The Creative Process and the Artist’s Responsibility, with John Brosio
Dec 8, 2016
The creative process works differently for everyone. If you are an artist you know that. It’s even possible that what works for you for some time, in terms of how you go about preparing to create your art, stops working later in your career. In this fascinating conversation with John Brosio, I had the privilege to chat about those changes and what to do when they happen. We also tried to dive deeply into what goes into the creative process and why artists are responsible to connect their work to things the viewer already knows in order to communicate with significance and power. It’s a great conversation with a fun guy, so I hope you take the time to listen.
What goes into YOUR creative process and what will you do when it doesn’t work?
During this conversation with John Brosio, I asked what his creative process looks like - I wanted to know the basics of how he sets up his studio and prepares himself to create. What I got was a quick lesson in dealing with distractions and the necessity of remaining flexible. That’s because lately John’s found that his old routines and rituals don’t work and he’s had to pivot in order to keep creating. But in time we did get to the extremely practical, talking about the kind of music or sound he needs in the room while he’s painting and how he is carving out more time for concentrated effort in the studio. I found it very helpful and definitely a part of the creative process that I could relate to.
Why John Brosio can’t keep creating the same things all the time.
It’s a place every artist reaches eventually. You’ve created something that people respond to. Galleries ask for more of the same. And you may be able to crank out a few more pieces along that line but is it something you can do indefinitely. Is it something you SHOULD do repeatedly? John Brosio says he can’t keep creating the same things over and over. He finds himself in a certain creative space for a season and then has to move on. Maybe it’s part of how his personal creativity ebbs and flows. Maybe it’s an expression of his keen mind and the many interests he has. Whatever it is I believe we’re all better off for it. You can hear John talk about this and many more issues he’s experienced throughout his career, on this episode of Savvy Painter.
He got his dream job working for George Lucas and it wasn’t for him.
One of the things John Brosio thought he wanted to do as he worked his way through school was to work with George Lucas on the Star Wars films. His keen interest in the unusual, the epic, the fantastic caused him to feel like it was an ideal fit. But as he got into the work - creating sculptures of monsters and alien worlds - he discovered that it’s very different to create someone else’s dream than it is to create what’s in your own mind and heart. When his internship was over he decided that he needed to do something else. And he has certainly done that! You can hear John’s artistic journey on this episode.
Why making art is a privilege artists can never take for granted.
Art is one of the finer things of life. To have the privilege to express beauty or communicate truth through a work of your own creativity is a humbling thing. But it’s essential that in the pursuit of our art we keep in mind that the price has already been paid for us to have the privilege to be artists. Someone has done the hard work of preparing the way, creating a culture that allows us the luxury of painting, drawing, sculpting, and more. A quote from President John Adams prompted John Brosio and me to chat about the importance of this issue - and a whole lot more - on this episode.
Outline of This Episode
- John’s background: how he got started in the creative industry.
- Artists that John was inspired by when he was young.
- The journey through school and how John navigated his education.
- How John sometimes remains “there” in a painting or season of painting.
- Why an artist needs to be responsible for the relationships viewers know already.
- How John coalesces his view of responsibility into his own paintings.
- Steps toward selling his own paintings and how his career progressed.
- John’s studio work and process for starting paintings.
- The recent changes to John’s painting process because things weren’t working.
- The piece of art by a living artist John would own if he could.
- Connect with John Brosio: http://www.johnbrosio.com/
Other artists mentioned on this episode
- Ray Harryhausen
- Wayne Thiebaud
- Wally Hedrick
- Meissonier
- Dave Hollowell
- Peter Voulkos
- Marty Feely nature photography
- Michael Hussar
- Chaim Soutine