Spirit of Invention

December 20, 2024

When we look at painting as a form of research, we begin to understand its true potential. Research doesn’t merely imply the study of something already known; it also suggests the pursuit of the unknown. Much like a scientist conducting experiments, the artist is engaged in a process of discovery. Each brushstroke, each layer of paint, is an experiment with form, color, texture, and meaning.

In many ways, the act of painting mirrors scientific inquiry. The artist forms hypotheses about how colors interact, how light shifts across surfaces, or how certain textures evoke specific emotions. These hypotheses are tested through the medium of paint, often leading to unexpected results. The studio becomes a space of trial and error, where materials, techniques, and ideas are pushed to their limits in the quest for innovation.

Take the abstract expressionists, for example—artists like Jackson Pollock, Mark Rothko, and Willem de Kooning approached their work as a series of investigations into the boundaries of form, gesture, and emotional expression. Their canvases were not simply decorative objects; they were rich landscapes of research. Pollock’s drip paintings, with their wild, chaotic swirls of color, were the result of intense experimentation with new techniques, blending action with intuition. Similarly, Rothko’s color fields invite the viewer to engage in an almost scientific exploration of color perception and emotional response.

Studio as a Laboratory

To create in this manner, an artist’s studio must be viewed as a laboratory rather than a traditional workspace. A laboratory is a place of controlled conditions and systematic exploration, where the artist (much like a scientist) tests, tweaks, and re-imagines their materials and concepts. The studio is not simply a space for making things; it’s where the artist’s ideas come into contact with the raw materials that will bring them to life.

In a laboratory, one does not perform routine, monotonous tasks. Similarly, an artist’s studio is not a place for doing a "monkey’s job"—a place for rote, repetitive tasks with no room for innovation. It is, instead, a place for bold experimentation, where failure is as important as success. Sometimes the most exciting discoveries arise from unexpected mistakes, from accidents that break away from conventional expectations. Just as in scientific research, the path to innovation is often non-linear and messy.

Think about the creation of a new medium, such as the invention of oil paints, which allowed Renaissance artists to achieve a level of realism previously impossible. Or consider the way artists like Picasso and Braque fused elements of Cubism, breaking down traditional concepts of perspective and form. These groundbreaking movements were the result of years of trial, error, and research. The studio was a laboratory for experimentation in every sense of the word.

Painting Is the Youth of Spirit

This focus on research and experimentation taps into something essential about painting: it is the "youth of spirit." There is a certain vitality, a freshness of vision, that comes with being unafraid to experiment, to challenge convention, and to engage in the unknown. The young spirit is one that has not yet been bound by rigid rules or expectations, and painting allows that spirit to remain unrestrained, alive with possibility.

When an artist approaches their work with this youthful energy, they are less concerned with replicating the world as it is and more focused on exploring it anew. The spirit of youth is marked by a willingness to push boundaries, to explore ideas that may not have clear answers. This is what makes painting an inherently experimental practice—it is about discovering new ways of seeing, feeling, and thinking. The act of creation itself becomes a journey of intellectual, emotional, and physical exploration.

Even for more mature artists, this youthful spirit is essential. It is what allows them to continue evolving, to keep their work fresh and relevant. Picasso, for example, never lost his curiosity, his desire to explore new materials and concepts. Even in his later years, he remained a youthful innovator, always looking for ways to break free from the traditional confines of painting.

Invention Over Reproduction

This is where the true role of the artist lies—not in mere reproduction, but in invention. A painting is not simply a visual rendering of what is seen but a unique interpretation of the world. It takes elements from reality and reconfigures them into something new—something that may not even exist yet. An artist doesn’t merely imitate nature; they use the tools of their craft to invent, to create a new reality. This is what makes art such a powerful force—it shapes our perceptions, challenges our assumptions, and opens our eyes to new possibilities.

An artist’s studio, then, should be seen as a place where invention takes precedence. The goal is not to replicate what already exists but to create something unique, something that pushes the boundaries of what is possible. In this space, the artist is not bound by tradition or convention; instead, they have the freedom to experiment with new ideas, materials, and techniques. The studio is a sanctuary for innovation, a place where the artist’s spirit can remain youthful, curious, and unbound.

Seeing in New Ways

Painting is not a job to be done out of routine. It is not about producing something easily digestible for a market, nor about simply making something visually pleasing. At its core, painting is an act of research, experimentation, and invention. The artist’s studio should be a place of discovery, a laboratory where new ideas can be tested and explored. It is here that the youthful spirit of invention thrives, pushing the boundaries of creativity and producing work that challenges both the artist and the viewer to see the world in new and transformative ways.

A painting, at its best, is a record of this process, an artifact of the artist’s search for understanding, beauty, and truth. It is, above all, a reflection of the youthful, ever-curious spirit that drives us to create, to explore, and to innovate.