Writing an essay on how I generate artistic ideas got me thinking about how this process works. In particular, I wanted to look at it both on an individual and a broader scale. I created a visual work inspired by the theme within a piece submitted in my portfolio which is a guided reflection of myself as a 16-year-old girl with long box braids in my hair sometimes the braids are diff colors to show how I express myself as an artist. Some of my art pieces are The Power Of The Braids, Vogue Magazine Cover Self-Portrait, Art Power, Braids Gone Wild, The Smile Behind The Mask, Creepy Spiders & Artful Kitchen Expression. The artistic, creative process that leads to the creation of pieces of visual art is the engine for generating ideas. Botella et al. (2018) conducted an exciting study in which they tried to identify the stages of the creative artistic process. As part of this study, they interviewed students of art schools to describe how they create their art pieces. It is noteworthy that each of the students describes the process of creating ideas in different ways, using various terms. However, in general, the stages identified are the same for all interviewees.
This aspect surprised me because it made me clearly understand how I approach the process of generating ideas and choosing a subject for my visual art. The initial stage of the creative process is the identification of the problem or the definition of the goal of creation. For me, this stage consists of the need to search for the issue of interest to me in reality, as well as to examine it through the prism of my inner perception. The main task for me as an artist is the desire to describe objective phenomena from a subjective point of view. This combination, in my opinion, allows the artist to create a valuable piece of visual art. On the one hand, this work can relate to the viewer within a real range of problems, and on the other hand, it can affect feelings and emotions.
I think that this initial stage of goal identification is the most important for the creation of art. After realizing the need to discuss a certain topic through visual art, I reflect on how this issue makes me feel. In particular, I consider how I can convey my inner perception to the viewer and what emotions it can evoke in other people. Yokochi and Okada (2020) note that “the formation of a creative vision requires many years of accumulation of art-making activities” (p. 542). Even though I feel quite confident in creating art, I am still actively developing in this area. I devote considerable time to improving my understanding of the pieces of art and also regularly take classes to perfect my technique. It took me a long time to decide on the method and medium of conveying my ideas. However, once I focused directly on my inner voice and perception, the creative process became rather natural and intuitive for me.
Appealing to the emotions and feelings of the viewer through the expression of my perception of objects of reality for me is the basis of the creative process. Art for me is not only a way of self-expression but a way of communication and discussion of topics that are important for me and society. When creating a piece of visual art, I always think about what feelings it can evoke in the viewer. The ultimate goal for me is to give the audience a chance to think about the topic I have presented and also try to find their inner voice. In presenting my view of the problem, I urge viewers to think about how they perceive the given subject. I believe this is the main purpose of creating visual art and the source of my artistic ideas.
References
Botella, M., Zenasni, F., & Lubart, T. (2018). What are the stages of the creative process? What is visual art students are saying. Frontiers in Psychology, 9, 1-13. Web.
Yokochi, S., & Okada, T. (2020). The process of art-making and creative expertise: An analysis of artists’ process modification. Journal of Creative Behavior, 55(2), 532-545. Web.