How Artists ACTUALLY Get Their Ideas (Ask An Artist)
Summary
TLDRThis script delves into the origins of ideas for artists, exploring the creative process from derivative to original concepts. It discusses the challenges of generating fresh ideas and the importance of the idea behind artwork. The speaker suggests a modified Transcendental Meditation approach to tap into the subconscious, alongside other methods like extension, cross-pollination, and automatic writing to cultivate creativity. The emphasis is on mindfulness and understanding one's role in shaping or channeling artistic ideas.
Takeaways
- 🔍 Ideas can be thought of as existing on a continuum from derivative to original, where derivative ideas are easier to generate, but original ideas are more challenging and valuable.
- 🧠 The origin of ideas is crucial for artists, as the idea behind a work of art significantly contributes to its interest and value.
- 🌲 Simply trying to force ideas by thinking hard, as the speaker did by walking in the woods, is not an effective method for generating creative ideas.
- 🎨 Copying other artists' work can be a valuable exercise for developing technical and formal mastery, but it becomes insufficient for artists seeking to couple interesting forms with interesting ideas.
- 🧘♂️ A modified Transcendental Meditation method can help artists generate ideas by quieting the mind, focusing on a mantra, and noticing the origins of thoughts, similar to lucid dreaming.
- 🔄 Artists can enlarge the realm of derivative ideas by building off pre-existing work, either their own or others', to create new ideas and works.
- 📝 Various processes like automatic writing, cross-pollination of ideas, and systematic copying with selective changes can help in generating new ideas.
- 👂 Engaging in meaningful conversations with others about one's work and listening carefully can provide new perspectives and ideas.
- 🌱 Incubating ideas by allowing the subconscious to process information over time can lead to new insights and creative breakthroughs.
- 💡 The creative process involves preparation, incubation, illumination (aha moments), and verification, where ideas are tested for merit.
Q & A
What is the main topic discussed in the video script?
-The main topic discussed in the video script is the origin of ideas and the process of generating ideas for artistic creation.
What is the default mode Network mentioned in the script?
-The default mode Network is a term used to describe the brain's network that is active when a person is not focused on the outside world, often associated with mind-wandering and creativity.
Why is the idea behind a work of art considered important in the script?
-The idea behind a work of art is considered important because it is what makes the work interesting and meaningful, rather than just copying reality.
What is the continuum model of ideas mentioned in the script?
-The continuum model of ideas suggests that ideas exist on a spectrum from derivative (easy to generate) to original (hard to generate).
What is the problem with focusing on verisimilitude in art as described in the script?
-The problem with focusing on verisimilitude is that it often leads to uninteresting art, as it prioritizes the appearance of reality over the exploration of new and original ideas.
What is the modified Transcendental Meditation method suggested for artists in the script?
-The modified Transcendental Meditation method for artists involves quieting the mind and body, focusing on a mantra, and subtly guiding and shaping thoughts as they arise, similar to lucid dreaming.
Why is it suggested that an empty mind is an impossibility in the script?
-It is suggested that an empty mind is an impossibility because the brain continuously generates thoughts, even during attempts to quiet the mind, such as in meditation.
What are some of the creative tools or processes mentioned in the script for generating ideas?
-Some of the creative tools or processes mentioned include extension and expansion, comparison, copying, cross-pollination, automatic writing, conversion, and using limitations as a catalyst.
How does the script suggest using conversations as a tool for idea generation?
-The script suggests engaging in meaningful conversations about one's work with others and listening carefully to their ideas and feedback as a way to generate new ideas.
What are the basic principles underlying the methods for idea generation mentioned in the script?
-The basic principles underlying the methods for idea generation are preparation (gathering information), incubation (allowing the subconscious to process information), illumination (the 'aha' moment of idea emergence), and verification (analyzing and testing the idea).
Outlines
🤔 Origins of Ideas and the Creative Process
This paragraph delves into the question of where ideas come from, pondering if they are pre-existing or a product of our brain's default mode network. It emphasizes the importance of ideas in art, contrasting the derivative nature of simple ideas with the challenge of generating original ones. The speaker shares personal anecdotes about struggling to find ideas and introduces a model of creativity that ranges from derivative to original. The paragraph also touches on the limitations of verisimilitude in art and the need for artists to move beyond mere replication to develop meaningful and interesting ideas.
🧘♂️ Modified Transcendental Meditation for Idea Generation
The speaker explores the practice of meditation as a means to understand the origin of thoughts and, by extension, ideas. They discuss the impossibility of achieving a completely empty mind and suggest that observing the genesis of thoughts can be beneficial for artists. A modified version of Transcendental Meditation is proposed, where the artist quiets their mind, focuses on a mantra, and then notices the origins of their thoughts, subtly shaping them in a manner akin to lucid dreaming. This method is positioned as a pure form of idea creation, distinct from other, less original approaches.
