How do we know the inward image of an artist's mind?

Answer 1

I'll use painting as a reference, although of all artistic creativety this is true. Unless the artist is making a very blatant statement, we don't. (More often than not, the artist doesn't have an "absolute" image, as the process of creating is a transitional journey from inspiration to completion.) Through the evolvement of a painting, many personal, spiritual even--journeys are taken. If a dozen people view one painting, it will evoke a dozen subjective responses. This is the real beauty of art, to awaken from inner selves whatever it may, & not for the artist to attempt to project. Art critics are laughable to artists; they impose their singular interpretation. Books about famous or well known artists are written from the perspective of the writer. The best way to know "about" an artist is read something like "Letters to Theo," the thoughts & feelings of the artist himself. But even then, we don't "capture" the inner image of the artist.
An example is a painting I did long ago, of a little boy standing in a cemetery. People made so many assumptions; he's visiting his father's grave, it expresses youth & age, it is of life of death & so on. The truth is, I'd simply "seen" it in a plaster wall (as I often see things--in wood paneling & so on), & I painted it. There was no "meaning" at all. Having a sense of humour, I gave it the title "Estivation" & no one even knew what that meant! So there you are--some people like to believe they know the "inward image." My dear, they do not.

Edit: Fair dinkum, shahbarak!!

Answer 2

Except in commercial art, or what I would call a "contrived art", even the artist cannot know the image before it is created. In those forms art is preconceived and then executed - probably developed through a series of exploratory initial sketches. But I believe that for a true work of art the artist's "inward image" can be quite vague initially, even with the subject in front of you. The work, and the image, then resolves through a tentative interaction between the artist's mind and hand and the image itself as it develops. It is a mostly intuitive process, though built with learned skills. Every piece of applied color interacts subtly with color already applied, and both may be modified to achieve final effect, again, and again - and the same is true for tone, line, mass. Painting is like composing music, and simultaneously performing it and perfecting the expression. I believe that's one reason a real work of art moves us so powerfully emotionally, with a sense of the maker - and why so much modern "studio" art is so sterile and banal (though not all!)

Answer 3

Nice question how do we know the inward images of the artist's mind easy just look at their work it tells everything what their passionate about in life what drives them emotionally and their true feelings of what they want the public to know what really matters to them in life look at their work especially if they create an album on their own that is not tied to a record label or time frame the inward images from their minds come out so true :))) thanks Third good question :))))

Answer 4

I don't believe we can. That is why what they paint or sculpt or make is so unique. The have a sense that we are unable to manifest. It is however, threw their work that we can expand and experience emotions unleashed to us through their concepts of their minds.

I draw my own cards, certainly no artist here, but I know that when I show them to people everyone has a different reaction or response to them. Its a great feeling to see peoples faces and expression as they look at them. Its a small expression of my emotion on the cards, but.....those that are artists can light up the world, or sink the ships, or win the battles or condemn the light into night. And can give us a glimpse of our Creator and eternity in a brush stroke, a bronze statue, a statue craved out of rock. Look at David, look at Zeus, ....wow....got a stop here...going to get lost in my imagination ....k

Answer 5

The true duty of the artist is to share the world through their intreptation as they attempt to understand the world through others. Know thyself as the art and you will be able to grasp the image better than the artist through their ability to turn yourself inward.

Answer 6

I do not believe you can. I do a lot of work (artistic) and even though I see it in my head, it's like a template for the project not an exact, and as each piece develops it takes on a essence of its own that is always different from which the idea started from

Answer 7

I think art is supposed to evoke a similar image in the viewers mind, not the same exact image because that makes it too weird.

Answer 8

You know it by studying their work. Some artists will 'resonate' more closely with your thoughts, feelings, etc. and they will be easier for you to 'understand' (in the same way that some people that you meet are easier to 'get to know' than others). Ideally, the artists message will come through loud and clear no matter what the artistic medium.

Doug

Answer 9

1) that the artist is willing 2) with the exception of realism, we know through the mode or kind of picturing they use,e.g. cubism, impressionism, minimalism, parody, surrealism, etc. the extra value induced, conduced or seduced in its interpretation, intent, message, criticism, comment or praise is an addition to the represented picture-thought. Through this mode of expression or communication we only know the mediated image as a material manifestation of the artists reflection of the subject.

The Will is positive, the Judgment is negative.

Answer 10

By the inward feeling we experience when studying their art work.