ideas are what keeps art alive, breathing.
There are many lasting traditions in the art world like the look of a classic portrait or the balanced composition of a landscape but art is also an organic movement of ideas that hold a reflection of our culture and world events. Think about how you paint. Why do you paint that way? Its important to understand where your influences come from in order to thoughtfully interact with them, use them or to move beyond them. Arguably, it is almost impossible to block out all influence because we all have certain things in mind about what art is, what it is not, and how to go about creating it. It can be very difficult trying to separate past experience and preconceptions from your present expression. Nevertheless, that doesn't mean we shouldn't try. 
This makes for an interesting paradox when it comes to learning how to make art. It can be very helpful to learn traditional techniques in order to benefit from the knowledge that has already been discovered but it is also important not to become complacent that what has been is what should continue to be. At a certain point, in order to move beyond preconceptions, we have to let go of them or become trapped.
Many great artists spent a lot of time trying to make art like children, without thinking, in the realm that is fluid with expression without stubborn ideas and critical logic that can tear down that fluidity. Try it some time. Sit with your medium and just play with it, without thinking hard or judging it and see what happens. Even if the works themselves that arise from this state don't yield something that you feel is presentable, it is a great way to discover new ideas and expressions you may not have been aware you had inside you.
Last Updated (Saturday, 27 June 2009 21:49)
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