I bought a dog yesterday. No it wasn't Halloween, it was actually the last day of November. Along with it I bought a bag full of plastic skulls. A creepy looking ceramic cup with a man's face on it. A box full of small plastic dinosaurs. And a selection of 20 spools of ribbon. These items take their place, along with hundreds of ancient books, a box full of tintype photos, real bones, a collection of colored sand and rock, a sculpture headless Asian woman. And these are just the items that catch my eye right now, in my studio.
So what is the reason for this strange collection of items that now inhabit my studio? No I'm not a hoarder. Well... not in the traditional sense. This is what I call "the potential of art".
I see possibilities to create new art in everything. It might be the old oyster sack blowing in the wind, I picked up last weekend on a trip to the gulf coast, or this beautiful dog skeleton. If there is a way to use something, I'll find it.
This isn't a hobby. This is an addiction. I can't help myself. I see art in everything around me. It may have already been art in a previous life, or a never before item that only a lunatic could see potential in. And its not only in items being re-tasked as art. Its the idea that the items may create an idea within me for something new. (Yeah that's a confusing thought I know). The item itself may never be used but the idea will be. And to take it a step further, this happens with everything I see. I may be looking at a website and suddenly a photo creates an idea within me. So I save the photo. Its a never ending cycle of "idea into art".
Ray Bradbury, the famous author, was infamous for having an array of wild and unusual items around him at all times. He claimed that they helped him come up with some of his best ideas for stories.
The same applies here. The more stuff, the more ideas. Its never ending.
Now don't get me wrong. I'm not claiming that this is the only way to get great ideas for art or writing. What I am saying is, that for a creative, the idea comes first. Its that spark of inspiration that comes from finding truly unusual ideas to craft your work around. This should always be our first goal. Find the spark and we can set the world on fire with our creativity. Once you have the skills that any artist needs, then the idea must be your primary motivation.
We are past the point where painting a bowl of flowers or fruit will end up in a gallery or museum. Yes that bowl of fruit may be crafted with perfection. But we are coming into an age where the "idea" will be the reason for why the art stands out.
Many people hate the art of Maurizio Cattelan's banana duct taped to a wall. But the simple fact is, the whole world knows about it. Its the idea of that banana that made it a work of art.
All the greatest cliche's of art began as an original idea. We've just recreated them to the point of nausea. Why? Because we lack original ideas of our own.
So the next time you see an odd piece of metal on the side of the street, or a strange item laying in a pile of trash, PICK IT UP! You may get your best idea ever for a piece of art just because you noticed it.
This is the Potential of Art.
