Blogpost 7: Processing Art

In science, in order for a scientist to solve a problem, inquire a new knowledge or, correct and integrate previous knowledge they use “scientific method.” It follows a method of inquiry that is based on empirical and measureable evidence subject to specific reasoning principles. If I can remember it correctly my high school teacher taught us the six steps in scientific method; Ask a Question, Do Background Research, Construct a Hypothesis, Test Your Hypothesis by Doing an Experiment, Analyze Your Data and Draw a Conclusion and, Communicate Your Results. In art, they also have steps in producing art; it is just that the artists never realized it.

In my research about the steps in producing art, I’ve come across an article “The Art of Thought: Graham Wallas on the Four Stages of Creativity, 1926” in brainpickings.org written by Maria Popova. In her article she explained the creative process according to Graham Wallas’ book. The creative process steps are Preparation: where you gather ideas and inspiration, Incubation: you leave your ideas alone and let your unconscious mind work on it, this is also the part where you see that most artists are sleeping, Illumination: a sudden idea that run through you mind: you don’t force it you just let it come to you and lastly, Verification: the part where you arrange your ideas.

Maria Popov also said that “But perhaps most important of all is the interplay of the stages and the fact that none of them exists in isolation from the rest, for the mechanism of creativity is a complex machine of innumerable, perpetually moving parts.”

It means that the process does not necessarily follow a specific order unlike the scientific method. Isn’t it great to know that are brain works can work that way especially in the creative process. So maybe, while you are reading a book looking for inspiration for a masterpiece your mind is unconsciously solving another problem for you.

Speaking of creative process, different artist have different form of creative process some do enhancing drugs, some meditate and some just laze around; but it does not mean that they don’t do preparation, incubation stuff, they still do it just not the same shape. In an article I’ve read “The Odd Habits and Curious Customs of Famous Writers” in brainpickings.com also written by Maria Popova she discussed a book “Odd Type” by Celia Johnson. She said that according to the book, many famous writers have an unusual way of writing: Edgar Allan Poe, has a cat that he considers the purr as an approval in his work or Truman Capote that won’t start or end his work on Fridays or he would change his hotel room if the phone number has 13 in it and others.

Also Maria Popova said that “As curious as these habits are, however, Johnson reminds us that public intellectuals often engineer their own myths, which means the quirky behaviors recorded in history’s annals should be taken with a grain of Salinger salt. She offers a necessary disclaimer, enveloped in a thoughtful meta-disclaimer.”

Some written observations of the creative process of the artists are not entirely true. The gathered information about them is words that have been passed on many ears, which means the info has been altered somehow. So if you are trying to copy their creative process then good luck with that. My advice is follow the creative process that suits you best.