I’d
love to have something to write about my latest novel, but I’m still working as
the director of my local art center until we find a replacement for our
director who left in January. The second Wednesday of each month, we have an
Old Friends Talk Art event where creative people give presentations about their work. It’s been
quite interesting. The variety of mediums discussed is endless. Some of the
programs are presented by the curator of our latest art exhibit.
I ended up on the Buchanan Center for the Arts board because I’m a writer, not a painter, a sculptor, or actor, or a musician. As I’ve listened to and watched various events, it’s become apparent that no matter what kind of creativity people are into, their mediums share common traits with other forms of art.
Sculptors are inspired to form a particular piece of artwork. They assemble their materials, spend time
shaping, adding, or taking away from their creation. Next, they use a kiln to glaze and fire it into a final state. The finished product is a work of love, effort, craft, and time.
The
layers of an acrylic painting also begin with inspiration. Assembling their
materials, acrylic painters may outline first, then apply layer after layer of
multiple hues, creating the dream that inspired them. After the paint dries,
the artist may put a few more dabs here or there, or completely paint over an
area that needs work. The finished product is framed, and often the frame is
also a work of art. Time, effort, thought, and love go into the painting.
When writers begin a novel, short story, or poem, they are also inspired by an idea that has moved through their heads over time. They assemble their characters, settings, and themes, sometimes creating an outline they’ll follow, sometimes not. The first draft is rarely the last, and, like a painter or sculptor, they’ll add, subtract, or dab a few phrases here and there to make the final product as perfect as they can. Like artists of other mediums, they study their craft, practice, and become better over time.
In some cases, art is adding until the subject is fully revealed (painting, for example); in others, it's taking away until the subject becomes fully revealed (sculpting, for example). In writing, it is a combination of adding and subtracting. Regardless of the medium, revealing "truth" is what unifies all artists.
ReplyDeleteLove this! “Revealing ‘truth’!”
DeleteExcellent point, Jim!
ReplyDeleteArtistic endeavors of any sort are a reflection of life as seen by the artist.
ReplyDeleteSo true, Kathleen. I think that's why I loved teaching literature. It was always a reflection of the time in which it was written.
DeleteLovely blog, Susan. Kudos for standing up and diving into the fray! As an erstwhile potter, I’ve often enjoyed the similarities between potting and writing. In both cases, it’s necessary to remove the excess.
ReplyDeleteHow lucky that you could throw pots. Very cool, Kait.
DeleteKnow you are staying busy with the Art Center, but in a way you are helping them unveil a new feature or way to go for the future, too. As for a writer's endeavor, your words couldn't be truer.
ReplyDeleteI keep reminding myself of that every day, Debra.
DeleteFascinating! My daughter used the kitchen as her "art studio" during HS. I watched her work on everything from oil and acrylic paintings to collages and graphic design. A different vision and process for each medium, with some fascinating results.
ReplyDeleteI have always envied people like your daughter who have the talent to do that.
DeleteSusan, as always, your posts are lively and helpful. I always think of writing a book as starting with a block of granite and chipping away everything that doesn't look like an elephant. I believe Michelangelo said something like that.
ReplyDeleteThe "anonymous" comment about Michelangelo was from me.
DeleteART comes from the HEART, and since we all have a heart, I believe we are, each and every one of us, artists to some degree. Thanks for this post, Susan--it sparked creativity ( ;
ReplyDelete