Progression and Regression

What happens to artists and their work over time?

Hopefully artists realize a progression.

Main Entry: pro·gres·sion
Pronunciation: pr&-'gre-sh&n
Function: noun
Date: 15th century
1 : a sequence of numbers in which each term is related to its predecessor by a uniform law
2 a : the action or process of progressing : ADVANCE b : a continuous and connected series : SEQUENCE
3 a : succession of musical tones or chords b : the movement of musical parts in harmony c : SEQUENCE 2c
- pro·gres·sion·al /-'gresh-n&l, -'gre-sh&-n&l/ adjective

Main Entry: re·gres·sion
Pronunciation: ri-'gre-sh&n
Function: noun
Date: 1597
1 : the act or an instance of regressing
2 : a trend or shift toward a lower or less perfect state: as a : progressive decline of a manifestation of disease b (1) : gradual loss of differentiation and function by a body part especially as a physiological change accompanying aging (2) : gradual loss of memories and acquired skills c : reversion to an earlier mental or behavioral level d : a functional relationship between two or more correlated variables that is often empirically determined from data and is used especially to predict values of one variable when given values of the others ; specifically : a function that yields the mean value of a random variable under the condition that one or more independent variables have specified values
3 : retrograde motion

There are times I look at earlier work and wonder how I arrived where I am now. Is there a progression or regression?

Maybe there is both. I do prefer trying something I haven't tried. Later I may return to familiar territory, but i enjoy re-inventing what I do.

Obsession

So what drives artists?

From being around other artists, I would say making art becomes an obsession.

Main Entry: ob·ses·sion
Pronunciation: äb-'se-sh&n, &b-
Function: noun
Date: 1680
1 : a persistent disturbing preoccupation with an often unreasonable idea or feeling; broadly : compelling motivation
2 : something that causes an obsession
- ob·ses·sion·al /-'sesh-n&l, -'se-sh&-n&l/ adjective
- ob·ses·sion·al·ly adverb

Artists become fixated with idea, images and/or themes. Some artists continue to come back to the same ideas, images or themes. Work selling may have something to do with that. Personally, I get fed up with with my own art very quickly. There is a point at which I have to stop and move on to something else.

That is my obsession. I'll rotate what I work on. Finishing is not easy for me.

Artist

Another look at the Mirriam-Webster Dictionary:

Main Entry: art·ist
Pronunciation: 'är-tist
Function: noun
Date: circa 1507
1 a : obsolete : one skilled or versed in learned arts b : archaic : PHYSICIAN c : archaic : ARTISAN
2 a : one who professes and practices an imaginative art b : a person skilled in one of the fine arts
3 : a skilled performer; especially : ARTISTE
4 : one who is adept at something

Art

Years ago I attended a lecture by a collage artist. He started off by defining "art" as "what artists do."

What is called art has become so broad. Thus the definition is rather fitting.

When?

Just when does an idea hit you?

Morning?

Noon?

Afternoon?

Evening?

Night?

Middle of the Night?

Many times, I get ideas just as I start to wake up. I turn on the shower and my brain starts spinning the old wheels.

Other times I'm working on something else when lightning strikes. Out of nowhere an idea comes.

Once in a while the ideas simply come in an adrenalin rush. So many ideas fill my head at once that I have to make a brainstorming list. These hyper-brained instances will last a number of hours. Boy, those are exhausting.

And now it's time to stop. When . . .

There Is No Box!

The phrase "out of the box" has been so over-used. Sometimes there are reasons to consider something that is "old" or "in the box." Why ignore anything "in" or "out" of the box. Then again some folks will argue that "nothing is new". I prefer to just say "there is no box." Why impose an unnecessary limit?!? Why even have a box?!?

What Is Art?

I begin with the Mirriam-Webster Dictionary:

Main Entry: [1]art
Pronunciation: 'ärt, &rt
Etymology: Middle English, from Old English eart; akin to Old Norse est, ert (thou) art, Old English is is
archaic present 2d singular of be

Main Entry: [2]art
Pronunciation: 'ärt
Function: noun
Etymology: Middle English, from Old French, from Latin art-, ars —more at ARM
Date: 13th century
1 : skill acquired by experience, study, or observation (the art of making friends)
2 a : a branch of learning: (1) : one of the humanities (2) : plural : LIBERAL ARTS b : archaic : LEARNING, SCHOLARSHIP
3 : an occupation requiring knowledge or skill (the art of organ building)
4 a : the conscious use of skill and creative imagination especially in the production of aesthetic objects; also : works so produced b (1) : FINE ARTS (2) : one of the fine arts (3) : a graphic art
5 a : archaic : a skillful plan b : the quality or state of being artful
6 : decorative or illustrative elements in printed matter
synonyms ART, SKILL, CUNNING, ARTIFICE, CRAFT mean the faculty of executing well what one has devised. ART implies a personal, unanalyzable creative power (the art of choosing the right word). SKILL stresses technical knowledge and proficiency (the skill of a glassblower). CUNNING suggests ingenuity and subtlety in devising, inventing, or executing (a mystery plotted with great cunning). ARTIFICE suggests technical skill especially in imitating things in nature (believed realism in film could be achieved only by artifice). CRAFT may imply expertness in workmanship (the craft of a master goldsmith).