As much colour splashes that I can get away with

I am preparing to co-curate a workshop with my good friend Russell Pearson CSP, which has more of an overt focus on art instead of just creativity. The motivation is getting people to think like an artist and apply some different thinking to their normal, non-artistic work.

So, it raised the question, what is art?
I have always liked Andy Warhol’s definition of art is whatever you can get away with.

I think the question of what art is or makes an artist is tricky, so I have turned my attention to what one experiences when making art.

For most artists, the process of creating their work becomes a conversation inside their heads with their real or perceived audience, either through direct feedback or conversations with themselves. Is this any good? Will they like it? Will it sell? This is part and parcel of putting art into the world.

But there is another much rarer experience: unconscious self-expression without judgment. It comes from a place of just needing to express yourself in your medium of choice, sometimes spontaneously but often after a time mulling over an idea or concept, devoid of any thought of the audience. You have no choice; you must make that mark, sing that song, or write down that power.

The first experience is the same process as the day-to-day work we do, whether deemed creative or not. We make and do things for customers or our bosses to meet specific requirements and standards based on their feedback. Five Stars!

The second experience is not so common in many pragmatic aspects of our work, but it gives us a window into an important part of ourselves that allows us to add a deeper dimension to what we have to offer. It reminds us that we are creative beings with something unique to offer and capable of creative expression.

I think it is good for the creative soul to indulge in as much, even tiny, unbridled self-expression as we can get away with.

#creativity #creativethinking #art #artofbusiness #creativeexpression #creative