Looking into the Process of Making Art
Sharing with you an essay I wrote for my Humanities class.
This is originally titled “Preliminary drawing and easel of Filipino National Artist Vicente S. Manansala”
As the title indicates, this artwork is just a glimpse that precedes all his other amusing scribbles on his later life dated 1910–1981. It is an initial still-life sketch of cooking utensils and bottles. Just like any other still life paintings, it depicts a common place objects-inanimate subject matter whether manmade/manufactured or natural.
One or few may consider this “not an art” in view of the fact that it wasn’t even finished nor speckled with graceful pigments but to my utmost appreciation on the value of art, I reckon that this is a work of art.
Too often that people appreciate more the convenience gained from temporal acquisitions that offers no constraints in doing a thing than having the experience of “accomplishments over the struggles and constraints”. By these, I mean how the money culture and notional life have changed our way of valuing art. Merely because most has enough cash in their pocket, they simply just buy art produced by machines who does the work than taking time and effort doing art themselves. Just as how I notice the different feeling of accomplishment I feel in doing manual drafting over a digital drawing. I can really feel my hand putting emphasis on the line weights and the exhaustion that electrifies my arm adjusting the measuring tools.
Clearly this drawing of Manansala shows a process- an evolution of an art. According to an article on Manansala, “Manansala believes that the beauty of art is in the process, in the moment of doing a particular painting, closely associating it with the act of making love”. Also, “The climax is just when it’s
really finished”, said Manansala. The strokes scribbled on the canvass provides an exceptional perception of his interest in doing practice to perfect an art and hard work to earn his acquired skills.
I highly and strongly regard this preliminary sketch of Manansala as an art for the reason that it suits my general criteria as to what makes an art. Included in the list is skills together with creativity, first and foremost. Also, art must not be culturally bias and offensive nor that which conveys any blasphemous interpretations. Those art that offers contemplation is what I always viewed essential. Lastly, is that which elevates emotional level, and evokes interpretation for common good and purposes.
I deduced that the content of this art imparts an experience and wonder on the process of making art itself. Not on the final drawing’s intended profane or sacred message to society but on the value of art equating to time spent in doing so.
