Does Your Art Even Exist?

[Dan Goodwin]

When you create something new, does it actually exist?

Surely if you can see it, hear it, touch it, taste it or feel it, then it must do?

But, like the famous philosophical question about trees falling in forests and no-one being around to hear them, we can easily come to question whether our art exists in the eyes of the world.

You might have just written the most beautiful poem, painted the most glorious picture, or recorded the most soulful song of your artistic life so far. And this alone brings great satisfaction.

But if there’s no-one else around to enjoy and appreciate what you’ve created, then a crucial part of the whole creative experience is missing.

This is not just about the art itself, and presenting your work to an audience. There are some of us who create first and foremost for ourselves, and only a fraction of our work might touch the awaiting senses of another person. If this is by choice, then it is choice, and made no doubt with good reason.

What if though, like a writer I used to know called Beth, you write prolifically, desperate to connect with the world, longing to have a loyal readership hungry for your next story, or article or word?

But, tragically, your words are read only by you and sometimes your cat, when the mood takes her.

This is just one tiny example of an artist who has wonderful work to share with the world, but feels utterly disillusioned because no-one knows about her work.

In fact, no-one even KNOWS she writes, let alone cares.

At the saddest end of this spectrum, I’ve known many an artist, including Beth, simply give up creating.

“What’s the point of creating art if no-one ever appreciates it? I might as well not create it in the first place, for all the impact it has on the world. It’s a complete waste of time and energy...” goes the thinking.

Does this sound at all familiar to you?

Do you create furiously yet have an audience of next to zero, and regularly question why you even bother taking up your creative tools? Do you wonder if YOUR art really exists?

There are two major points here I want to highlight, to demonstrate there is hope, there is most certainly purpose to your creating, and it needn’t feel like you’re creating in a lonely desolate vacuum:

1. We create for many different reasons.

Presenting our work to an audience is a key part of the whole creative process. But it’s a long way down the tracks. If your only motivation is to create for others, or to create what you feel you should be creating, then you’re never going to be a very fulfilled artist.

Create what you want to create, what you’re called to create, what only you CAN create. Listen to your heart and follow your passions. Be bold, experiment, enjoy and lose yourself in the creative projects that put a smile on your face and a tingle in your spine. It’s your duty no less!

When you do, you’ll feel such enjoyment and fulfilment from creating that getting to the point of presenting your work to the world, or not, will simply be the added bonus at the end. Whatever your audience, nothing can take away the unique experience you gain from each creative project you devote yourself to wholeheartedly.

2. There are creative communities waiting to support you.

Today, more than ever before, there are encouraging creative communities out there waiting to spur your every step of the creative process. Fellow artists who know what it’s like to have no ideas or be overwhelmed with ideas.

Creative people who know the struggles and the turmoil, and the triumphs and euphoria of life in the creative lane. You don’t ever have to feel that you’re alone, that no-one cares what you create, or question whether your art even exists.

What you’ll find as an unexpected side effect, is that by sharing your creative life and projects with others means they will share theirs with you too. And seeing someone else create a little more than they could before, because of YOUR support, is a wonderful feeling. It’s why I do what I do, and why I’m writing this to you right now.

Whatever you may have thought up to now, your art DOES exist. It IS important, firstly to you, and then to others, in ways you may never even know about.

So, what to do next?

First, explore a few creative communities, online and off. Get some encouragement, meet others who create, and enjoy the kind of creative outlets you do.

Then, create what you really long to create, and share it with your communities. The difference it will make to your creative life is the difference between have no functioning senses or having five in full glorious operation!

[Dan Goodwin]

Hey Beth, great to hear from you.

I'm really glad the articles and Jules's encouragement is helping you right now. It's a perfect example of what I was talking about in the article above... : )

Dan

[Jules]

LOL...you mean my cyberskills will be challenged?
(note * that was more than 6 words) :-)

[Dan Goodwin]

It's very clever, because it's so simple. People use "hashtags" to follow themes and form groups within Twitter. So for example if you search for the #sixwords hashtag you'll see all the people's posts that are six word stories: http://search.twitter.com/search?q=%23sixwords

Very powerful. (Once you get the hang of it :) )

[Beth Clark]

Hi Dan, Hi Jules!
It's been a long time since I've commented here on CCS, but the last your last two articles, Dan, have really struck me! They have said exactly what I need to hear right now! The encouragement you provide is critical for so many creative people. Thank you! Jules: Thank you for your encouragement, as well! You are right. We need to keep looking to find that Community that we are comfortable in. Sometimes it's easy to feel isolated from other creative people too. Thanks to both of you. You have given me some positive thoughts to take with me into my day. I really needed that this morning!! :)

[Jules]

I will look into that Dan- I really cannot wrap my brain around twitter having groups, so I better just go look. It seems to me they would be a bit one dimensional- What I mean by that is it seems like it would be comment-comment again...not a lot of comment-response-relpy to response. I will take some time to investigate

[Dan Goodwin]

Thanks Jules, that's a good point about being patient. I'd recommend too trying a handful and seeing what fits. You soon get a feel of the level of conversation and topics and support offered.

I'd also recommend checking out Twitter, the amount of artists on there now is incredible. There are also groups called Twibes for example for artists, writers, musicians, photographers, hand made art, and dozens of other groups.

Have a look here: http://www.twibes.com/

Whilst Twitter itself is not an enclosed community like CCS for example, it's a brilliant way to meet and support other artists, and to find out what communities they belong to, that could be just right for you too.

[Jules]

Thanks Dan- once again an interesting and thought provoking bit of writing.
I love the feeling I get when I know someone else was in some way touched and or inspired by something I created. I also know that feeling of being inspired by what others create.

I want to point out, because there are so many art communities out there in cyberland as well as on land (my area has at least 10 different art leagues) it might take a while to find the communities that fit you best-it is not that some are better or worse...just some will feel right for you, and others will feel wrong. Do not get discouraged if the first attempts just do not feel right. Keep looking, and the ones that suit you will be found.