Is Your Art “Real” ?
How can I ask such a thing?
Of course, your art is real! Oh but wait… are you sure?
(If you don’t think you are an “artist,” substitute whatever you create in place of the word “art” or “artist.”)
How is “real” defined?
When you create art it has a tangible existence in third-dimensional reality.
OK, so that’s a Duh or seems to be a no-brainer. But let’s dig a little deeper — just for fun.
Science and metaphysics now agree that everything that appears solid is just an illusion.
If you haven’t heard that before
ponder on it a minute
All matter is just an illusion
As microscopes get more and more powerful scientists have been able to explore the microcosm with greater and greater detail. First, they discovered molecules, then atoms, then teeny tiny particles that makeup atoms, and now quarks. What they keep seeing though isn’t matter, it’s energy, empty space, just empty space.
Even rocks are nothing but empty space moving very, very slowly, giving an illusion of something solid.
The glue holding all of the supposed matter together is energy moving at different rates of speed and intention.
“OK, so what’s that got to do with my art?”
you might ask.
As we move forward with this train of thought — quite a lot.
But for now, let’s focus on the physical nature of art — the energy glue holding it together.
The 5 Senses
The Physical Energy of art depends on which sensory organs are stimulated by its presence.
• Eyes & Visual Energy: see lines, shapes, light & dark, color, texture, focus/out-of-focus, etc.
• Ears & Audio Energy: hear details of sound
• Nose & Olfactory Energy: smells the teeny, tiny particles suspended in air
• Mouth & Gustation Energy: translates 5 tastes into an infinite variety of possibilities
• Skin / Body & Tactile Sensation Energy: feels touch and pressure
What do the senses tell us?
• Eyes don’t just see visual art, they also see performance, writing/books, food, etc.
• Ears don’t just hear music and speech, they also hear kinetic sounds, nature, white noise, etc.
• Nose doesn’t just smell, it also reminds our emotions of things past, dangers to alert to, and more.
• Mouth doesn’t just taste, ask any baby, it also notices texture, shape, volume, and more.
• Skin & Body also feel sound and connect emotion to that which is touched
Synesthetes are people who have cross-sensory perception; they hear colors, see tastes, smell numbers, and other combinations. Synesthesia is uncommon, but I believe it is possible to open up to the possibility through contemplation and meditation.
Example of a multi-sensory experience
Say you want a massage. Do you want a massage in a cold silent room with someone who treats your body like an auto mechanic just moving your parts around? Or do you want a massage in a warm beautiful room, with soothing music and/or sounds, lovely aromas, and with someone who considers massage an art form and a way to heal your body.
What senses does your art stimulate?
• Have you thought about your art this way?
• What is your art and how many senses does it stimulate?
• As a consumer of art, what types of art do you prefer?
• What of your senses is most important to you? And why?
Art as a Physical Energy Object
• A visual artist primarily creates for the eyes; yet a potter may also create for culinary uses, and a musician might put on a visual feast of a show.
• A musician primarily creates for the ears, yet they also create emotional and bodily sensations, and in live performances may create an entirely physical experience.
• A writer creates for the mind using the eyes and/or ears or touch (Braille). A Storyteller activates multiple senses.
• A culinary artist, pastry chef, the local diner cook, or you making every-day meals creates multi-sensory smell/taste/visual/touch experiences.
• Blind people can touch physical art, or writing, to “see” it
• Deaf people can sometimes feel vibrations of music to “hear” it
Consider the physical energy of the art you create and how others will perceive of it.
Why should you care?
You don’t have to care, of course. Some artists create totally for their own pleasure and don’t show their creations or desire to sell anything. This is a personal thing. The art you create affects only you, and maybe you should care about that, too.
But if your creations go out into the world, caring might make a difference.
Perhaps you care about recycling.
• As an art creator, you might choose to up-cycle and re-purpose materials to make art.
• As an art collector you might choose to purchase art, and support artists/crafters, that use recycled materials.
Perhaps you need to care about survival right now.
• As an art creator, you want to create art people will buy on a consistent basis.
• As an art appreciator, you might need to think about economy (just prints or posters for decoration) or “functional art.”
Perhaps you care about how your art makes others feel.
• As an artist you want your creations to have certain feeling qualities.
• As an art buyer, you are attracted to creations that have emotional meaning for you.
What do you care about?
• What do you want the buyers of your art to care about?
• How does the art in your environment affect you physically, if at all? (I wrote a fun article suggesting you think about art as you think about your friends. Read it here)
Now, what about that bit about everything being only an illusion?
Hey, we live in the illusion and need to function in it. But maybe we can start to realize that the illusions we interact with have power and meaning and Energy. Maybe we can begin to think about those energies that glue us and world together, both separately, and in unity.
I hope you will ponder on the art and creativity you express and how its physical energy nature affects you and those who interact with it.
* * * * * * *
My thoughts about this concept revolve around my training, certification and experiences with Old Masters of Art, Feng Shui (and the KonMari Method), Reiki, reading about and discussing art, and simply being present with all kinds of art and artists.
This is an interesting topic, so I’m going to continue with it next time by focusing on the physical aspects of 2-dimensional art, which is what I know most about.
Wishing you joy in your creativity and art form
Kim Victoria
P.S.
This is Part 7 of my series on Energy Creates Art which Creates Energy
Artists use all four energy systems to create their art, whether they realize it or not. But when they ARE aware of these energy systems they are better able to control or direct their energies in ways that help them create.
In addition, artists who are aware of the four energy systems their art projects are better able to make decisions in the content of their art.
I’m writing about all these energy systems and what creatives can do to develop mindfulness and positive action for their own energy and art.
Part 1: Dead People Don’t Create, Introduction to the concept
Part 2: You Are A Creative Animal, The Artist as a Physical Energy System
Part 3: Creativity Starts In The Heart, The Artist as an Emotional Energy System
Part 4: You Have A Creative Brain, The Artist as a Mental Energy System
Part 5: Creativity is a Divine Spark, The Artist as an Integrated Energy System
Part 6: Creativity Can Be An Enigma, The Artist as an Integrated Energy System
