In this excerpt we analyze the the art of visualizing objects and why we do. In this chapter, Deeply Seeing, the author opens up to the readers with a question, “but what is the difference between merely look at a thing and actually seeing it?” (Grey 71). The way that the author brings this to our attention, it has a philosophical persona behind it. I would argue that the common saying “seeing is believing” is pretty accurate to how we interpret what Grey is telling us; there is a difference is looking at something and actually being there to see it.
Another argument that Grey brings to attention is the compare and contrast of art and spirituality. Grey lists a ‘Creative Process’ that he outlines to be the steps that artists should be using to better interpret their art work. The process goes as follows:
- Formulation
- Saturation
- Incubation
- Inspiration
- Translation
- Integration
I would argue that some of these steps seem unorthodox and futile. For example, the steps of Formulation and Saturation seem useless in my opinion. From what I’ve believe to know about art, it’s a creation of an artists choosing and free will. The artist shouldn’t have a problem or or subject that they should be targeting, but what the world will see when analyzing their work. During the analysis of what Grey describes during each of the steps, I am fond of how he brings in the aspect of spirituality into the work of art. That there seems to be a spirit within each work of art, the beauty of it is what stumps people and having to figure out what it says to them.
Reference
Grey, A. (2001). Art as Spiritual Practice. The Mission of Art (1st ed., pp. 205-233). Boston & London: Shambhala.
Alfredo, I agree with your analysis for the steps of the “Creative Process.” When I read these steps, something did not feel right to me. As I was trying to decide why these steps stood out, I realized that categorizing the creative process into a step form hinders the creative process. Like you said, the artist should not need to be targeting a problem or a subject in order to create art. Although an artist can definitely do this if they choose, this step does not need to be met in order to be creative. However one step of this process that I do like is the incubation step. This step is defined as “letting the unconscious sift the information and develop a response” (Grey 75). Although I do not necessarily agree with the numerical step, I think this is an important part of the creative process because it is the time when you are able to begin the process of turning your abstract thoughts into actual ideas.
Hi, I think your post of the creative process is critical but I cannot totally agree with you that the steps of formulation and saturation are useless. You said art is “a creation of an artist’s choosing and free will” so “the artist shouldn’t have a problem or subject that they should be targeting”. Your argument is right in a certain extent. However, I believe that sometimes artists could target some problems or subjects to create artworks. For example, if an artist want to create an artwork to reflect the problem of war, he need to discover and research on the war. Picasso created the painting Guernica that reflect how the World War hurt the people. Before the creation of Guernica, Picasso witnessed the war and research some evidence of the hazards of war. This is a kind of process of formulation and saturation. Therefore, I believe that the steps of formulation and saturation are useful.
Hi, Alfredo. I have different opinion with you about the creative process. You argue that “the steps of Formulation and Saturation seem useless in my opinion” because art is “a creation of an artists choosing and free will”. I cannot agree with that these two steps are useless. I believe that the process of creating art also need the process of formulation and saturation. For instance, if an artist want to paint an artwork to show a historical event, he have to generate this idea first and then go to research the relative information, finally he can finish this painting. The famous painting Liberty Leading the People is a good example. This painting shows the situation of French Revolution. The artist generated the idea of praising this revolution first, then he went to research the relative historical background. These are the processes of Formulation and Saturation. Therefore, I believe that these two steps are useful to the creative process.