Fill Up / Empty Out

December 18, 2024


To truly understand art, we must recognize that the artist is not merely an executor of work but someone who lives it. The act of creation is not a mere task; it is a profound experience, one that mirrors the full spectrum of human existence—its fullness and emptiness, its passion and doubt.

Vessel of Emotion

Consider the painter, for example. When a painter picks up a brush, they are not simply making marks on a canvas—they are giving form to the internal landscapes that reside within them. Every stroke is a way of unloading their thoughts, their feelings, their visions, and their impulses. The artist does not paint because they have to; they paint because they must. It's a visceral need, an almost primal impulse. The act of painting is a release, an expulsion of something deeply personal and emotional.

A painter may begin with one vision in mind, but as the brush touches the canvas, the process takes on a life of its own. The painting evolves organically, shaped by the artist’s mood, energy, and subconscious drive. The canvas, in a sense, becomes a mirror, reflecting not only what is in front of the artist but also what is inside them. Through the creation of a work, the artist seeks to both express and understand themselves, and in doing so, they transform their internal world into something tangible, something external.

Fullness and Emptiness

The journey of the artist is cyclical, moving between states of fullness and emptiness. The artist is sometimes filled with overwhelming ideas, emotions, and inspirations. These moments of fullness are often exhilarating—creative energy surges, and ideas flow effortlessly. At other times, the artist is left with emptiness. This emptiness is not just a lack of inspiration; it is a void where everything seems to fall silent, where nothing appears worthy of being created. Yet, it is precisely in these moments of emptiness that the artist may discover new depths within themselves.

It is this dance between fullness and emptiness that makes the artistic journey so mysterious. There are periods of passionate creation, and there are periods of doubt and stagnation. But both are necessary for growth and evolution. In fullness, the artist is swept up in an emotional high, guided by a vision that seems clear and certain. In emptiness, the artist is forced to confront their own uncertainties, their vulnerabilities, and their fears. It is in the void that they often discover something new—an insight, a breakthrough, or a deeper understanding of their own process.

Mystery of Art

The mystery of art lies not in the completed work, but in the experience of making it. To view a painting, for example, is to encounter the artist's emotional state at the time of creation, but to truly live the work is to understand the personal and transformative journey that led to it. Art is not just a representation of reality; it is an embodiment of the artist’s internal world. The colors, the textures, the shapes—they all speak to an intimate, personal narrative that cannot be fully explained by the finished piece alone.

In this sense, art is a language—one that cannot be easily translated or reduced to its material components. It is a language that transcends reason and logic, tapping directly into the emotional and spiritual currents of the human experience. As viewers, we may connect with this language in different ways. Sometimes, it is a visceral reaction; other times, it is an intellectual interpretation. But regardless of the form it takes, we are engaging with the artist’s soul, their unique way of seeing and experiencing the world.

Living the Work

We often speak of artists as “executing” their work—as though it is a task to be completed, a goal to be achieved. But this perspective diminishes the essence of the artistic process. The artist is not just a technician or a craftsman; they are a creator, a channel through which something larger than themselves flows. They do not simply do their work—they live it, breathe it, become it.

Each brushstroke, each note of music, each word written, is a moment of connection between the artist and their inner world. The artist’s work is not a separation of their life from their art; rather, it is an extension of their life itself. Through their work, they seek to make sense of the world, to express their innermost truths, and to share their experience of being alive. Art, in its truest sense, is a living act—a continuous unfolding of self and emotion.

Heartbeat of Creation

To be an artist is to live in constant dialogue with one’s inner world. It is a journey through states of fullness and emptiness, creation and destruction, joy and sorrow. The mystery of art is not merely in the final work but in the process—the constant ebb and flow of emotions, thoughts, and experiences that shape the artist’s soul. When we understand that artists live their work, we gain a deeper appreciation not only for the art itself but for the human experience that it represents. Art is not just something we look at—it is something we feel, something we live. And in this way, every piece of art becomes a testament to the life that it embodies, a reflection of the artist’s deepest self.