GENERATING THE IDEA

We are all artists in some aspect of our lives. For example, when we are cooking, decorating or dressing. We all have our own way of doing things and we may feel a special sensitivity towards some things more than others. While doing things that we like and are good at, we keep learning new ways and more sophisticated methods, thereby becoming more and more proficient.

Artists also evolve in their creative process. Being an artist is not just a matter of techniques. It is about feeling an urgent need to express ideas or feelings, to communicate a way of thinking, the inner world or a way of seeing life, experiences, joys or frustrations. It also means being critical of society, depicting the problems or conflicts that surround us.

The need to express ideas or feelings is fundamental in the creative process.

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Reflect and respond

1 a) What are you good at? Are you an artist?

b) Why do you think some people feel the need to create? What do you like to create?

Strange mixtures

Not all of us have the skill of a painter. Photography can be a more affordable means of recreating our most original ideas. A stage, a costume, a certain light, etc. We retouch the a photo and the dream comes true.

Find information about the provocative and daring work of Elsa von Freytag-Loringhoven (1874-1927). This artist used not only painting and sculpture to express herself, but also her body. She was capable of turning anything into a piece of clothing. She dared to walk naked through the streets of Greenwich Village (New York).

Try to imitate her by combining your image with your own objects or ones that characterise you.

1.1 We are all artists

With the arrival of the Industrial Revolution, the work of the artisan was mechanised, the concept of the artist changed and the myth of the creative genius arose. They were gifted people with unusual personality traits: melancholic, lonely or crazy people. The creative process was the result of some kind of inspiration. But it is not like that. Although artists do require a special sensitivity, they need to learn the trade and be organised. Technique, skill and creativity form part of the artistic work.

1.2 The importance of imagination

Some artists observe and express themselves with great imagination, in a very special way. They capture our attention and make us dream. They help us see beyond the obvious with a new outlook. For example, imagination overflows in the works of Sandrine Boulet. Through her peculiar outlook, we discover things that are not there. This French artist photographs everyday objects on the streets of Paris and then draws on them to give them a new meaning.

Sometimes, I see a face…

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Getting to know an unconventional museum

2 It might appear that these two images belong to a Disney-style theme park. However, they show the Salvador Dalí House-Museum in Figueras. Find information about the life and work of this artist. You will surely be surprised.

Pareidolia is a psychological and visual phenomenon in which the brain identifies familiar forms or patterns where they do not exist. Use a photography camera to understand this phenomemon. Frame certain elements so that others can see what you see. Look for examples of pareidolia, such as faces, and take pictures. You will find a lot of them!

Changing is common in the creative process. Sometimes, there is nothing left of the original ideas when a creative project is finished. The work evolves with the artist, with their moods and new discoveries. Today, thanks to radiological analysis techniques, we know about many of the ideas that were discarded during the creation of the artworks. They still remain under the surface layer.

1.3 Phases of the creative process

Although the idea is important, the need for prior study must also be recognised. In the creative process, different methodologies are used and different phases, which do not always take place in linear order, are fulfilled.

- Logical phase, or preparation phrase, in which the problem is defined, data is collected and possible solutions are proposed.

- Intuitive phase, which is more creative, in which we develop the different possibilities.

- Critical phase, in which we decide what we will definitely do after analysing the validity of the different proposals.

The creation of a work begins with a first idea, which is a result of mental connections, memories and emotions. Afterwards, artists use lines, shapes, volumes, lights, colours, etc. to represent that idea. They also select the materials and techniques that best adapt to what is being expressed.

1.4 The importance of sketches

Do you know how many preparatory works Picasso did for Guernica? This composition was not completed in a single day nor with a single drawing. Sketches* are preparatory drawings in which the artist changes the details again and again, finding new ideas and results. They are the essential seeds of a great work.

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Investigate the creative process of Guernica

3 Investigate the sketches of Guernica. How many sketches were drawn?

The Virgin Queen (16th century), anonymous (National Portrait Gallery, London). After an analysis with X-rays, it was discovered that the artist first drew a coiled snake in the hand of Elizabeth I of England, but later erased it and replaced it with a rose, since that reptile is a symbol of evil.

1.5 Symbolism and visual metaphors

Art is influenced by the subjectivity of both the artist and the viewer. Even the most realistic photographs only show what the artist has decided to frame.

Art is a symbolic and metaphorical language. If we carefully analyse the shapes, characters, colours, sizes, composition, frames, etc. we will discover that every detail has meaning and that the meaning may be different from the one that seems most obvious to us.

Virtuosity in paintings and drawings is not exempt from the subjectivity of each artist. Even when it seems reality is copied to the millimetre, it is the artist who decides what we will see.

Focus on English

A sketch is the preliminary work that an artist does before starting the final piece. It is a stage in the process of thinking through an idea. Nowadays, the sketches for a final work of art are valuable. Collectors appreciate being able to see individual steps in the artist’s creative process.

In broader terms, sketching can also mean to do something quickly and indicates something rough or unfinished. In theatre, a sketch is a short unrefined piece, often intended to make the audience laugh.

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Analyse metaphors of visual poetry

4 Do you know the work This Is Not a Pipe? It is a piece of art by René Magritte (1898-1967). Do you know what it means? Investigate metaphors in art and visual poetry. Select some artistic works. You can start by comparing the works of Joan Brossa (1919-1998) and Chema Madoz (1958).