What’s the Purpose? and Why That Matters
Art heals. Perhaps your art heals.
Or maybe your art has a different job in the world.
Before I show you a simple way to figure out what that is, let’s answer another question first:
Why do you need to know the purpose of your art? Why does it matter?
One reason: it helps you connect with the people who want to buy it.
Being clear about your creative purpose helps potential clients relate to you and understand your work.
One of the characters in my book, Artists: Prosper! is a part that lives inside all artists: your creative mentor. It’s the part of you that knows what you’re up to with your work. You can ask that part of you to help you define the purpose of your art.
This process works best if you write/type the questions, then write/type your answers. It works on your computer, but it’s more fun to write with paper and pen.
Here are the questions.
1. What is the creative purpose of my art/work? (I know--this is a bit like the joke essay question from a mythical SAT test: Define the Universe. Give three examples. But try it anyway and see what answers come.)
2. How can I best express this creative purpose?
3. Who do you want me to impact?
4. Anything else you want me to know?
Here are some real-life examples of people speaking to their creative purpose in their marketing.
Tracey Stephens- a kitchen and bath designer who says this: “We specialize in highly customized spaces that are comfortable, functional, timeless, and respect both your budget and the planet. Through sustainable materials and practices, we design interiors that are as healthy for the environment as they are for the people who live in them.”
Therosia-a poet, singer and fine artist who “Speaks Love and Life through singing, poetry and art.”
Autumn Tompkins-a copy editor who “Breaks archaic grammar rules. Creates clear, compelling and concise copywriting to entice your readers to devour your copy.”
Because your work matters, it’s worth spending some time figuring out its purpose.