Thursday, June 10, 2010

grow



I'm participating in Creativity Boot Camp -- an online course to nurture creativity. The assignment today was "grow." One of the discussions that grew out of the assignment was this:
"Can art be taught?"

My take on this is that techniques and rules can be taught, but to merely become proficient in technique is not art. Don't you think that art demands emotion, spark, soul... ? Art does not display; it speaks. From the heart.

I'm almost ashamed to write that out loud. Does that sound terribly new age, psychobabble-y? Tell me what you think. :)

11 comments:

chasity said...

i think that you said it very well.
art is more emotion than technique and it can be portrayed in so many different ways.
lovely thoughts.

Abi said...

Not psycho babble at all! The tools are very important and the ability to use the tools to create something beautiful, moving, or powerful is a gift.

Dawning Inspiration said...

I think you said it well as well - although I will add that sometimes we need teaching in how to let go - to let our own art flow....

Char said...

i think that is the crux of what moves merely a photograph to "art"

anyone can point a camera and put it on automatic. but..to speak with your camera is another thing.

margie said...

i so loving the boot camp. i am starting to believe that i can be an artist without being able to 'DRAW A FACE". what the heck was i thinking, a mind block about what is art. i can be so art if i wanted to be. thing is i want to be i just have to figure out how.

Corinne Cunningham said...

The softness makes it - I love it! What a gorgeous shot.

Jamie said...

Such a beautiful, soft photo

Country Girl said...

Why ever would you be ashamed to write that? I think you said it perfectly. Yes, the fundamentals can be taught, but an art comes from within.

Unknown said...

Hi Mary, I definitely agree with you! Art comes from our heart and soul! It is not just beauty recreated, it is an expression of love, passion, and the heart's deepest emotions.

(If you could add name/URL as a commenting option, that would ease many bloggers' commenting. Since I don't have a blogger profile, I cannot link my blog here. http://lolography.com/ )

Judy said...

I think this is my favourite of all the posts you have made in the last week or so! I love the way the tips of the stamens (or pistils) are in focus, and the rest of the flowers are all out of focus! Stunning!!!
My next favourite is the first daisy photo, with the open book in the basket!

Katy Noelle said...

Nope! Not new agey or psychobabble at all! Art speak! I know that musicians have been discussing this for hundreds of years. My voice teacher in NY says that he has an exercise in one of his group classes. The group stands around the singer with their hand held in a fist near their heart. The singer in the middle sings and digs deep until everyone has been touched by something and has opened their hands. I haven't experienced it but I know that the best sounds a singer can make are dug from deep within.

Katy