It's funny because I used to just freely write; thinking that I could be more effective, and appeal to those who like to "color outside the lines". Now, when I say "coloring outside the lines", I mean taking a chance to be free in hope that it might just make a masterpiece. Most artists' pictures are never clear, clean, or perfectly thought out; they are creative. I figure if I creatively piece experiences together and make it so that anyone could relate, I could create a masterpiece.
This is what famous artists consider fabulous, amazing, opaque, yet very intellectual. This is a famous oil painting from China. One could not really tell what it is, yet they can make it whatever they choose to see. I guess that is the purpose of some artists' artwork. They produce work in which anyone can relate to that do not have a direct message; hence making it what you choose to see.
But I guess this is not art. This is not poetry nor spoken word. I am no story-teller. I want to be an effective communicator and persuader. I want to be an interpreter. I want people to not only hear, but also listen.
Maybe I am crazy for comparing art to writing, but both are masterpieces. Now that I really think about it, both are planned, just planned differently with a different motive. Both have an audience. Comparable to speeches; there are five organizational components that will make a speech successful. I mean maybe artists have components that will draw in buyers and other artists. And maybe it seems like I am rambling or that I being totally contradicting; but really I am typing and at the same time learning: correcting my mistakes along the way but not erasing them. Whether in a paper or on a canvas, "coloring" outside the lines is simply beautiful.
Have you ever had a time in life when being spontaneous (coloring outside the lines) was more effective than being concrete and straight forward or vice versa?
I hate format and rules as well. I value free writing more than any other kind of writing. I think the purpose of writing is to express oneself and I think rules/ formats limit that expression. I agree with you that writers and artists are comparable because they both have to be creative in their artworks but I do think that writers have more "guidelines" that they need to follow. I think maybe this occurs because words are more powerful than images?
ReplyDeletePearl S Buck said: "Order is the shape upon which beauty depends."
ReplyDeleteTo extend your analysis a bit: how do we decide what art is great? Who is best able to make this assessment? My experience has been that, while art speaks to everyone, some people are much better at interpreting it than others.
An art major friend of mine can look at a painting that I find somewhat boring, and see all sorts of fascinating things in it, because he understands the technique. When he explains it to me, I then see some of what he sees, and it becomes much more interesting, and I get more of what the artist is "saying." Those with skill become both better observers and practitioners.
So there's aesthetic appreciation, but there's also clarity to consider. People who understand the rules are much better at knowing how to break them. It's exceedingly rare that an untrained artist could create a masterpiece. (Indeed, the term itself implies mastery of the craft.)
Totally love your passion for going outside the lines because I believe that this theme not only pertains to art or music but also to general of life. One should always have the ability to step out of the norm or boundaries set in society. Just like art and writing, there are a lot of beautiful things that can be created or discovered if one finds the courage to take that step.
ReplyDeleteWonderful post. The biggest time I have ever colored "outside the lines" was when I decided not to go to college right after high school. It's sort of a contradiction because being in the military is definitely "inside the lines", but my decision was much different than what basically everyone in my social group decided to do, which was head off to school in the fall. Ultimately, it paid off. I think I am more mature and definitely more motivated to do well. It's 5 years late, but better late than never!
ReplyDelete