My formula for creating Powerful, Compelling Art

So I've given this a lot of thought and I've come up with my own formula for creating a work of art that effectively affects people. (I really like using those two words together :)

Anyway, I think truly powerful art contains an equal portion of both Skillful Technique and Connecting Message. Yeah, that may be a simple formula but I think it's complete nonetheless.

If an artist creates a work that evokes a strong emotion or conveys a message that speaks directly to us; and if they do that while demonstrating a mastery of their craft, we are more likely to be moved deeply.

Many times you can create art that is more concerned with one of the components than the other. For example, an artist can paint a incredibly realistic basket of fruit. While doing so they can demonstrate mastery of lighting and depth and texture and attention to detail. But, regardless of the realism, the overall impact of the painting itself will be limited (although the technique alone will probably be inspiration for other artists).

On the flip side, an author can create a novel that contains a powerful vision for the future of our country. But, if the writing is poor or lacking in style, who will read it?

So my theory is that most art contains some uneven amount of both factors. But, the truly great ones that impact their times and settings, are the ones that contain the right balance of both message and technique.

I think this applies to all art forms: music composition, paintings, sculpture, film making, etc.

What do you think? Do you agree?

Over the next few posts, I going to try and find examples in various art forms that prove this. If you have some suggestions (or if you disagree) let me know.

Diego Rivera: Talent Meets Message

Was searching on the internet for artists who find a balance between creating beautiful art and communicating a specific message. I came across this piece by Mexican painter Diego Rivera. I read a biography on him a few years ago and I appreciated how he and his art became more socially conscious as he grew older.

This piece is titled: A History of Medicine (click the pic to see a bigger view)



What do you think?

John Mayer - Causing & Prophesying Change

In this section, I want to highlight some of the creative types who are having an impact on their world. One of my favorite current-day examples is John Mayer. John is a phenomenal artist. Many people love his singing voice and he would probably want his fans to recognize his guitar playing most of all. However, I think his greatest contribution is as a lyricist. I greatly respect his ability to take powerful sentiment and cover it with a soothing melody.

Look at 2006's Waiting On The World to Change where John talks about why the younger generation is so apathetic.


Now we see everything that's going wrong With the world and those who lead it We just feel like we don't have the means To rise above and beat it So we keep waiting (Waiting) Waiting on the world to change

A perfect description. But the timeliness and accuracy of John Mayer's message becomes even clearer now (2 years later) with Barack Obama proving that the younger generation will indeed get involved politically if they are shown that their labor will not be in vain.

Check out the lyrics to one of my favorite John Mayer songs, Daughters from his CD Heavier Things:

I know a girl
She puts the color inside of my world
But she's just like a maze
Where all of the walls all continually change

And I've done all I can
To stand on the steps with my heart in my hand
Now I'm starting to see
Maybe it's got nothing to do with me

Fathers be good to your daughters
Daughters will love like you do
Girls become lovers who turn into mothers
So mothers be good to your daughters too

Ohh, you see that skin
It's the same she's been standing in
Since the day she saw him walking away
Now she's left cleaning up the mess he made

So fathers be good to your daughters
Daughters will love like you do
Girls become lovers who turn into mothers
So mothers be good to your daughters too

Boys you can break
You find out how much they can take
Boys will be strong and boys soldier on
But boys would be gone without warmth from
A woman's good, good heart

On behalf of every man
Looking out for every girl
You are the God and the
Weight of her world

So fathers be good to your daughters
And daughters will love like you do
Girls become lovers who turn into mothers
So mothers be good to your daughters too
So mothers be good to your daughters too
So mothers be good to your daughters too

Check out this video of John Mayer performing an acoustic version of Daughters Live for Yahoo!Music