The last chapter of Kleon's "Steal Like an Artist" is short, but it gave me assurance in how I felt about doing anything design or art related in that I need limitations in order to come up with something decent. If you sit me down and tell me to draw something, anything, I would probably spend most of the time sitting there thinking about what to draw. However, if you tell me to draw a flower using glitter glue and confetti, I could probably whip something up in a couple hours. By being constrained, not only are you narrowing down the possibilities, but you are also challenging your mind in how to create and interpret the assignment. When you do something with limitations in place, there is also a greater possibility of creating something truly unique and innovative because it's not expected. If you tell two people to paint a rainbow, and give one person all the colors and the other person just one, surely the person restricted to just one color would come up with something far more creative than the other person because they have to think more about how to execute it.
That being said, I should assign myself a project to do with restrictions. It would be great practice and who knows, it might become my greatest piece yet! lol. As much as I would like to create a flower out of glitter glue and confetti, I don't have either of those. So I would need to think for a bit on what I would like to do.
Hi Cat! I see your point, but I do not necessarily agree that there should be limitations on the subject. I feel like the choice of what to draw/paint/etc. is also part of the creative process and the reason that one sometimes can't decide what to draw is because nothing really speaks to him or to her. Having said this, I do have an idea/challenge project with restrictions for you, if you want to do it.
ReplyDeleteYou can use any tools or means of doing this. Your restriction will be time. However not just clock time. Here is the link to the album I have recently listened to. It is about 52 minutes long. Your goal, if you want to try, is to start and finish a piece while the album is playing. Draw inspiration from the music, however you are not allowed to listen to it before you start. Let me know, if you ll end up doing this and maybe post the result =) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dss8_-TLPA0
P.S. Also, how are you??!! I have not talked to you in forever!
Yo Vlad! I like the sound of your project and will definitely give it a try at some point. It'll be great practice and a challenge for me, especially with the time limit since I can take forever on a project.
DeleteI have been good, a bit busy with graphic design classes and my internship, but have been really enjoying myself. How have you been?? I have no idea what you have been up to since the last time we talked, like, 3-4 years ago.