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I wrote this for the inside of an art book, but from time to time I like to pull it out and read it. It centers me and reminds me of the special reason we are artists. It’s a great way to start a day of creating art. This is from the heart, enjoy :)
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These are my thoughts, my feelings and impressions. I have lived a lifetime writing, composing and painting. I am still learning.
I would like to say that I create art to move you. The truth is that I have to create art or I will fall away into some kind of insane oblivion, some unbearable existence I would unlikely survive.
I have a need to know myself, both good and bad, and I discovered early that I know myself by what I create and by what I destroy. I would still like to move you but that does not an artist make.
I am often bold and insane as is my art from time to time. Were I not this way, I would have no business creating both bold and insane art. To know yourself by what you create can also make one appear somewhat strange, like an artist often appears to the world.
Why would anyone in this ultra-modern, fast-paced digital world full or instant gratification, politically correct entertainment, and mind numbing manufactured beauty even bother with the simple act of putting a paint filled brush to canvas? One wonders.
What is this endearing quality of a painting that even in today’s modern world draws millions of people into art museums, art shows and galleries all over the world? It’s something magical, something primal, something intelligent we as humans connect to in a profound way. What lingers in our expression is that which draws us out of our understanding and expectations without separating us from our souls. This is how I define the quality of art.
Art gives us relief from the mundane and limited aspects of human existence. Great art is simple in its elements and profound in its expression.
At the end of painting a work of art, as I stand back and look upon its complexities, its depth, dance of colors, composition and form. I am always humbled by the fact that my own experience of painting it was a series of simply mixing a few colors on my brush and adding that result to the canvas with a stroke or two. Much like a composer simply chooses one or two notes at a time to create a beautiful piece of music, the simplicity of art is captivating and complex.
So who are we? Who are the artists of today? Only a hundred years ago, being a famous artist was like being a famous rock star. Warhol, Pollack, Picasso all enjoyed the fame of art. However, the rock star period of art is a very small window in time.
In Michelangelo’s time an artist was no more exalted than a brick layer, a trade requiring experience and craftsmanship, but without reputation. During my lifetime the favored artists went from cartoonists such as in the Disney era, to video game developers, computer graphics interface special effects artist and web designers. This is all art with an outside authority, namely commerce. However, the painters endure throughout time. Painters paint with or without the possibility of fame or wealth. When photography became the rage, the painters continued to paint. Photography is a valid and beautiful art form, and painters can trace their art back to the walls of prehistoric caves. This is not a comparison. Photography changed the face of painting. It released painting from realism into the abstract. Every new technology changes the face of painting in some way, but painting endures throughout time. They evolve together. Every advance in technology frees painting to be a more pure expression. Every advance in artist’s tools challenges the painter to a greater mastery of the simple elements of art.
When I was younger, I spent my energy and time exploring philosophy and immersed myself in the mystical side of life. Now, as I near the half century mark, I remain certain of these things:
We are all connected in the most beautiful way. Not in this time and space because at the place where art is born there is no time or space.
We, you and I, are connected at the highest ideas of life; Love, joy, beauty, kindness, passion, care, etc. This is where we connect, aware or not. Art, at its highest purpose is a pure conduit and gateway to increased and expanded connections between all things. Art is both a deductive process and an inspired or creative process where the beauty is always greater than the sum of its parts.
What is universal is not personal and what is personal is not universal. Art is the one place where universal and personal join together to tear us away from our conceptual status quo. It is the marriage of divine and human harmony, genius and free will.
Art cannot be fully understood outside of its creation. Meaning, art can be enjoyed by looking at it, but not completely understood. Only the artist, while creating art can understand it. The second the artist stops creating it, the artist ceases to understand it as well. It is a fire of creative awareness.
Of this I am certain.
The remainder of life pretty much remains a mystery to me.
—Buddy Sears
sweetscent62
Amen : ) Buddy, what you have said so eloquently and so profoundly with such insight…only an artist can understand. Thank you for articulating it so beautifully.
Warm wishes, Wendy
djsmith70
I agree. Only sometimes I myself don’t even understand the art I create. Funny how sometimes I spend hours on something, only to dislike it to the point I want to throw it away—and someone else will love it. Then sometimes, I really put my all into something—and find I am the only one who likes it (or as you so eloquently stated—understands it). Great post.
lily pang
I love to read the article and thank you for sharing the thoughts. It echoes the feeling inside me.
anaisnais
I believe your thoughts go further than just with art, but actually in principle applies to all creativity and composition, therefore applying to arts, crafts, writing, and music… Never-the-less interesting and truthful content, which will hopefully inspire others to go on and pick up the brush, pen or tools for the job and get creating!
