This graphic illustrates the creative process for most artists.
Explore it to learn more about any part of the process.
Conception
Most agree that the creative process begins with inspiration — but
what does that mean?
"
Artistic inspiration comes in many ways, from "eureka!" solutions
to challenging problems, to "wow!" concepts generated just by
exploring and experimenting with media, to "cool!" ideas that
emerge from the imagination, to intricate elaborations envisioned
by careful planning.
And sometimes, it's a mix of all.
Production
During production, the creative process moves from the world of
ideas into the real world.
Here, the artist explores and experiments with the media,
materials, and methods to achieve early versions of the product.
The artist then revises and refines to make the most of the
concept and its medium.
This stage often takes time as the artist creates drafts,
evaluates, revises, and continues until the artwork is finished
and right.
Presentation
Presentation may be as simple as hanging a painting on a wall to
as complex as a live stage performance. Context, time frame, and
place may be very important or not.
Presentation may seem like a final step, but the creative process
is open-ended. For many artists, presentation is part of the art,
part of its inspiration or its production.
Reflection
Reflection takes place throughout the process, and when the work
is complete.
Artists look back at their own experience and the feedback they
get from others. The lessons learned and insights generated may
inspire future work.
Feedback
If artwork is about communication, it has to be shared. Feedback
from others is a key part of the process.
Feedback gives the artist an "outside eye" on their work and a way
to judge its effect. It can add to the creative process at any
time.