A large part of being human is asking questions

Our survival

 and forward progress as a species

depends on us being able to

ask

regardless if there is an

answer

to be found

Forever question the world that surrounds you

Forever question the world inside of you

So how do we know which question is the correct one to ask?

The “right” question is malleable

one link

in a chain of

questions

A chain that leads

to an

anchor

steadfast in its position on the ocean floor.

or perhaps

to a life raft

dancing upon the surface of sunlit waves

In painting and art

whichever way you follow the chain makes no difference

it is only important that you follow

Make no mistake

This is about asking questions

not

about finding answers

answers

will always come

whether we like it or not

but

questions

may not

and

a singular all encompassing question

is the death knell for

creativity

For as the questions stop

so to the

progression

Momentum

is what we are after.

An internal discussion

fueled by the last question asked

Singular questions cause

stagnation

and

when something stops moving what happens?

atrophy

The mother of all stagnate questions that plagues us as creators

Is this painting good?

will follow us throughout our artistic life.

it is the biggest

cop out

to free and individual thought

which

is the very

foundation

on which artistry is built

“Good”

an entirely subjective piece of data

that offers nothing

but

fuel for the

ego

Good is a fish to be caught

and

mounted on the wall

For artistic and technical growth

we need more

What does it really mean when we ask if a painting is good?

For if good is entirely subjective

then it follows that the

answer

is measured against the value you place upon the

questioned

The difference in the perceived value of answers given by

a loving grandparent

and

a major gallery curator

is obvious

Lord help those of you that have a Grandparent who is a Gallery curator

Go look at your last painting or drawing…

(in fact anything that you have created whether dinner or term paper)

don’t worry i will wait

Now,

ask yourself if it is

good

Got the answer?

Regardless of whether it ends up being

good or bad

we

are left in a

vacuum

Okay

go back to the work that you originally asked the question of

now

Instead of asking if it is

good

try instead

What is the reason for creating this painting?

if you have a reason perfect

if not

you need one

doesn’t have to be high and mighty

it can be simple

for example

“I wanted to study the way light reflects off an apple to create an image that creates reality in the viewer”

or

“because it feels good”

or

“it’s a project for school”

or

whatever

once there is a reason for creating the work the question becomes…

Does this painting communicate the point, feeling, emotion, concept, or opinion that you are trying to get across?

If yes

amazing

go ask someone else if it meets the criteria you are seeking

       If the answer you are left with is

no

What doesn’t align with your intention for creating the image?

Putting paint to canvas with no intention or concern for outcome is a wonderful experience and may or may not be enough for you.

But

make no mistake

Image creation

is not

Art

Image creation

is the language that a painter uses to voice their expression

and

Art

is the process of using that language to voice your expression

asking questions of one’s

self

and work

are the only way to create a unique voice

when we ask broad questions Of people

(i.e. Is this good?)

we are unsure of what it is we are trying to say

and

hoping for some insight

we are asking for others to define our

voice

the next time

someone

including your

self

comments on a painting

as being either good or bad

inquire what, in particular, is good or bad

In this way skill and technical mastery in painting becomes

secondary

and the search for

a clear and succinct voice

becomes

primary

Which seems more logical and valuable in the pursuit of Art?

acquiring the ability to make things look

real

or

Discovering that the answer, to voicing your expression clearly, is

creating a

realistic image

Take for example a recent conversation that occurred with artist @brunovista and myself:

What was the conclusion?

It wasn’t for me to know

like most questions you ask

the

answer

is only for

yourself

If ever you feel

stuck

while painting

it is not

that

a skill

is lacking in some way

it is

that

our

question

is

too broad

Vague questions

give

vague direction

we move forward without a clear purpose

the difference between

How are you feeling?

and

Are you comfortable in the heat of the afternoon sun?

so

the question is…