The Soul of the "Image"

Yesterdays blog dealt with some of the practical aspects of how to create an image that people will recognize as your own. Next I'd like to address some of the spiritual reasons that make your work and you stand out from the crowd.

Whenever you begin a piece of work do you ever stop to ask yourself why you are creating it? There is something to be said for spontanaety but even when one is attempting to be spontaneous there should be some root heartfelt reason for putting the work together in the first place. I wonder do any of you ask yourselves why someone would want to buy your work? Whether you realize it or whether they realize it they buy it for a very good reason. A person buys your work because it adds something to their lives if only from a decorative aspect the fact is it should be making some form of addition to their life.

Thinking more deeply on that wouldn't it be wonderful if that addition to their lives was an absolute honest sharing of your soul. If it isn't then you haven't done your side of the work. Whether it is a commissioned work or some statement of beauty or ugliness that you have concocted there should always be a presence and that presence should be a part of who you are and what you stand for.

Now you are probably saying to yourself is this guy nuts? This is just an illustration for Harry's Fruit Market down the street all he wanted was a pretty picture of an apple and a couple of pears. What Harry really wanted was something that enticed his customers to accomplish that you have to Know how to make that fruit so appealing you can almost taste it! To get those kinds of feelings you have to care about what you are doing it can't be just a money thing. Yes there are time constraints etc. etc. but the bottom line is you must put your heart and soul into anything if you want it to be successful. The very basis of "image" in the real sense of the word comes from within.

Folks I love what I do no matter what aspect or genre I am working in whether it be fine art or commercial it is STILL art and should be handled with the up most respect. It is this philosophy which will build your "image" with your patrons more than anything else.

Till next time ...