IT'S THE JOURNEY
Me, on the journey.
“A painting is a layering of thoughts and visual impressions piling up history and sensations - an open ended experience where the viewer adds his or her own notions to those of the artist.”
~Richard Diebenkorn
Artist Jim Dine says that “Once a piece is finished, the party is over. The piece then has to take care of itself.”
What Jim Dine is saying is that being an artist, and creating art, is all about the process. It’s all about the journey. The act of creating. The choices and decisions. The search to find the right line, tone, smudge, color, value, edge and shape. Mixing colors. Making marks. Changing and re-doing. Keeping at it. Being focused. Taking risks. Making mistakes. Trying it again. And again.
It is important to remember that it is all about the journey. Especially when things are not going well in the studio or at the easel.
And because creating art is all about the journey, this is where you have to put your emphasis. You have to learn to enjoy the process.
If you put all of your emphasis on making finished pieces (that you like), then you are missing the point of being an artist. {Smile}.
Don’t get me wrong. Creating a finished piece that you love is a wonderful thing. But how often do we make something that we truly love?
I find that if I put the emphasis on the journey and the process, I end up creating much better work than if I set out to actually create something good.
So, learn to enjoy every minute of the journey (if you do not already). This mindset will make being an artist and creating art a much more enriching experience.
Best,
David