The 10 Foundations of the Artist

Consciousness
The nature of consciousness is a fundamentally important quality which characterizes the nature of artistic expression.

Recapitulation

hand reflecting sphere mc escher
“Hand with Reflecting Sphere” by MC Escher

The consistent reference of the impressions of our life experience through time gives us better insight into the nature of our reality and therefore a better capacity to express that nature.

Meditation

taoist meditation
Source: bodhisattvaextraordinaire.tumblr.com

The ability to drop rational or egotistical predispositions allows for the artist to take expressive action which is both in the moment and without impulse

Abandon

abandon-hands-let-go

The practice of syncopating a detachment from discipline allows for the art to take on the quality of a happening, admitting the possibility for unconscious motivations to surface visually.

Discipline

yogi meditating
“The Yogi Attains Siddhi” Source: exoticindiaart.com

The refinement of discipline allows for the ability to realize a vision or expression to be presented with precision.

Balance

man balancing on bottle
Source: spiritualizm.com

The ability to create equity between the often dipole forces of our nature allows for a better, more holistic representation to emerge; assuring that the artist’s personal evolution does not hinge on a crutch, but instead graduates toward mastery.

Authenticity

authenticity super happy dog
Source: reddit.com

An honest presentation, even if unpopular en mass, is a better point of reference from which to build relationships from the artist to the world. Moreover, an honest work is fundamentally more original, and therefore worth more long term.

Diversity

diversity-milky-way-night

To be able to expand outside of a single kind of theme or body of work is the natural potential of every being; to cling to a single kind of subject or style out of familiarity or fear of losing an identity, economically or personally, leads to stagnation.

Skill

skill bruce lee kick

The strict and consistent pursuit of the betterment of one’s material craft is an essential tool toward having the power to realize one’s artistic vision.

Love

buddha
Source: ashtarcommandcrew.net

To love one’s work and one’s process is a fundamental right of the artist.

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