It’s Time We Document Our Creative Practice
Over the years I’ve accrued a collection of incomplete, occasionally captivating, and occasionally shambling art projects. Some are paintings while most are partially engineered concepts.
At times I’ve documented my practice which allowed me to capture a frozen state of these unique experiments. The old blog posts function similarly to a photograph both proving its existence and telling the art’s story. I realize this was always the best form for some of my work.
Some of my work was never intended to be a product. Much of it was never intended for a gallery space. Instead so much of my practice has always been the act of doing and creating. The results can be unique and sometimes interesting but I’m always driven by the questions that led up to the results.
So I’m returning to a regular routine of documenting, discussing, and sharing my creative practice. I have more clarity on what that means to me and what could mean to others who want to learn or understand.
If you yourself struggle with the idea of “completing” a project, do realize that the act of doing it at all is sometimes more important.
My creative practice has to involve many small discoveries. It’s one reason I involve myself so much with modern technology. There are still interesting mistakes to make with unwieldy tools and half-baked processes.
Years ago I watched a documentary about the filmmaker David Lynch’s painting practice. He summarizes his beliefs succinctly (as Lynch would), “You drink coffee. You smoke cigarettes, and you paint. And that’s it.”
I believe too many practicing artists miss the mark and don’t realize the joy they should feel in the act of doing it.
Over the past three years my creative output has become a consistent element in my life. Some current events are going to push that even further. I was recently accepted into the Ghetto Film School Emerging Composer’s Program which they describe as an artist residency. It’s a program focused on bringing non-traditional people into a field that has been historically exclusionary — a topic I’ll elaborate on in the future. My cohort has an impressively diverse musical background. When they introduced themselves I immediately imagined the scores they could create based on how they described their musical background.
This residency will hopefully challenge myself as a composer and allow me to better communicate who I am musically.
Additionally, I’m in the process of slowly co-founding a virtual instrument company called, Gesture Audio with a partner based in Ireland.
There’s more upcoming and this is why it should be shared. There are interesting things to discover during these furious moments of creation. New sounds, images, and ideas.
Moving forward
I intend to find a story about my practice. I don’t know what that is yet. I hope to one day pull back from these written words, re-read them, and hopefully understand something new. Something that only the process of time can reveal to me.
If you yourself struggle with the idea of “completing” a project, do realize that the act of doing it at all is sometimes more important. Consider documenting and sharing stories of your process and practice. We have a lot to learn from each other.
