I. Trepidation
Since I have earned my degree and finished school, I have invested less in my art. It is difficult to orient your life events and still engage in all the activities that you desire. I was told that in art school, an artist can produce a larger volume of artwork, compared to one who must find time during life's routine. The longer periods of time allow one to digest the ideas and art that they are working on, but also allows them to slack off into inactivity. One of the main purposes for this blog is a counter attack to this problem, encouraging me to produce finished work and ideas, writings and art and show my development.
What I fear is that I'd stop; but I want to persevere, if not anywhere but here and with my art. Some may see it as pleasure, as something less productive and more a hobby. I hope I can convince you that what it takes is much more than a weekend hobby, but a state of mind that always keeps me engaged. When I feel the sense of meaningful-ness that art brings start to fade, I am swift to jump right back in.
I assure myself that art means much more. It is becoming my source of spiritual inspiration and the one thing, ever since a child, that I have identified with. When engaged in art, I lose all inhibitions, desires, needs, except for what concerns the art. It is a form of meditation, of spiritual insight and enlightenment that cannot be explained in words. My Artist inside me, I feel, is more connected to everything around me, the ideal me that I strive to be. I should strive to be this artist, and less of what society makes, or sees, of me.
II. Dedication
It will take much hard work, and sometimes it might not look fun, but I must always remind myself that I have never regretted engaging in art whether it be photography, fine arts, writing, reading or self-reflecting. These are all means to a happier me and should become routine without schedule.
There is a misconception that art comes from some divine muse, or inspiration. This is partially true, but it always take a lot of dedication, perseverance and compromise for the artist to make that vision part of reality. My Illustrating professor Billy Rinkl would say, "Work only comes from work," and it is true because without sketching and writing, trying things and failing, and investing time, it doesn't manifest.
By being diligent and observant, suddenly all of life becomes inspiration and the artwork unfolds from itself. Sometimes the spark comes from the outside world, sometimes it is a catalyst from within. Every time I engage in art and the activities I love, I am able to grow and change, yet unnervingly. By reflecting on my surroundings and emotions in my art, I often come to realization and reach new states of natural euphoria in self establishment and growth. I can only wish that others could experience this or that I could share it.
I want to be better, and these are my tools to do so. By reading past human ideas and insights, I can understand the limits of human capabilities. By watching the patterns of existence, I can understand the limits of physics and understand balance. By responding through my art I can express more than what words can do and cement a sharable experience. In this act, I feel like I am able to mimic manifestation that occurs in the universe, by creating things myself. I sense myself as a microcosm of and can connect with the divine universe (The Tao, God etc).
Art must be a lifestyle for it to be sincere. I don't like the word authentic, but rather genuine, because when you seen genuine art you can sense and feel it, not just identify it. It breathes the life of the artist, the time, the thought, and the love that went into it. If I can work with the grain and remain sincere and genuine I will be able to achieve a lot, as many great men and women have shown in the past. To be given the grace of Will, I feel I must use it to stay true. It takes much steady Will in order to achieve what one desires.
I have for a while now following a daily requirement of artistic endeavor, where I must make or do something involving art every day. It enables me to keep in sync and be able to lovingly produce meaningful art. But to produce more art and to want to do so can be difficult. I must encourage myself always, because I may be the only one who can. The more often I am engaged, the easier it is to want to continue. Willingness for inspiration does not create inspiration. Only when I look away, or past what I see, do I find the Divine Ground grinning at me, revealing new truths, knowledge and realization.
III. Reflection
Emotions can be a tool, or a hindrance. I must use them wisely for they can ignite like gunpowder. Emotions are unique to each person, and so when used in art can be interpreted in many different ways. Reason must be equally paid attention to, balanced with emotion. Logos and Pathos. They can breathe life into a work of art, or they can cost the job.
I try to take a step back and criticize my own emotions. I want to experience the emotion but also have control of it, by reflecting on each emotion and taking an objective stance back; emotions can be channeled and used beautifully. Reasoning an emotion can be difficult, because it is hard to reflect on how you feel without changing how you feel. Avoid interfering with the emotions, because this is how art can become false. Too much contemplating with the idea or emotion, one might over-think it into something else which can seem less genuine.
It is a very difficult task to do, but for an artist or person who remains observant and blissfully indifferent to surroundings and emotions, it gives them strength in sharing their thoughts. By taking this step back, watching from a metaphorical distance, the inner artist can be constantly reminded of existence. All its multi-faceted, multidimensional, pseudo-reality qualities seem to expose itself to you, and is a way to connect with the planet, other people, the universe or a personal God.
The inner artist remains divinely indifferent, like a lily it rests upon the water, not interrupting it, and taking the form of the water's surface. I know all this sounds speculative and metaphysical, but I feel life is a shared feeling that each person has a unique view of, often interpreted into many different faiths and molded by the surrounding each person take value from. If the water is our surroundings, then it is clear that if you do not compromise with it, you cannot float restfully.
In the Tao Te Ching, written by the nearly anonymous Taoist master Lao Tzu in the 6th Century, it explains the nature of The Tao. An omnipresent energy/force that is all and everything and the ultimate answer. It does not pretend to have the answers, merely a collection of observations that reveal Truth about the Tao. It is often referred to as "The Way", and such a sweet and simple reply to so many answers.
What I find most enlightening is the ambiguous way it answers how to be in existence, and outlines what I find as an idea artist perspective. Be supple and perceptive. A witness to existence, but which bends to the changes that occur.
"Do your work then step back
the only path to serenity." Tao Te Ching, 9.
"Do you have the patience to wait
till your mud settles and the water is clear?
Can you remain unmoving
till the right action arises by itself?
The Master doesn't seek fulfillment.
Not seeking, not expecting,
he/she is present, and can welcome all things." Tao Te Ching, 15.
IV. Resolution
This is your complete inspiration, but it can be interrupt by emotion which takes hold of the moment. Not so much a distraction but a weakened concentration on what might be more important. The Ego (or what might be our personality) can be controlling. We are often wrapped up in the temporary inflictions and emotions which detract from what is truly important about existence.
But if observant, you can concentrate on these emotions and separate them from your self, and if honest enough may be able to project them onto art. By doing this an artist can learn from the truths of the situation by reflecting on emotions, perhaps see the causes and respond and help others learn from this situation. Perhaps this is what wisdom is about, but what I know for certain is that I am not wise enought to understand it all quite yet. So I make art.