What I'm talking about here is something authentic and "real" to you - not a technique that you "affect" just because it's trendy or startling or controversial or might sell better than other styles. Not something you contrive, but something you discover for yourself and refine or allow to evolve over time from your own creativity. Ideally, it's the essence of your personality and vision that is expressed through your artistic medium. Think of paintings by Vincent van Gogh, Rembrandt, or John Singer Sargent...photographs by Ansel Adams...music by Beethoven or The Police or Billie Holliday. Each of these artists had his or her own unique form of expression that was instantly recognizable and somehow an outgrowth of their personalities.
I'll be honest - some of us seem to find this easier to do than others.
This then begs the question - how do we actually find or develop our own creative voice?
I'll start by saying that for most of us it's a longterm process. In essence, it involves coming to a deep understanding, acceptance, and even love for who we are as people. Obviously this doesn't happen overnight and likely explains why it may take decades for that uniqueness to fully flower in our artwork.
Do you really, deeply know and accept who you are, what you like and don't like, what you're good at, and what needs improvement?
Just as importantly, this process of developing your creative voice involves a lot of letting go. Letting go of expectations is vitally important...expectations that you might have about your work as well as expectations that others may have about you and your work. If you are constantly trying to "fit in" or please someone else (for example, paint the subject matter that your spouse likes rather than what you like) you will never give yourself the creative "breathing room" necessary to develop your own creative voice. If you place the expectation on yourself that you MUST sell everything that you produce, even experimental pieces, once again you likely won't have the creative space necessary to find your unique direction. In fact you just might sell everything you produce, even your experimental pieces, but placing the expectation on yourself that you HAVE to sell them will likely hinder your creative experimentation. If you expect that your work MUST look like so-and-so's work, then you unnecessarily limit your ability to express your own individuality.
(As a side note for professional artists - yes, you can give yourself space to experiment and find your creative voice while still producing your "bread and butter" work - but more on that later.)
There's another thing you must let go of in order to allow your true creative essence to shine - you must let go of fear. If you fear what others might think of your new work, you're not free to be truly creative. If you fear never getting your new artwork in a show you'll be chained to producing more of the accepted norm. If you're afraid what others may think of you personally, well then, you're definitely limited in your ability to be expressive both creatively and personally.
Unfortunately these things are hindering most artists out there right now. Rare is the artist who breaks the mold to put his or her unique stamp on their work.
It's your choice - which path will you choose?
All images and text copyright Nancy Rynes, 2012. You may link to this blog freely, but you cannot copy it without my express written permission.
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