🌱 Expanding the Realm of Derivative Ideas
In this paragraph, the speaker addresses the challenge of idea generation by suggesting methods to expand the realm of derivative ideas. They propose building new ideas on pre-existing concepts, which could be one's own previous work or thoughts. The paragraph outlines several processes to generate new work, such as extension and expansion, comparison, copying with selective changes, cross-pollination, automatic writing, and using conversation as a catalyst. The speaker also discusses the importance of preparation, incubation, illumination, and verification in the creative process, and raises philosophical questions about the nature of control over ideas and the role of the artist in the process of creation.
Mindmap
Keywords
💡Ideas
💡Default Mode Network
💡Derivative to Original
💡Technical and Formal Mastery
💡Verisimilitude
💡Meditation
💡Transcendental Meditation
💡Incubation
💡Cross-Pollination
💡Automatic Writing
💡Mindfulness
Highlights
The origin of ideas is a fundamental question for artists, with the idea behind the artwork being of paramount importance.
The creative process involves a continuum from derivative to original ideas, with originality being more challenging to achieve.
Copying and making work that resembles others' is insufficient for personal artistic development beyond a certain point.
The value of copying as a means to develop technical and formal mastery is recognized, despite its limitations.
Verisimilitude, the appearance of reality in art, is critiqued for its lack of interesting ideas beyond mere replication.
A modified Transcendental Meditation process is suggested for artists to generate ideas by quieting the mind and focusing on a mantra.
The impossibility of an empty mind suggests that thoughts are continuously generated, offering a rich source for artistic ideas.
Paying close attention to the origin of thoughts during meditation can be a powerful tool for idea generation.
The process of shaping thoughts is likened to lucid dreaming, allowing for the creation of new work from the subconscious.
Various methods to generate ideas are presented, including extension, expansion, comparison, and cross-pollination.
Automatic writing and engaging in meaningful conversations are proposed as effective tools for idea incubation.
The importance of allowing the subconscious to process information over time in the idea generation process is emphasized.
The four-step process of idea generation includes preparation, incubation, illumination, and verification.
Mindfulness and paying close attention to one's thought processes are central to the creative journey of an artist.
The role of the artist in the idea generation process is questioned, exploring whether they are a shaper or a vessel for ideas.
The modified Transcendental Meditation method is positioned as a pure method for idea generation on a creative tools spectrum.
The creative process is not only about generating new ideas but also about questioning and understanding their source.
Transcripts
where do ideas come from they are they
pre-existing forms that we merely tap
into are they a function of our brain's
default mode Network what are the
origins of ideas and where do they begin
and and why is that such an important
question for the artist when I went away
to graduate school and came to the
realization that ideas were important in
the work of art the idea behind the work
was the thing that's important I would
walk around the woods uh trying to think
of ideas for work as if they would come
from nowhere I was thinking so hard that
it was this smoke was both figuratively
pouring off of my brain it wasn't a very
effective way of coming up with ideas
wasn't a very effective way of thinking
about artwork go what do you want me
talk about the high school kids yeah I
mean my kids they sometimes I I walk
over and I say what are you doing and
they're like this I'm trying to come up
with ideas and I'm like it doesn't
happen doesn't just pop into your head
helpful for a moment to think of a model
where I ideas exist on a Continuum from
derivative to
original now in this model derivative
ideas are relatively easy to to generate
while original ideas are hard now in the
creative act all ideas Fall somewhere
along this axis but relax relax because
we'll discuss the ways that this model
is flawed in a moment but but you need
to stick with me in order for me to make
my point for most
artists there comes a moment in their
personal development where simply
copying where making work like other
artists is is just not enough now I've
made a few recent videos that address
the value of copying as a way of
developing technical Mastery and formal
Mastery and these videos I have
also discussed the the problems with cop
C in in a number of other recent videos
I have spoken about the problems with
verisimilitude and what is ver
similitude it is art that has the
appearance of being real where the
artist functions like a camera
most but not all Art and Design videos
on on YouTube are about how to draw and
paint a picture that actually looks like
the thing that you're painting that
Steve itself in very similitude and
obviously for most
people this is this is enough the the
idea itself is enough and that's the
problem it's not a very interesting
idea it is the idea behind works of art
that make the work interesting and
unfortunately for most people you don't
need an idea you you simply need to to
copy reality making work in this way and
with this approach to Art is precisely
why the work is uninteresting now when
an artist arrives at the point where
they want to couple interesting form the
way that the work looks with interesting
ideas the way that the work what the
work
means they have arrived at an
exponentially more challenging and more
interesting problem so where to begin
where do ideas actually come
from well how how how how does an artist
how should an artist think through Art
and Design and also develop interesting
ideas so let's break down the process of
generating ideas and look at both how to
do it effectively as well as some of the
more difficult
implications from this process and the
practice of meditation there's a long
history spanning Many religious and
philosophical traditions that involves
quieting the mind and the body in order
to empty the mind this raises the
question it raises the fundamental
question of if it is even possible to
empty the
mind now why would we ask this question
we'd ask this question because paying
attention to this process we can learn
where ideas come from now complete
Emptiness is an impossibility and
looking closely at the origin of our
thoughts can be a powerful tool for the
