When you hear the phrase, “intuitive art,” what kind of art do you see?
Hi my name is Carrie and I want you to proudly call yourself Artist. Here on Artist Strong we help artists like you build your skill and develop your unique artist voice. Today let’s talk about a personal pet peeve of mine: what intuitive art is and isn’t…
What kind of art is intuitive?
Here’s the thing: ALL art intuitive.
Let me say that again: ALL art is intuitive.
I’ve been teaching online for over 10 years at the time of this recording and since my early days I spotted the phrase “intuitive painting” or intuitive artist being used as a way to describe a genre or a specific approach to art. Specifically, I see this used the most in abstract genres of making.
As someone who spends her time in the word of realism there was something about this pairing of abstraction and intuition that then excluded me and my art.
Let’s be clear here: I don’t believe anyone out there was thinking about excluding anyone – there was something in this triggering for me and I took this as an opportunity to learn from it.
What’s the lesson in all of this?
The lesson? To better claim the use of intuition in my art. It has always been part of my process but I wasn’t consciously using it as a tool for making the best art I can make. Now I actively include intuitive process as part of my larger development of the work.
In a recent body of work entitled Anonymous Woman, I spent time sitting with each piece to have a kind of imaginary conversation with the work. They are portraits so I would ask the woman I was painting things like, “What color do you want next?” or “What patterns should we incorporate into the work?” I then sat back and listened.
So why I understand the easy relationship people see in the pairing of abstraction and intuition I hope today’s conversation reminds and empowers ALL artists of the power and wisdom that can come from working with your intuition.
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Now it’s your turn:
Have you actively harnessed intuition in your art? What about my realists out there: have you considered the role of intuition in your work?
Please like this video and subscribe to our channel if you enjoyed today’s topic then please share your take, your ideas, and your questions in the comments below.
Remember: proudly call yourself Artist. We are Artist Strong. Thanks for watching and see you next time.
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I need to talk with my paintings more. “What do you want next? —what is missing? — what do you want me to take away? — are you finished?”
Yes!!! At least, it truly helps me.
Haha, your post struck home as yesterday I went with my “intuition” and really screwed up my piece. Now I have to intentionally fix it.
Intuitive painting implies going with the flow, not being inhibited and maybe not realistic- more abstract. Well, to the very basic, student artist like myself.
However, good/great intuitive artists, I feel, have a great many artistic “rules” ingrained in them either from classes and or natural talent (meaning good eye, hand eye coordination, ability to translate ideas easily – things that can be learned but in some come more naturally). With these rules tucked into the artist, the artist can then call forth ideas where rules can be expanded upon or ignored. They mix and match ideas and rules intuitively now without needing to concentrate on what they should do and shouldn’t do.
In the end, I feel most art is intuitive- even if you are copying, an artist puts their own mark on things.
As for my own art, I need to know the rules in order to know which ones will work or not in my piece. I’m a lazy artist, without hand eye coordination. I get tired trying and soon do it my way, which doesn’t always turn out well. I can call it “intuitive” but mostly it’s botched. Fortunately, my art has always been for my sketchbooks. To just improve is my goal.
Realism is stressful for me, but I love your art, your approach to education in art , and your posts. I feel that, of course, your art is also intuitive. The rules are in your bones and gut, the intuitive side is in your heart and soul.
Carry on, Carrie! ❤️ 🎨
My experience as teacher and artist is that the more I improve my skill the more intertwined it becomes with my intuitive decision making. And abstraction requires all kinds of skill, just as realism does.
And I hope you reach for everything in your art you dream of doing <3 and that both your skill and intuition work in concert to bring you there <3
Thanks for sharing Joan!
An interesting debate .. and I related to your belief that all art is intuitive. Intuition does not belong to any specific genre or process. Some may label intuitive art as “play” without a plan or restriction of rules or conscious thought, with the likely outcome to be abstract or non objective works. However all genres and processes require application of a collection of some skills and choices during the creative process and then judgements about what has resulted. Does the process and the outcome personally satisfy or teach, or both? Intuitively I think we “hear” the answers. Why pick up a certain brush, a certain colour or create a certain line? I think intuition is integral to those choices, whether or not there is a thoughtful plan or no apparent plan in place. Therefore I believe all creativity requires both thought and intuition.
