Development of Artistic Ideas Through Writing

As an artist, it is very valuable to be clear about your own ideas. Let's take painting as an example. Some ideas: what it is you want to paint, why you want to paint it, how you want the painting to look, what idea or feeling you want to get across, how you would like to present it to the world, etc.

You must have some ideas about a painting before you can even start making it. If you didn't have any ideas, the painting wouldn't happen at all.

Think about it, if you've ever made a painting, before the brush made the first mark you at least had the idea of making a picture and what you would like it to look like (even if just a vague idea). Therefore, the ideas behind a work of art must be pretty important, as it is the original thoughts that kick start the whole process.

If the ideas are important, then maybe it's worth spending a little time working on the ideas themselves. One tool I have personally found very useful is just a bit of good old honest writing. Let's take it back to a very basic, but potent idea for an artist: Why do I want to make art? Surely the answer to this question would underly every piece of work an artist makes, and therefore would influence how they made every piece of work. If you were to really ask yourself that question and spend some time writing down your thoughts, you may find things start to become much clearer. I don't mean writing to impress or make yourself sound clever, but really trying to get as close to the truth as you possibly can, no matter how it sounds. The whole point is to clarify your own thoughts, not to make a piece of great literature. You may end up with an entire page or two of rambling thoughts, but just let it flow and be brutally honest with yourself. Then, if you really want to start pinning things down, force yourself to put it into only one hundred words, reducing it down to only the essential, most vital things.

Once you have made more sense of why you want to make art, then you may find it easier to pin down other ideas, such as what you want to make and how you want it to look. Of course, your ideas will change and evolve and you will need to re-clarify from time to time.

So, give it a go. Sit down and put your ideas on paper as clearly and as honestly as you can and see how that helps in developing your ideas and artwork. You never know, you may also find that you tap into some dormant passion and motivation...