What Is Artistry? – Expressing the Creative

At this point in time—in the 21st century—there is much talk about and interest in prophetic artistry. There are those who wish to create it and there are many who wish to observe it. Many in this latter category are also seeking to “get a Word” from G-d or they wish to receive spiritual insight into some issue in their life.

We will be delving deep into the subject of Prophetic Artistries, exploring prophecy, the prophetic, the expression of the prophetic / prophecy, what artistries are, and how artistries fit into this art genre. To build a strong structure, we must always start with a strong foundation. Thus, to be able to dive deep into the subject of Prophetic Artistries requires first exploring an overview of the topic: What Is Artistry?

To answer that question and begin to understand, appreciate, and explore Prophetic Artistries, we must use the same meanings for our words. So, we begin with a definition of the terms involved to get a solid grasp of their individual and collective concepts. Since this site is about a certain type of artistries—Prophetic Artistries—we need to understand what artistry is and what it is not.

What Artistry is Not

To understand what artistry is, we must consider what artistry is not. Perhaps we think we know what artistry is because of advertising and words that we hear used. Perhaps those who use those words do not truly know what they mean. On the other hand, perhaps those who hear the words of those who use them do not know what they actually are… or are not.

Some companies have created products and given them the name “artistry.” Some companies have simply included “artistry” in their products’ names. Then they inaccurately market them under the name or category of artistry. In doing so, they have created misunderstanding and confusion for people.

Artistry is not a Website. Artistry is not a product that can produce art nor imbue artistry into a person nor make a person an artist nor make a person artistic nor make the use of their product into a work of art. To understand what artistry is all about, let’s look at these different terms but first look at the heart of the matter.

What is Art?

As a part of speech, the word art is a noun because art is usually an object. Generally, art is an object created by human effort rather than by an act or process of nature. Moreover, like many parts of the human social construct, the purpose of art is to communicate.

As a form of communication, art may be an expression of the artist’s appreciation of beauty by producing a beautiful object. Or the artist may communicate a strong emotion or express a vague feeling. A work of art might also communicate an artist’s insight or perception.

On the other hand, a work of art might be an exaggeration of something the artist wants their audience to be aware of and/or to pay close attention to. Then again, the artist may wish to communicate a thought-provoking topic or concept. In this regard, it is also possible for an artist to provoke thought with an expression of beauty.

Art as a Form of Communication

We see that art is usually an intentional expression of some form of communication. The means of creating that expression may be with any kind of tool or device, including pencils, pens, markers, crayons, brushes, knives, kitchen utensils, saws, chainsaws, cameras, and on up to construction tools that are used in architectures from the ancient to the modern. Such tools and devices might be used on, in, or around a multitude of possible materials.

Those materials may be called mediums or media. The possible mediums used to create art are as numerous as the Earth provides or that humankind has created for themselves. These include such medias as paper, canvas, wood, glass, walls, foods and baked goods, computers, photographic paper or digital storage, construction materials, and much more all the way up to and including the sky as when used in skywriting.

In addition to the media and tools used, artists may produce their artistic communications in any of many different forms. Moreover, there are a variety of methods to create those forms such as drawing; painting; sculpting; crafting; writing; sewing; cooking; baking; designing digitally with computer software; writing, playing, mixing or producing music; and many more media, methods, and forms.

Art is Work

The limits of art have yet to be reached because of the variety of available materials, tools, forms, and methods used by artists and their boundless creative imaginations. It is interesting to realize that the human effort expended to create or produce anything is described by a technical term. It’s called “work”.

Thus, all human efforts expended on creative thought, design, planning, and the creation of art is also work. It stands to reason, then, that the products or objects that artists create are then called works of art, artwork, art pieces, or even—harkening back to the purpose of art being communication—artistic expressions. Is that artistry or what is artistry?

The Meaning of Artistry

Some people may think that artistry means being an artist or the work produced by an artist, but that is not correct although the works encapsulate it. Others may think that artistry means a certain style, type, or genre of art, and that is not correct although they express it. If a person were to think that artistry is how a style is applied to a piece of art or any endeavor, they would be much closer to what artistry is.

As a part of speech, the word artistry is another noun because it is a possession of the artist. Artistry is whatever artistic ability or creative ability and skill that an artist possesses. In continuity with that, artistry is the artist’s expression of that creative ability or skill. However, if we think of artistry as a skill, we might incorrectly assume it is something that anyone can learn.

What we each can learn depends upon our genetic makeup, which determines our capabilities, interests, and strengths. Thus, we are able to learn artistic skills that match our genetics, which also limit the level we can achieve with those specific skills. Almost everyone can be adept at some form of artistry, because the skill for artistry is borne of a great ability to do something.