Thanks for sharing your take Judy! I love how rich this conversation has already become. You, Joan and Barbara have started us off in a roaring fashion. I hope people continue to share their wisdom. I’m interested by your take on intuitive art being “play” without a plan.
Intuitive art is a very interesting topic which I have been involved in several debates about. This is a beautiful article which triggered a great little discussion. Rather than intuitive art, I paint my feelings with my feelings. I let my feelings lead the entire creative process. And there is a difference between intuitive art and letting go of any thought process.
A great point highlighted by Joan Zabelka mentioning “artistic rules”. But rules are restrictive to free creative expression. Non-representational abstract art is all about breaking away from rules, restrictions and limitations to the imagination. I don’t follow any art rules none whatsoever.
When we think about rules, we are using our brains to think! I used to do the same when I started non-representational painting many decades ago. Thinking and aiming to create the perfect painting before realising that perfection doesn’t exist and imperfection does. And then I discovered there is beauty in imperfection.
There are two main decisive factors for creating your own non-representational abstract painting, as unique as you. The first is knowing how to let your feelings take over the creative process. The second is your knowledge and understanding of associated colour and shape meanings. For example, if I wanted to create a sense of space or a new beginning I will use white and if I wanted to create a feeling of assertiveness, protection and confidence I will use black.
We can easily, to a certain degree, learn about the tools and mediums we use to create our art. We can also learn and develop our understanding of the meanings and associated meanings of colours, too. The biggest challenge, in my opinion, for non-representational artists is establishing the link to painting with feelings. Simply, let go of any thought process.
This is a beautiful topic very close to my heart. I prefer to use non-representational terms rather than non-objective art. Thank you.
Thank you for such a thoughtful contribution. I could see some arguing its a rule to have “no rules…” 🙂
This is a really great conversation Carrie! I can understand where you’re coming from. I hadn’t thought about it before but I agree that my work, when it includes realism, is created intuitively as well.
I use the term intuitive abstract as a way to help the viewer who is unfamiliar with art to make sense of what they’re seeing, to suggest it’s about an emotional response rather than “seeing”. I think some people who are unfamiliar get uncomfortable and may not explore further because sometimes the art world can feel unapproachable and intimidating. I often find people in my life who aren’t in the art world can have a difficult time interpreting an abstract piece not realizing it’s an ever changing conversation around emotion between the viewer and the art vs fitting into a recognizable image.
I love that you started this conversation, triggering exploration about it. I don’t intend the use of the word intuitive to imply that realism is not created without intuition. Maybe emotive or expressive abstract would be a better description. What do you think?
Hi Sunni! Your heart always makes me glad. You are so thoughtful, thinking of others! I don’t think it’s bad to explain abstract art in terms of using intuition. I also encourage you to consider what else you can offer your viewers in addition to that piece of information so they understand your work. It sounds like you use it as an entry point; I think its an entry point to a conversation and can absolutely be used to discuss our art, whether its abstract or realist. Thank you so much for sharing your take. Such important and rich conversation here this week!
Finally, someone has said what I’ve been thinking: All art is intuitive! I’m an abstract painter & fairly new to online art discussions, but it’s been a little odd to hear a particular process called “intuitive” repeated over & over in YouTube videos as though any artist who doesn’t use that process is not intuitive. There are so many different ways to paint abstractly or realistically & all of them are intuitive. I wish the artists putting out these videos would enlarge their information base to include great professional art communities in places like New York, Berlin, & Paris. Amazing art is being made there & none of it is called intuitive.
Carolyn thank you so much for sharing. I hope more people think about this, because it has larger implications for artists definitions of good art, how we practice, process, etc. Love what you share here. Yes!