The Code of a Creative Artist

Point Zero:The first principle of creativity is there are no hard and fast rules or principles. Use any rule or technique so long as it is workable and produces the effect you intend. If it doesn’t work throw it away (until you need it again) and discover or develop techniques that will create the effect you wish to create. Read Code Point Article Zero

Point 1: Constructive artistic ideas are valuable contributions to society. Protect, persist with and perfect them in order to attain their optimum communication. Read the Code Point Article

Point 2: Communicate only that which you truly know about in your art. If you do not know then find out. Read Code Point Article Two

Point 3: Your art has the potential to influence and change an individual’s life and society’s progress. That change can be constructive or destructive and this is dependent on the effect you wish to create with what you communicate. A Creative Artist’s responsibility is large because he or she can reach many people at one time and effect powerful change in a very short period. If you intend to destroy something, then what you wish to destroy should warrant destruction and improve the quality of life by its demise. Constantly seek enlightenment and improvement in the quality of life for all. Be culturally responsible. Produce only those products which will enhance today’s or create tomorrow’s reality by improving the quality of life. Read Code Point Article 3

Point 4: Never accept or agree with a destructive criticism about your art or your performance. Accept only constructive criticisms that enable you to better your communication. A constructive criticism is identified by the communication of an accurate observation. It is therefore a fact and not an opinion. Read Code Point Article 4

Point 5: Always seek the communication of truth to your public and the elevation of their affinity and understanding of themselves, your art and the ideas you are communicating. It is axiomatic that “Truth communicates.” The more powerful the truth you communicate in a work, the more powerful and popular the work. Read Code Point Article 5

Point 6: Art is a powerful communication channel to the Public, protect those communication lines and decry their abuse. Read Code Point Article 6

Point 7: Never invalidate another artist’s constructive work, seek to understand the intention of the work and to improve its communication. Read Code Point Article 7

Point 8: Your work bears your name and is your responsibility, refuse to let others alter that work from your original good intention and take complete responsibility for the communication of the message in all phases of creation, production and delivery to your public. Read Code Point Article 8

Point 9: The power of an aesthetic work of art is the power to change a viewpoint on any given topic. When you’re knocking out an unworkable idea in society, remember to put in its place a workable replacement, if you can. Read Code Point Article 9

Point 10: If you seek to be a professional Creative Artist and survive from your talent, skill and ability to perceive and communicate, realize that the decision to be a professional artist immediately puts you in the position of being a businessman. From that point forward you owe it to your creations, your public and the industry professionals you will work with, to understand the business of art. When you know, you can control, and therefore realize a responsible result for all. Read Code Point Article 10

Point 11: The business of art & entertainment is your business. As a Creative Artist you are responsible for the industry’s wealth and power. Take ownership of your business and strive to improve its operation and communication between your fellow artists. Remember that the people who work to deliver you and your creations to the world are dependent on you to produce and cooperate with them in order to achieve your creative, artistic and personal aims, goals and objectives and also theirs. Read Code Point Article 11

Point 12: Small groups of Creative Artists operating together under the banner of a common purpose have brought about sweeping beneficial changes in society. When they let themselves be driven apart, they lost that power and they lost their industry. Along with this they lost the respect of their public. Times got hard. Then they got harder. Realize that this industry survives best when we act together in full recognition of each one of us to effect positive change and that together, supporting each other’s talent we are an unstoppable force for positive change. Read Code Point Article 12

Point 13: Someone said that “We were fools who tried to change the world and make it a better place.” One of us agreed and told another who told another. We stopped trying to make it a better place. No-one ever said that “you have to agree.” Read Code Point Article 13

Point 14: The most fulfilling function Creative Artists have is the creation of ideal scenes through our art that will inspire others to strive for their attainment. We are able to raise awareness and inspire others to do. We need only communicate the common desire, the common reality, the rational solution, continuously until it is received and understood. The idea always comes first. Actions follow. Read Code Point Article 14

Point 15: It has been said that there is “…not much room at the top.” This has driven us to compete with each other and counter-intend against our peers and fellow Creative Artists. But there is a tremendous amount of room at the top. People appreciate all kinds of artistic styles and forms for different reasons and motivations, their collections are eclectic. There’s room for you and you and you and you…. If you don’t believe this walk into anyone’s home and look at their music collection and the art that adorns the walls. Don’t buy this idea of “not much room at the top.” There’s as much room as you care to create. Read Code Point Article 15

