Artists Habits

I just watched a movie Inland Empire, and it got me thinking about an old topic I have thought about for a long time.

When a Director/Artist makes something do they have to know what it means?

I do art as a subject I'm my Russian super child school, and i make things and people say "thats good" or "thats interesting", but this is usually followed by "what does it mean?". I don't know what it means. Am I supposed to know what it means?

Do good artist's just do, without thinking about what it means?
Or are they supposed to ponder what themes they will place into thier art?

For example i wrote a story and it was just my brain drooling onto a page, any sorts of deep thought's where not running through my brain. If it were an amazing story would somebody try to analyse it, and possibly come up with more meaning to the story then i thought there could be?

You Unconsiously paint/write/whatever what you are feeling at the moment, you may not know it, causing you to not fully understand what you did.

So you need other people to try interpret it?

So you need other people to try interpret it?

Nope, since people may never be able to understand it either.

cooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooool
dat made it so much more chill, i was worried that everything i make has to make sense.

Also: Does the ability to create art ever deminish? Or can it only grow or stay the same?

I would say that your ability never changes, as anyone can create art, however you will not always remain the same. Thus, a piece of art, regardless of content, can be created it any number of ways, and any number of times, but it can, and does, change depending on the person involved. Just as no two people are exactly alike, the changes to yourself may make two wildly different pieces of art if you create them at different times in your life, or as solarboy said, different moods/feelings.

Using myself as an example, much of my writing from high school pains me if I were to read it now. It's not that I was a horrible writer then, it's just that over time I've read more, matured more, and just plain changed from my high school self. What was a good piece of writing before, is now fairly subpar to me. It doesn't mean that what I write now is necessarily better, but it does showcase how a few years can change your thoughts on previous works.

I would say that your ability never changes, as anyone can create art...

(Your meaning on "ability" is vague.) My animation teacher has once told me that creating art is like learning how to read and write: people won't be able to do it well the first time. I remember the times when I would see my own scrawling doodles on the refridgerator (lol), and now I look at my present-day pictures, and I see quite a huge difference. Instead of stick figures, I see actual flesh and meat critters. The difference between art and language however is that language is a necessity.

I have no idea if artistic ability can degrade, since I haven't exactly practiced hardcore artistry, but I do know that if you don't do math for a while, you'll just forget a lot of the stuff. Same deal with language, as I've tried learning Japanese just to get past the high school requirements, and just about the only things I remember now are "yes", "no", "cute", "good morning", etc.

(Your meaning on "ability" is vague.) My animation teacher has once told me that creating art is like learning how to read and write: people won't be able to do it well the first time. I remember the times when I would see my own scrawling doodles on the refridgerator (lol), and now I look at my present-day pictures, and I see quite a huge difference. Instead of stick figures, I see actual flesh and meat critters. The difference between art and language however is that language is a necessity.

I have no idea if artistic ability can degrade, since I haven't exactly practiced hardcore artistry, but I do know that if you don't do math for a while, you'll just forget a lot of the stuff. Same deal with language, as I've tried learning Japanese just to get past the high school requirements, and just about the only things I remember now are "yes", "no", "cute", "good morning", etc.

ones creativity will die and rot if left to do so, but it will age and decay no matter what. the ability to recollect memories and draw inspirations will wither and fade as the mind ages. it is just a part of being human. if you actively use your artistic talents and do not overexert yourself doing so, finding the right balance of work and play, you'll be able to help extend both your artistic and normal-state mindset. its the difference between being a self-reliant man/woman in your 70's, or being in a nursing home in your 60's.