[thundercracker]

what are your reasons for doing this. by 'this' i mean your art or why are you a digital artist, illustrator, painter, graphic designer, conceptual artist, designer, animator, 'tracer' ect.?

what is your main motivation for picking up that pencil (or preferred tool of choice)and put 'an idea to paper'? it must be more than just coz you want to? is it your means of expression? is it a way to get an idea across to the masses? or is it coz your good at it and you get paid? or is it a boredom killer?

i've pretty much accepted the fact that i'm not good enough yet to get paid to be an illustrator (trust me as soon as i get my scanner back-b4 the end of this week hopefully-you'll see what i mean ) but i still like to draw and i'm just starting learn new and different things i can do with it ( yeah i'm slow on the uptake of this digital stuff)

i had this anal thing about me that i dont like people teaching something that i thought i knew everything about. thats my mistake. i'm just catching up. yes i'd like to get paid for what i do that'd be a bonus. but i also like getting that feeling i get after i've spent some time on something, laboring at it, getting everything juuust right, look at it, like what i see and have that satisfied feeling (y'know what i mean?:confused and hope others that see it like too.

[Duracel]

self-realization


Ah, sometimes i get this feeling in my fingers, and i have to draw, but thats not the point, i think ...

It's they way i see the world. And i want to add my special feeling to "the whole" ... ...hmm, dunno, this sentence come out of me, i'll think of it and maybe i will post something more(ah, sure i will ;)

[Brain]

I do it out of enjoyment, for one thing. The feeling of accomplishment is something that I really like, and even better is when others see it and smile, even saying it's great. Making others happy is great, so that's a good part of it.

It's also in my blood. Mum's definately been an inspiration to me artwise from an early age. She doesn't do too much art lately, but she still busts out some great stuff from time to time. Was really into it in her younger years.

I dunno... I spose there's many more reasons like expression, that I'm a visual person, etc etc. In summation, I love art. @:-)

[Steven Stahlberg]

I'm afraid my motivation is nothing noble or complex, just a simple primal need to prove myself, to 'succeed', most likely stemming from childhood experiences - although sometimes I think it also has a lot to do with our competitive nature, you know, the hunter-killer mindset - 'must struggle to make life better!'

It's a very powerful kind of motivation, since it's centered deep inside us, in the subconscious if you will. This means it's at work even when we sleep, even when we try to relax. This is why ideas come to us at unexpected times, this is why some people are workaholics...
In fact, in the final analysis, is there any other kind of real motivation? What do you think?
Ingmar Bergman and John Cleese both had psychological problems as young men, later in life they went through therapy - and as they became happier, they created less, became less prolific.

Anybody out there who had a happy childhood, would you be willing to switch with an unhappy one to have a shot at greatness like Bergman and Cleese?

Another question: if you were the last human in the world, and you knew that shortly after your death the earth would be utterly destroyed... would you still paint or draw? I mean, if you knew no one would ever see it, what would be the point?

[Ahcri]

I just want to create something original that looks cool to me. There are images in my head that aren't exactly what other people would paint, and in this small city where I live, people are very conservative. That is part of the reason why I kept doing what I do: to somehow make people realize that 'modern art' is not a con. Besides that, I've been wanting to get into university to get some proper training, so I have to create a large amount and variety of work in order to persuade them to accept me.

[Gort]

I have to agree with Steven; I was motivated to succeed, and I wanted to be recognized by my peers as successful. Before launching into my career, I held a host of hard working, laborious jobs, and I knew all along I had what it took - I just needed to start stepping in that direction; a step, no matter how small, is closer to achievment than the one not taken at all.

Nowadays it's pretty much for enjoyment - and the fact that I get paid to do it makes it all the better. Now that's not to say it's all perfect, because it isn't; there are times when the responsibilities are trying.

"Get busy living, or get busy dying"

[Toeter84]

I do this because I want a job in 'multimediadesign' as it's called nowadays. I'm now in the 6th class of dutch highschool, the exam year.
I have informatica and art class (and the regular classes like languages, maths, etc.)

I have been looking for a school and I have found two schools that seem very nice to me. One's education is called 'Communication & Multimediadesign' and the other school provides a 'Graphical and Typographical' education.
I don't know which of them to choose, but I prefer the first one (I've read more folders about it )
But, as always with those schools, there are more who want to join than there are places. So I hope I'll get in for this year (first pass my exams).

