So many times I have strolled through art galleries, wondering to myself, How did the artist choose that composition? In what order did they put down those strokes? How many variations preceded this one before they were satisfied with their design? How did they know when the piece was complete? Through video screen captures of drawings in creation, I aim to answer these questions for the viewers by displaying people’s creative process, not just their final resulting image.
Aside from my general interest in drawing, witnessing the effect of parameters/constraints on creativity also intrigues me. Because of this, I have not only given each participant a curved line as a starting point that they must incorporate into their drawing, but I have also insisted that their drawing somehow consist of bird imagery. I chose the theme of birds because, while many people may not have drawn them before, it seemed like a suitable focus: we see them everyday; they come in an outstanding array of shapes, sizes, and colors; their bodies lend themselves well to curves; and their habitat, food, and lifestyle also give plenty of imagery to work with.
Witnessing people’s response to immediate visual influence is another aspect of this project that I wish to share with the viewer. Before a participant was about to start recording their drawing, I showed them what the previous artist had made from the same line and asked them to respond in their work. While this influence initially blocked their own creative vision, participants inevitably came up with new and equally creative drawings. In this way, the drawings were inspired by one another, and are presented in the order in which they were completed.
