Process Modification and Uncontrollability in an Expert Contemporary Artist's Creative Processes

Abstract

As a case study that consists of two parts, this research investigates how a pro-c class expert artist thinks and acts during art making, paying special attention to exploratory behaviors and task completion processes. In Part 1 of this case study, we videoed an artist's authentic creative process in his studio. We interviewed him about his drawing process by showing him the video recording right after the drawing. We conducted a retrospective interview with him 16 months later as Part 2 of this case study because this experience inspired him to start several new artwork series. We analyzed the video and interview data qualitatively. The results showed that the artist used various exploratory behaviors, including a process modification in which elements in one's ordinary creative process are changed. The process modification triggered different types of drawing actions. Although he participated in task completion processes for self-regulation, he also actively generated a situation in which task completion processes were weakened to experience and utilize feelings of uncontrollability to create something unexpected. We discussed the essential roles of process modification, reflection, and feelings of uncontrollability in artistic creation.