Creative Authenticity: 16 Principles to Clarify and Deepen Your Artistic Vision
by Ian Roberts
Paperback: 184 pages
Publisher: Atelier Saint-Luc Press (January 1, 2004)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0972872329

For designers, the issue of voice, or style, is a tricky one. As creatives, we are often envious of artists who have the freedom to express themselves however they see fit. As business people, however, we are beholden to our clients and must always ensure that our work uses their voice to promote their communications agenda. This often has the unfortunate consequence of making designers feel like slaves to someone else’s voice or—to put it more bluntly—corporate whores. While serious working artists are the intended audience of Ian Roberts’ Creative Authenticity, it nonetheless will resonate with professional creatives who are searching for ways to bring an authentic voice to their work.

It is no real surprise to find that while designers are envious of the artist’s freedom of expression, that freedom comes at a price. The working artist—who toils away on her work, with the intention of selling it to earn a living—is also hampered by the fear of being clichéd, the desire to convey truth in her work, and the frustration behind trying to find an authentic voice. Does that sound familiar? Roberts tries to put these crippling fears to rest through discussions of personal experiences, the struggles of famous artists, and the rewards of producing art that comes from an authentic creative core. Providing sensitive reassurances that these struggles are normal, these essays will encourage designers to focus on the development of their crafts and find inspiration to work through self-doubt.

The book is, obviously, not a panacea. For one thing, it is aimed squarely at fine artists, primarily painters, and has a strong bias against abstract art that many will find off-putting. Moreover, because it is aimed at the fine artist, it says nothing about overcoming the challenge, so familiar to designers, of working within the client’s framework. If, however, one can see beyond the target audience that Roberts is addressing, there is a wealth of inspiration for the designer facing the blank computer screen. In these 16, bite-sized essays, Roberts addresses how to overcome the challenges of finding something to say as a creative. He is staunchly opposed to the notion of the tormented artist who must be always outside of society, always on the verge of madness—what Roberts calls the Van Gogh syndrome. Instead, he advices a slow-and-steady approach to creativity, an approach that preaches the necessity of finding a truthful relationship with your work so it feeds you, rather than tormenting you. With these lessons in hand, designers will find themselves in a better position to create something original, instead of flipping through design annuals, searching for “inspiration”.