For a job? Yes. But it's up to the education, which job it will be. I can choose of many kinds of work, graphical designer, webdesigner, etc.

I'm yet a freelance webdesigner, but if i'm doing good in this business, I'm going to do it for a living. My friend is yet webmaster of a big dutch site so we're in the same branche

[The Brat]

I do it because there's nothing else I'd rather do. It's in my soul. Even if I never get an arty job, I'm going to be drawing and such for the rest of my life... so I figure I'd might as well get paid to do it at some point.

[wigin]

It is what i like to do. Ever since i was young my teachers have told my parents that i am always drawing and not concentrating on other things. Funny thing is that just the other day i was reading my kindergarden report card and it said that during play time i would be drawing alone in the corner =)... anyways ive always had a fascination with cartoons and anything visual. It wasnt really until grade 7 that i realysed i actually wanted to be an artist when i grew up. When i first saw pictures from fantasy artists back in grade 9 i told myself That is what id like to do. Ever since then ive been drawing like hell And now im in Sheridan College.

Anyways I guess i want to do art to show people what is going on in my wacky head. i want to make people think and make them see the world like i do. i want reactions to my work. I want to people to say " I would like to do this someday" when they look at my work.

[Krycek]

My this is definitely cutting deep.

‘Self-realization’, ‘means of expression’ etc seem to be an art critics interpretation of what they see. Does anyone know a critic who is an artist? If someone else likes it, you may see it on a wall. Picasso, van Gough, Bart Simpson what ever your taste, your bound to like something. That would make the artist happy. But if someone does not like it, does the artist really care? I think not. You draw, paint, sculpt because you can. You have the freedom to do so and you enjoy it. Anyone else who enjoys what you do, good for them. If they don’t, bugger off.

The extent of my ‘self-realization’ is limited to when I realize I forgot to brush my teeth, my ‘means of expression’ is yelling at the kids. I sculpt because it is enjoyable and others may also enjoy it. My mood may effect what is portrayed, but it is my creative mind that wants to do it. Some play sport, some make money, some play politics and some create art. We all have abilities and gifts. Some use them and others don’t. If you can earn a living doing what you like and are good at, go for it. If you need to prove yourself, no problem, be proud. Just don’t over analyze everything all you dark and somber types. Start to do that and you might as well write a book.

[burn0ut]

i guess just a mix of what others have said, i want to see how good i can become. i want to learn, to succeed, push myself.

steve: yea id prolly draw, i draw tons of stuff nobody ever see's ........
or mabye id try other shit before i died.

[Lunatique]

For me, it's escapism.

I fell in love with anime/manga because I can escape into another world. Then, I fell in love with creating these worlds.

My motivation is not purely drawing/painting. There's always a storytelling element associated with it. If I were to do a piece that had no story behind it, the motivation would be to create beauty.

[dr . bang]

because i'm a COPLETE FAILURE AT EVERYTHING ELSE.

[worthless_meat_sack]

why does my cat chase Geckoes?

It sounds flip, but it is a serious answer.

I have tried to explain motivations and interests coming and going in my life, and I have no explanations whatsoever.

I was playing a lot of golf 5 years ago. I got pretty good. If I had continued I could have done it as a profession.

I then lost all interest. Boom.

How do you explain that?

Human beings are not rational by a long shot. You can evaluate rationality in respects to achieving a goal, but once that goal is beyond the basic necessities of life (food, clothing, shelter), motivation becomes very arbitrary and mysterious.

I am pretty deterministic in my view of human nature (I like Mr. Skinner) so I guess I have just not analyzed my interests sharply enough. I am sure that the structure of my brain enjoys the illusion of space on a 2-d surface.

So it's some kind of nervous tick

[ November 22, 2001: Message edited by: worthless_meat_sack ]

[edraket]

Well there are many reasons.

For one thing I see art as one of the pillars of society. Next to science it is one of the big factors that make our species grow. Thus it is a very rewarding field.

Then there is the realisation that every thing of beauty I create makes the world as a whole more beautifull.
Which is the best way I can use my talents to oppose the fact that the world is rapidly becoming uglier and uglier.

