Defying Social Criticism in Creating Your Art

I recently had the opportunity to meet the artist, Paul Tapia.  Paul “paints abstracts for people who don’t like abstracts”.  I love that.  I think what makes him remarkable is his ability to see past “social criticism” in to the heart of the creative process.  It’s all in there.  He told me a wonderful story about an experience he had with a room full of young children when he asked them each to draw an apple.  The kids drew every size and color of apple you could imagine, but one child drew something different.  When Paul was telling the story, he stepped over to a whiteboard and drew an all pink piece of paper with little circles drawn around the middle such that they formed their own little circle – kind of like an aerial view of Stonehenge.  I thought I was being creative – because I thought the child had drawn the seeds – seeing inside the apple.  Turns out it was teeth.  Teeth biting in an apple.  Right there on the spot, all those years ago – Paul paid the little boy ten dollars for his drawing.

 

I think Paul appreciated that this little boy wasn’t just drawing the same apple as everyone else– or even trying to get it right.  This little boy tapped into the big creative process – perspective.  This same gift for perspective is also at work in Paul’s abstract paintings.  Inside of them there is form and light and proportion – but they are blissfully free of social criticism – free of the ability to know for certain what it is – even if the proportions are that of Madonna and child.  For me the story is contained within the whole.  We can look at art through many perspectives when we aren’t trying to “get it right”.  No more drawing the same circle with little lines shooting out of it to represent the sun.  Instead, lets ask what things look and feel like to you.

 

My question is:  what would you draw – if you didn’t know what “it” was suppose to look like?

Comments

[Paul Tapia]

Sharing ideas and concepts will one another fuels the heart as well as the mind. Creativity has no source or no direction, but it is there to flourish in many ways at any time.

When people look at one of my abstract paintings, they often see a gestalt..... that is something identifiable. You know... they see a bird, or a face. This is a way of avoiding "social criticism" by seeing something in a painting that others might also see, thus adding acceptance to their feelings about an abstract painting. Seeing something realistic in an abstract design is a "social criticism" safety net for your opinion. Remember the story about onions....... onions are either good or bad depending on individual tastes. This brings subjectivity into the picture when discussing likes and dislikes. So rather than seeing a face or a bird in one of my paintings.......... I love it when a well grounded person simply says........ "I don't know what it is about this painting, but I really like it.... period!" ..... no birds or faces necessary.
Beauty need no apology.

Warmest regards,

Paul Tapia

"Paints Abstracts for People Who Don't Like Abstracts!"™