Question for artists (visual, songwriters, writers)?

Question

For all the artists out there: When you are working on a piece (music, painting, book, or anything), do you completely visualize what the piece is going to be when you start? If you're drawing or painting, do you know exactly what you want the finished product to look like before you start? If you're writing a song, do you know exactly what the melody and rythm are going to be before you start playing? Or do you just jump right in and see what happens?

Answer 1

For me, the inspiration seems to dictate the process I use to execute the idea. It is almost like planting a seed. As I develop the idea takes on "it's own life." The media and process I am to use exists in the subject itself.

For example: I have one idea of a drawing I want to create of a pair of old cowboy boots. The boots have a intricate design stitched in a light color and the leather is a scuffed saddle brown.

The subject suggests a warm color palette such as a sepia, or burnt umber drawing on a warm background support perhaps a creamy off white or even a golden honey. The technique would include a media capable of blending to model the shape and texture of the boots and a hard edge line to delineate the stitching. The media used could include pastels, conte crayons, or high quality colored pencils. Even the matting and framing is part of the creation.

I am sure each individual that creates has their own method, and I am interested in reading other answers.

Answer 2

Yes.And no. Initially I visualize the way I want the painting to feel(what a painting feels like to me is the way everyone else sees it).I know the exact end result but not the exact execution.Painting for me is so emotionally involved that as I progress it is always changing.Something I do with a brush unintentionally makes me rethink something-make a subtle change.In retrospect, many of my works were not painted at all the way I envisioned, but I felt they were complete because the feeling I sought was conveyed.I think part of the satisfaction for me is that fluid dynamic of the process.I often look at a work a few years later and think "I did that? Hmm"

Answer 3

When I am working on a piece of music, the melody grows as I work of the piece. I do generally ahd a rough idea of what sort of sound I am going for, but not anything like knowing exactly what I expect it to sound like at the end.. It mostly progresses out of what I am doing. I just tend ot go where ever the music takes me.

Answer 4

When I illustrate a piece I always visualize what I want the piece to look like, but whether or not it comes out the way I want is a different story. But if it doesn't come out the way I want then I start over because I'm a perfectionist.

Answer 5

A little of both. I have a rough idea to start with. Since I've done a lot of this(generally my songs are comic lyrics set to popular tunes). I do artwork and have had one novel published. I'll start with an idea and develop it. With a painting I often have something more concrete in mind and have a mental picture. Some things are more, or less developed when I do it.

Answer 6

I usually have an idea in mind when I start but I never have it planned out. I feel like it takes away from my creative process to try to have something set in stone. I feel a lot more creative if I just let go and let the words or brush strokes naturally flow through me and not think too hard. I always get blocked if I start to over think it.

Answer 7

I write. I get inspired mostly with a particular theme. Then I just write a few words and play with them. The idea grows bigger and I go with the flow. Pretty soon I know whether it will be a poem, a short story, or something else.

Answer 8

I go with it and see what happens. I was writing a book and I let my daughter read (its a teen book and she's 12) and she actually inspired a crazy twist that makes it interesting. You should go with the flow and see what it comes up with. If you dont like it, you can always start over.

Answer 9

Sometimes I know exactly what I want...especially with paintings or drawings. But when I take photographs it evolves and becomes better than I had orginally thought.

Answer 10

I usually do a painting for someone I love. When I'm painting, I get so absorbed about how much I think the person will (hopefully) love what I'm doing for them.