Learning from the process of creating art

Great article about learning to be an artist, or rather make art. I particularly like this part:

We don’t start out as “creatives”. Few of us have such gifts at birth, and frankly, I’m unsure that creativity is something that is naturally ingrained. I do believe that these stories work well in film, and tie-in to the mythology which Hollywood is so renowned for; however, I’m convinced that good creative comes from training, just like good athletes become so as a result of focused coaching and hard work. Some may have a greater propensity for creative work than others; yet, I tend to believe that this rarity is overemphasized in our culture.

Read the entire article:
http://www.ideasonideas.com/2006/06/creativity_learning/

User Centric Art

I just read an interesting article here. It is focused on creating change within your corporate hullabaloo, whatever it may be. The article encourages focus on the user, the real people that use your site/product.

Don't focus on what the user will think about the product, focus everyone around you on what the user will think about himself as a result of interacting with it.

Do we apply these methods to art? Art has always been for me, a means of expressing myself. I think even the term 'expressing yourself' is one generally associated with artistic pursuits. Or at least, it was associated with art until the 'blog' came along. Now we blog instead of painting. It's much more direct and to the point.

Is art just a complicated soap box? Is art the podium for the creative mind, our channel for voicing our own quirky impressions? Or do we have a responsibility to an audience greater than 1?

Or when I blog should I just talk about what interests me? From a capitalistic point of view, if you want to be financially successful blogging or painting or sculpting, you're going to have to cater to some demographic. But financial success is hardly a sound benchmark. People and money are fickle.

New Smithsonian Blog

I haven't reviewed it yet but I love that it exists:

http://eyelevel.si.edu/

Rodney Smith Photography

An exhibit by Rodney Smith has come to the BYU Museum of Art. And it is delightful. There is a sort of sophisticated joy that saturates each photo. I walked through on a lunch break. I wish I had more time. But I highly recommend it. I am thinking of purchasing a few prints myself.

Oh, and by the way, I just started working at BYU as the Library's Graphics/Web Designer. Yay for me.

Warren Kimble

Nothing says 'Art of the People' like Folk Art. One of my favorite folk artist's is Warren Kimble.

This isn't a revelation. He's everyone's favorite folk artist. Generally, I steer clear of pop culture. And really most people wouldn't say that he falls in the realm of pop culture. But there's a certain 'well-marketed quality'. Thomas Kinkade is well marketed, but I don't want to put him in the same bucket as Thomas Kinkade. As far as I'm concerned, Thomas Kinkade painted one painting and has been selling it ever since. But that is a different subject.

I'm probably a fool for liking his stuff. But I just can't help myself. There's something about that 'American Cow' that just speaks to me...calling to me...in a quiet 'moo'.

MOMA Podcast

If you've been following my posts so far (which I have no reason to presume because I've yet to see a single comment) you may think I've no place in my heart for modern art. To be completely honest, I have no idea where in my heart modern art lives. But somewhere in there a small corner is carved out that entertains from time to time a few modern pieces. Most of them get shuttled out of that corner rather quickly. Nevertheless, some get stored their permanently, rising to the position of being a part of the permanent collection of my heart.

I've said all that to explain my interest in the MOMA. Particularly, I've just discovered that the MOMA has a podcast. Interstingly, you won't find it advertised on their site. I don't know why. I came across it browsing throught the 'New and Notable' podcasts in iTunes. Check it out and you too might find something for your own permanent collection.