Finding Meaning in the Act of Creation
When I was in art school, a professor once told me that my paintings were “too pretty.” At the time, I found myself thinking, “Umm… that’s the point.”
I think what she was trying to convey was the importance of creating art with meaning and purpose, beyond “just looking pretty." Would I have worded that feedback differently? Absolutely. But that critique has never left me and I have some thoughts about it.
I’ve discussed this idea before, but I strongly believe in the necessity of meaning behind our work. Creating something with no thought about it feels meaningless, but that begs the following questions:
Where does meaning come from and is the act of creation meaning in itself?
Why can’t beauty itself be a valid purpose?
To tackle the first question– I used to claim that making something just to make something lacks meaning. But is that really true? I'd argue the very fact that the work emerges from a human being is significant in itself. Each creator brings a unique perspective, and therein lies the meaning. Whether your work aims to captivate, provoke, confuse, or evoke emotions, or simply to be something beautiful to behold, isn’t that enough? This takes the immense pressure of creating away.
I often find myself saying I have no time to create, but what I really mean is that I’m attaching creation to the need for a grand, contemplative process. I think it has to involve deep philosophical reflection, rigorous testing, revisions, and perfect execution before I can finally call it done. But what if we let go of that? What if we simply allowed ourselves to create without all the added expectations? Is there not meaning in that act alone?
As for the second question, “Why can’t beauty itself be a valid purpose?” Beauty, the pleasing effect of the perfect combination of elements, can strike that magic that we humans resonate with for some reason. It can invoke feelings of joy, tranquility, or nostalgia. Something that is beautiful can act as a reminder of how simply and easily we can find joy in this world if we just look around.
In our increasingly complex society, we often overlook the value of creating something simply for its beauty. There’s immense power in art and work that brings joy, even if it doesn’t carry a weighty message. As an artist, this is a reminder I need regularly. The pressure of creating something with a message that will change the world tends to paralyze you into not creating at all.
Ultimately, the journey of creating—whether it’s a painting, a project, or any form of expression—carries its own significance. The process can be transformative, revealing truths about ourselves and our world. So if you work is just too pretty, I say that is meaning enough in itself.