Buddy Sears
Yes, I have great respect for all forms of art, and you are correct, this applies to all forms of creating beauty. I just happen to be most connected to painting so I write from that vantage point. It’s all good. :)
pijinlane
I believe that art especially like yours is the naked soul of the artist torn from them in a compulsion to put something wondrous on canvas or board or paper … visual poetry!
does not have to be explained … even when you look at a work of art and think ‘’I do not ,like this’’ then that is amazing in itself as the artist has elicited a strong emotion from the viewer ….
Buddy Sears
Absolutly! What does the artist approving of their own art got to do with anything? We are born to the process, not the result. Thanks for the comment. You’re so cool.
artlein
Thank you for sharing your thoughts, feelings and impressions. My artwork has been my companion, my witness and my passion. It has helped me to understand much about myself and the world we live in. It has certainly helped me be a better person.
Buddy Sears
How beautiful. :)
Kym Breeze
“The second the artist stops creating it, the artist ceases to understand it as well. It is a fire of creative awareness.” Wow Buddy these lines say it all to me and for me……thank you my friend I have never been able to put this process into word before and you have…
hugs my friend…great writing and thank for sharing….x
sorina
I have always been terrible at putting my thoughts and feelings into words and it is such a release when I get to explain it to the canvas. The canvas is a pretty good listener and the best part, it can act as a mirror. That’s probably why I find your definition of what art is perfect and soothing.
Debra Loty
A life without painting would indeed be mundane oblivion – a day gone by without picking up a brush just feels wrong…….and it’s hard to explain that need to someone who is not an ‘artist’. Doesn’t your mood just lift as you head to your art space, and start scooping out paint, choosing brushes, a blinding vision in your head that just has to make it’s way to the canvas??!!! That’s how I feel, and I think there are a few others who feel the same. You have expressed so well how we all feel, Buddy…….makes me want to go and paint and get off the jolly computer :o)
michael51
you have said all you can say on the subject mate
Linda Sannuti
Very well put Buddy! It’’s like music creating how one feels! Paint ON!
Buddy Sears
Hi everyone, I am so glad everyone is enjoying this. Thanks for sharing your thoughts. Each one of these comments has been so heartfelt, I can’t help but remember how related we all are as artists. WOW!
“An artist lives on an island of despair. It’s a beautiful place to live and the despair is that there are so few to share it with.” — Buddy
Deborah Holman
I can so relate to what you have said so very well. I am also approaching my half century which makes your words all the more poignant.
Renate Dartois
Thank you for sharing your thoughts with us.
Samuel Durkin
Yes the painters have to paint. It’s our own private insanity. We do it because we have have to. Even though I had a major breakdown in the last 6 months I still had to paint.
Gaia Vision
creative love flows through each and every living thing, the making of a meal, the nurturing of a child, the planning of a building, are all are creative and artistic. i find we are all artists in one way or another and we seek inspiration from more in-depth artists who express themselves in absolute beauty and/or different ways than our own, to shake up the landscape, to give us a chance to see things from a different view, and then bring it back to our own creations in subtle shades. the writing of a song can be a grand masterpiece. the child is an artist when choosing what flowers or weeds to pick for his mother. all using our gifted senses to find beauty and ultimately share. for some, if we were not able to create in artistic means of absolute beauty, we would suffer, but still create, drawing upon the suffering. ~ thank you for sharing your artistic expressions and for being you.
Mechellerene
I could never have written that so dead on, and elegant. Thank you for giving form to what I feel, but could not express in words. I need to print this out and read it every now and again as a reminder as well. So grateful you shared this!
Buddy Sears:
You are very welcome Artist. :)
Cate Townsend
I believe that one of the best things I have done in my life was stepping into the bubble. In this bubble I have found my home and my family, I am not alone, not an island, not the only one who feels sees and hears with such intensity. Finally a sense of understanding sharing of like minds. It’s ok to have a weird head lol with crazy ideas and dreams and all this stuff bursting to be released. Finally having the courage to release it, seeing beauty again in everything everywhere with eyes that had become so clouded over with disillusionment, finally acceptance of who I am an artist. I am so grateful to have met so many beautiful people and you are one of those Buddy, thank you so much for sharing this it is so well written.