artist now in the trans in the in the
tradition of Transcendental Meditation
the meditator repeats a mantra like the
word m over and over and over
again in this process any time the Mind
drifts or wanders from the Mantra the
meditator gently brings their attention
back back to a single point back to the
Mantra back to the sound back to the
word over and over and over again now
even during attempts to quiet the Mind
such as in meditation the Mind continues
to generate thoughts attempts to
suppress thinking are nearly impossible
now in this process if we pay attention
to our thinking we can chase the Beast
back to its layer we can begin to notice
the the the brain the cosmos the
universal one relentlessly populates the
mind with
thoughts an empty mind is an
impossibility when we quiet the Mind
Plumbing the vast depths of the psyche
The Act of Creation happens unabated at
the most fundamental
level it's at this
moment that like in lucid dreaming the
artist can simultaneously trace the
thought bubbles down through the various
strata of Consciousness to their
primordial Source subtly guiding and
shaping them it's in this process and at
this moment that we can imagine new work
new possibilities so the modified
Transcendental Meditation process for
the artist is basically as follows it's
almost this simple quiet the mind and
body focus on a mantra when the focus
drifts bring the focus back to the
Mantra then no notice begin to notice
the origins of thought and then shape
subtly give form and shape to those
thoughts in a way that is not dissimilar
from lucid dreaming so the modified
Transcendental Meditation method is the
purest of the methods that I'm
suggesting today now if we look at my
initial model for the idea of
creation the creative tools for the
artist the modified transcendental
method Falls far to the right of this
scale
now this begs the question what are
other tools that an artist can use to
help generate
ideas and why would they want to do
that well let's look at the
original model that I laid out uh for a
moment and if you're having difficulty
with the pure unadulterated Act of
Creation if the modified Transcendental
Meditation method is difficult or if
it's unproductive then the way to fix
fix this is to
enlarge the realm of the derivative to
increase its area now if we use methods
that increase the realm of the
derivative we we build ideas off of
something that's pre-existing this does
not mean this does not mean derivative
it doesn't not necessarily mean
derivative of others work it may mean
derivative of your own thoughts your own
processes your own forms your own
pre-existing body of work but the goal
is to build build new ideas off of
something pre-existing you can derive uh
the idea from your
work in some ways from your last work
everything you need to know about your
next piece may be contained in your last
piece now here is a list of processes to
generate your next work that enlarge
that realm Transcendental Meditation far
on the right extension expansion
comparison copy cross pollination
process automatic writing conversion I
mean conversation and the limitation and
limitations as a
catalyst now at the at the core of most
of that these ideas lies um lies a
fundamental similarities so in in in uh
extension and expansion we can extend
and expand our existing work so the
closer that we look at any subject the
more we see idea is expand in the field
of our
attention the closer you look at any
subject the more you see in this method
what we do is we we bring our attention
to a given subject or one of our
existing works we research every aspect
of the work in the subject in this
process ideas will inexorably manifest
themselves it's also possible to
systematically copy an existing Works
selectively
changing fundamental aspects of the work
in this process creating a new thing now
I made a whole video about this process
already so I won't go into detail here
the next process that we can use is the
cross-pollination process where we take
two dissimilar ideas two dissimilar
bodies of work and use extrapolate
extract from them their genome for a
lack of a better word to create
something new so as an example we could
take the drawing style from piece a and
the subject from piece b or the color
palette from piece B to make color C or
the color palette from item a and the
sculptural form from Item B to create
item C you can do this process with your
own work or with any two dissimilar
elements this is an example from my own
work automatic writing is also a tool
that we can use this process is in
somewhat similar to the modified
Transcendental Meditation process and
that you begin with a blank page and
simply start writing whatever appears so
in some ways this process has much of
the promise as well as many of the
complexities of the trend modified
Transcendental Meditation process
another extremely effective way to
enlarge the realm of the
pre-existing is to Simply listen to the
ideas about your work from others to
engage in meaningful conversations about
your work with other people and to
listen very carefully now it is also
possible to incubate ideas to plant
subject matter into the subconscious to
tell yourself to work on an idea as a
kind of background cognitive process to
let the idea the subject gestate in the
psyche over time only to return to the
development of the idea uh in a more
systematic way after you have told your
subconscious to work on that idea over
time we see that on the screen now now
at the base at the root of all of these
methods are a few basic principles
preparation G gathering information
immersing yourself in a topic and then
the incubation process which is this
idea of allowing the subconscious mind
to process the
information uh the third step in the
process is illumination where there is
this aha moment that can be a very
subtle thing but when the when the idea
emerges and finally verification which
is where what we do is we use our
analytical mind to think through the
ideas and to test for whether or not the
idea has Merit we can use a host of um
research tools to do that now reoccur
reoccurring theme in my videos and in my
own work has been about mindfulness
about paying very close attention to our
ways of thinking how we think and why we
think the way that we think in the
modified Transcendental Meditation
process that I've outlin here it's
possible to also begin to question who's
in control where ideas actually come
from and what is my yours or our role in
that process as the artists are we the
shaper of the idea or are we a mere
vessel for its articulation for its
manifestation out into the material
world
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