Visual creations be it art, fashion editorials, advertising, portraiture illustrating an article, graphic branding design and so forth have a deep uncanny affect on us. Sometime unnoticed, seeds planting none the less.
Too often a scandalous approach to visually charges us with interest, yet do we know where exactly it leads us?
We aren’t born with highly developed aesthetics. Instead born with a clean slate of not knowing, we anchor our understanding of the world first through parents, then being part of socio-cultural environment throughout our lives.
Consumption of visuals is what we do. We are constantly surrounded by visual messages, created by others. We get educated on the go.
Question is who exactly are we looking up to to educate us? And should we trust implicitly what we see ? Can you, honestly say, you see the hidden messages behind the visuals you consume ?
Artist takes what they experience, simmer it through the personal value judgment system, and recreate it anew, retelling the story for us…
Great art is meant to be a starter of a conversation, allowing us to tap into abstract thinking beyond daily and mundane. Fueling evolution.
Great art speaks for itself, created from a place we might call Soul, if you will, the elusive subconscious.
Despite our differences, we as people are interested in subjects like love, friendship, society, cultural norms, health, death, life and so on. Sometime we even wonder “why we are here?”
Observing art ( all kinds of art ) , connecting with it, even if we don’t know why, serves as unprecedented vortex where answers can be found and questions can be pondered further.
With that said, a personal experience and character of a creator always affects messages communicated to you.
If the connection with created visual is strong I encourage you to dig deeper, perhaps talk to an artist, ask your own questions, research more. Stay involved for as long as you can in exploration. Let the seeds of knowledge grow.
Visual artists are uniquely equipped to communicate everything that we are anxious about or happy about in a way that can be related to and perceived by you.
First comes this desire to communicate, with time come the skills necessary to crystallize the vision and transcend one’s message.
Pendulum sublime of beautiful discovery of the self and the world through the self and the self through the world.
For a while I listened to what appeared as common sense, coming from logical part of any business practice, where I tried to separate my creative nature and ability to perceive what others often miss from my professional commercial photography and other business practices. I split my practice into two separate universes: fine art and commercial photography.
Soon ( what is 10 years to infinity right lol ?) I clearly realized one can’t be without the other.
To stay abreast and on the curve of the NOW, to be the leader, I must allow the subconscious part of me to come out to play, allowing myself to stay “fit” creatively.
Magical process of brainstorming works just like that. The right decisions in creative commercial process come to you as if from nowhere when your senses are open to discovery. Creative fine art practice is my “Gym” for the soul and my ability to do just that when creative commercial decisions must be made.
I urge you as a creative or as a person who works with creatives to engage in seeing more, exploring more, educating your senses.
My fine art practice be it abstract paintings, mixed media, abstract geometric drawings ( i explore – thus I am alive ) is my way to nurture the business creative side of my business, where I apply my skill as a creative director and photographer. This is how I am able to create visual stories, achieving client’s goals aesthetically AND subliminally.
Training that elusive part of self allows for better understanding of clients and / or your own goals as well. It makes trusting instinctual creative decisions easier.
I can’t tell ( oh wait maybe I can in my future blog posts !) you how many times be it a creative commission of a fine artwork for music video or an advertising pitch, when I had strong position in trusting my own instincts – results were above and beyond what anyone had imagined. Trusting your instinct and being assertive about it isn’t just about you as a creator, it is ultimately about leading others to be better consumers, thinkers and creators as well, enriching other’s lives and your own as a result of it.
As someone who had seen massive adversity in my own life and coming out of it stronger and wiser, with a child like wonder in my heart remaining, the messages I communicate via all that I create are about courage and prosperity and trusting yourself and the process, being kind to self, and others, succeeding and learning what success means to you.
Get to know the person you are hiring for your brand visual needs, blending your vision with creative who’s values are close to yours will create everlasting communication on point, delivering results beyond expectations.
I feel responsible for the images I create and how it affects others, my hope is to see more aesthetically elevated images frequently informed by profoundly deeper thoughts. It will elevate and to enrich lives of those who consume visual culture on a daily basis.
Here is what I think being socially conscious artist and / or creator is ☝🏻
Next blog post I wil dive into some specifics based on my previous experience in being socially conscious in commercial aspect of creating. Stay tuned. Subscribe.