What Is Artistry? We need only look at the artwork of many people who feel inspired to create art to understand that they all may be pouring out their hearts and communicating with their creations to the best of their skill level. But all do not have the same great ability to do so in the form they are attempting. So, in whatever mode, form, type, genre, material, and/or tools a person has a great ability or skill, that great ability or skill is their artistry.

12 thoughts on “What Is Artistry? – Expressing the Creative”

  1. Thanks for sharing more light on this topic. Art for me is building oneself on a sheet using colours. Art is life because it is born out of what an artist feel, as no one can paint or draw what isn’t in his/her mind already. This means artist reproduce their living imagination. Looking at some great artist, this is why their works sends message, it is what thy feel

    1. James Capers

      Hi Dane,

      You are welcome. Yes, each artist pursues artistry in their own way, and each person performs their own artistry in life as they communicate what is in both their mind and their heart with the skills they develop.

  2. Nazmun Nahar

    Great article about Artistry. You explained very well the whole Artistry concept in your article. I will not say about others, but for me today I got the total meaning about artistry. Because, before reading this article I was in the same position as others. I thought artistry meaning something related with drawing or painting any picture. But this article changes my thoughts and brings the proper definition of artistry. Thanks a lot for sharing this amazing article.

    1. James Capers

      Hi Nazmun Nahar,

      Thank you for your compliment. I am pleased to have helped you understand artistry more fully. Now, you can be certain of your abilities as you pursue your unique form of artistry in your own life with confidence.

  3. Hmm! Artistry encapsulate more than Just the name of the artist or the art in itself. It extends tentacles to all other things such as the creativity, medium and everything involved to communicate a message in a way that is not conventional. Artistry must be a product of creativity and as such, should not be limited to only arts. Nice write up! 

    Rodger

    1. James Capers

      Hi Rodger!

      Thank you for your compliment. I’m glad I stimulated your intellect and got you thinking about it. Good conclusion.

  4. James, i feel like you have written this so well and I really commend you honestly. Art and artistry are different and you have showy it here with this write up. Clearing that misconception was very important and you did. So what have I learnt from here. Artistry is a skill, a creative skill that a good artist possesses to create an artwork that is exceptional. I hope I was able to generate good meaning from this post.

    1. James Capers

      Hi Henderson,

      Thank you for your comment. I am pleased that I was able to clear up the differences in meanings of art and artistry for you. I’m sure that you have your own artistic skill, which you will develop to communicate your own messages.

  5. Thanks for explaining the terms art, artist and artistry. I am now looking forward to your next articles. But that is for later. Interesting that artists try to communicate, sorry I have never seen them like that,  and this is not an easy process as I have studied during psychology lessons. How do you know that your audience will perceive that which you have intended to communicate? A nice challenge for the artists. From now on I will look at art through other eyes. And I will certainly try and get the message!

    1. James Capers

      Hi Jerry,

      Thank you for your comment. I’m glad to have provided you with another perspective on visual communication.

      I agree with you about audience perceptions of artists’ intended messages. I am one who believes that messages should be clear. However, message senders cannot control how message receivers “understand” their messages. We can only do our best to frame our messages with the least possibility of them being received incorrectly. Considering audience perceptions psychologically, message receivers always “hear” messages based on their history and intellectual developments.

      Thus, the Son of G-d said, “Let he who has an ear to hear, hear” and in John’s Revelation, He added, “What the Spirit says…” We can carry this further to pointing out that various (groups of) people perceive the scriptures differently from each other, which has created wars and other schisms among those who call themselves believers in same One G-d.

  6. Dear James,

    Thanks a lot for the highly uplifting and educational article. I got a new perspective on the understanding of Artistry and Prophetic Artistries. Wow, great explanation to the question “What Is Art”.

    I can tell you I have taken some great insights from your article. This article itself is an art for me. The meaning of Artistry is an eye-opener for me. I really enjoyed the content and in the manner that you presented. 

    If you don’t mind may I ask…

    Why there is a hyphen between g and d (g-d)? I can understand you are referring to GOD but I do know there is some reason behind it please let me know.

    Much Success!

    Paul

    1. James Capers

      Hi Paul,

      Hebrew practitioners of faith in the One Living Deity (G-d) leave out the vowel to honor His request / Command to not use His Name (HaShem / “The Name” in Hebrew) in vain. Although it’s one of the rabbis’ “fences” around G-d’s Torah, it’s a good idea that reminds us to honor the L-rd our G-d even in our references to Him.

      Practicing Jews and many Messianics (i.e. born-again “Jews”) use this method for writing about our Supreme Deity. Technically, “G-d” is not His Name nor is it an accurate translation of any Hebrew word. It’s just a descriptor that came to us from the German language: Gott. Does that help?

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