Point 16: A Creative Artist may not yet have a name, so what? That doesn’t necessarily mean that he or she have no talent or that you could not learn something from working with them or helping them. If the material is good, that says enough, chances are the name you already have, tied to theirs will help you both achieve new heights. Read Code Point Article 16

Point 17: Strive to understand the viewpoints of others. Therein lie the common realities shared amongst all beings, whether they be true or false, good or bad. Those viewpoints remind us of common bonds and, our humanity. No matter how many times we communicate them, this too serves a function and keeps those sterling qualities, that make Mankind great, alive. Recognize too, that the group-think is not always correct, nor is it the only think there is. Read Code Point Article 17

Point 18: Trust your perception and your knowingness, these are your greatest assets and a function of your aesthetic mind. Preserve them. But don’t assert to yourself their reality, chances are, if you are doing this, you don’t really know at all. Real knowingness is certainty. You know. That’s it. Others, less perceptive perhaps, will not understand. They will one day. Don’t allow their comments to shake your perception and your knowingness. There’s no reason to question why or how you know. You know, that’s it. Read Code Point Article 18

Point 19: The most important thing you can do is observe. Work constantly to raise your ability to confront life and all it contains. Keep the input high and varied. These are the secrets of high production and a constant ability to create. Keep the communication lines as wide open as you can and be curious about everything. Even the horrible and unthinkable reveal great truths and provide new viewpoints to communicate from, to, or about. Read Code Point Article 19

Point 20: Create what interests and inspires you, not what does not interest or inspire you. You’ll only do yourself and others a disservice when your heart is not in it. Read Code Point Article 20

Point 21: Never, never, never throw away a good idea because it didn’t work out. Instead refine it, look into it, find out why it didn’t work. Now do it again. Sometimes you don’t have enough data on the subject to make it work. Get more. Sometimes you need to recreate it, again and again. In the end the persistence will pay off. Sometimes you need to write the rubbish before you can write the good stuff. Read Code Point Article 21

Point 22: Those who give up, never make it. Persistence is a quality much admired and respected despite what you might think. Maintain the lightness of spirit that is part and parcel of creating, protect it from those who are wary of your ability to observe and observe anyway. And if you’re betrayed be big enough to go on. That too earns respect and understanding from compassionate and rational beings. Read Code Point Article 22

Point 23: To be unique in your art you should constantly search for fresh viewpoints. This can be a new way of looking at an old topic, or a brand new perspective altogether. Whichever it is, both should provide illumination or clarity and thereby increase understanding. Read Code Point Article 23

Point 24: In the Creative Industries the viewpoint you are communicating from is not necessarily your viewpoint. It is where you choose to communicate from in order to create a specific effect. Others don’t always understand this and identify you by that viewpoint which may or may not equate with your own. When you understand this and can get them to understand this too, then you will achieve a greater degree of understanding. You are not the viewpoint. Read Code Point Article 24

Point 25: Isolating the correct viewpoint from which to communicate in order to achieve communication is an art in itself and the mark of a great artist, a Master. Remember to evaluate a viewpoint with respect to other viewpoints that alone will provide fresh perspective and elevate the culture with new insight. Read Code Point Article 25

Point 26: The position of Creative Artist in society is an important one, often overlooked and marginalized. People trust a Creative Artist because they are not owned or controlled by any particular organization or forwarding any particular dogma. This makes the Creative Artist’s independence and individuality a freedom desired by many. To maintain that freedom and trust is therefore an important responsibility for all Creative Artists. When the industry or society tries to dictate what you will create it is attacking the independent nature of the Creative Artist and damaging that position of trust. This is a warning to all, public and Creative Artist alike, that a tyrant is on the loose. This principle, or observation, does not absolve the Creative Artist from responsibility for the effect that he or she creates. It does not give the Creative Artist a license to communicate destruction. The industry has a responsibility to the society and its culture. The Creative Artist shares that responsibility, he is the source of the industry. Read Code Point Article 26

Humbly tendered as a gift to those who can and will use this hard-won knowledge to create art & entertainment.

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