There is also the fact that I need to pay the rent and eat. And this is the thing I have skills in.

Being successfull isn't that much of a motivation anymore. It used to be though.
The thing that I don't like about that motivation is that you ultimately make things for other people instead of yourself.
That always gave me a feeling guilt.

okie

Eddy

btw.. Toeter84: It sounds like you are planning to go to a grafisch lyceum.
Save your time. I've been there. After four years you will come out knowing the same you do now. (I saw your website)
You're always welcome to send me an email if you have questions.

[Nimrak]

Before you die, if you look back at your life and can die with a smile or content. Then that life was a success.
Same goes for a week, month or even a day.

Now some things one sees as good now perhaps will turn to bad when one gets older. but, hey that another tale.

The thing is, I have to struggle to motivate my self. Always.
There are two paths to willpower as I see it. One is the pure hardheaded you are born with. The other comes from knowledge/morale.
If you are locked up in a room and you know you will be free tomorrow, it is easier to endure and not loose your focus.
If you have to clean up your apartment, and you know it only takes one hour (if you focus On the task), it is easier to motivate yourself.

Therefore I try to find or rather to come up with reasons and goals to motivate myself when I am not motivated. And it helps a lot when you have a friend that gives you a push every now and then.
Tack Mag =)

[Starseed]

Interesting topic. A few years ago I would have thought the answer was elusive . . . maybe even impossible. But today this question of motivation and "why?" is not so troubling.

I especially identify with Steven and Craig's thoughts. I like the down to earth approach to explaining motivation, creativity, and "why?". Though, as an artistic type which I do consider myself, it seems like I should be one of those to approach the answer from a romantic or even spiritual side.

But I'm the opposite. I take a deterministic approach. Craig, I did have trouble seeing the word 'deterministic' and 'arbitrary' in the same post I think you corrected yourself later by realizing that you may have just not dug deep enough.

For creative work that I do, I think it is just about doing something (what I feel is) better than what I've encountered. Its like the fashion world, the music industry, whatever. Nothing ever stays static. Take the music industry for instance. There is room for an infinite number of songs given the scope of our hearing. But, we need to move along a nice little path where the current music can be "improved" upon (basically just by being different). Our society deems certain melodies, beats, etc. of more value than others at a certain time, and hence song writing reacts to this want (otherwise people wouldn't buy their records). We could never hop from liking what we like now, to liking what will be hot 10,000 years from now . . . it may have changed so much we dont consider it music! But we as the creators relish our ability to take into account what is "in the air" and show them something that will blow their socks off. That's what I like, trying to create something that will be reacted to as strongly as possible for a particular audience.

Look at the Harry Potter books. There is an example of something creative that strongly struck a chord with kids. There was a huge need for that, and when it was delivered - BOOM. It's got tons of kids reading who would have been playing XBOX or something.

I'm interested in you guys' thoughts on what creativity is? Is it tangible and deconstructable or is it something like a spirit. I think this question almost comes down to whether you believe in a God or not.

[LinaBo]

I live for that wonderful feeling that I've learned something new, you know, the "Wow...I couldn't do THAT before" feeling. I know, I used to hate being taught, too. I still don't like being humbled at times, but now I love learning new techniques.

I also enjoy creating new people, places, things....living in my little dream-world, my 'bubble', with all my crazy ideas.

also, the ability to paint a person with green hair that will never show 'roots' is a nice bonus (yay for my current character)

[ken]

mmm... great reading.

i think i could agree with some aspect of every post here so far. to various degrees, i'm in it for the glory, money, survival, escapism, satisfaction, communion, creation, release.

the way i think of it lately is that art is what makes me me. i used to have this great fear that i'd somehow outgrow art, just lose interest. the past year has convinced me that it's something i can never lose, even if i try. the only two things i can really call my own are the way i see things and the way i create things for other people to see.

quote

Quote:

because i'm a COPLETE FAILURE AT EVERYTHING ELSE.

yeah, that too

-Ken

[Drawnblud]

Hmmm... I get a lot of inspiration from other people's work. That doesn't mean I copy or "steal" it, it just helps me when I get blocked to look at other people's ideas.
To answer your question, I hope that by my creating a drawing, I will inspire someone elses work.
Also, my brain gets crowded with ideas, so drawing is the only way to share my thoughts and format my brain!