Excellence before Originality

     Something that many artists battle with is trying to be original in their creations. It can be a suffocating trap to fall into—the idea that your work is never new enough, that you haven’t yet stumbled onto the stunning “new” idea that you were meant to create. Because the concern for originality can be so overwhelming, it actually takes away from the energy spent in pursuing excellence. In short, originality can wrongly become more important than excellence. How do we learn to ignore the quest to create something completely new? The quest that is choking out our pursuit for excellence in our craft?

      There are three people, each a specialist in a certain art, from whom I have found three different lessons that deal with the search for originality. While each person can teach us something different, all three of the people were excellent before they were original.

     First, there is Johann Sebastion Bach, the incredible composer of the seventeenth century. This German musician is most likely the top composer that the world has ever known. Granted, though his music is very difficult to understand unless one spends a good deal of time with it, world-famous performers like Yo Yo Ma know that he is incredible. His music is surprising sometimes, combining notes you wouldn’t expect to create an interesting harmony. But Bach didn’t set out to be unique. He first had to know all the “rules” to composing a piece that fit nicely into the styles of his day. (I don’t think it took him long) Then, he could begin changing things in order to write the music we recognize as Bach today. As my dad put it one time, “Bach learned the rules so that he could break them.”

     Besides practicing the technique of excellence over originality, Bach was a solid Christian. He wrote hundreds of Chorales for the church, all with titles. Many of them express sorrow for sin and faith in Jesus Christ. He also wrote the famous “Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring” which is, of course “Jesus, Joy of Man’s Desire.” Bach also wrote “Jesu Juva” (Jesus help me!) at the beginning of every composition and “Soli deo Gloria” (To the Glory of God Alone!) at the end of every piece he composed. He wrote his music to the Lord Jesus Christ, dedicating it to him and submitting it to him. And in every piece, through Bach’s heartfelt harmonies and rhythms, the beauty that came from his submission to God is there. In short, God blesses the work of those who don’t create art for themselves, but for Him. One of the familiar Beatitudes says, “Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.” (Matt 5:5.) Bach’s music has certainly received world-wide fame, because—I think—he was a very humble man who did not seek it. 

     Bach was a strong Christian who stayed firm to Jesus through the tragic loss of thirteen children and his first wife. The depth of his music can only be understood as one’s personal journey with the Lord through trial. Bach understood the verse in the Bible that says, “And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts…” Colossians 3:15. Through studying Bach’s life, a second lesson in the striving for originality is don’t seek it over God. If you truly, truly seek God with your heart, before your craft, I believe he will bless it and take it forward in ways you never would have imagined. “Commit your work to the LORD, and your plans will be established,” Proverbs 16:3.

     Secondly, there is Picasso, the world-famous man who revolutionized modern art. While I don’t care for his style, he serves as a great example. To start off, look at the pictures below. 

One is classical art,

The other is modern

     Which one do you like better? If you’re a consistent follower of my blog, then you would probably go with the first. 

     Me too. 

     But here’s the thing…

     Picasso painted both of them. 

     The first was created while he was still quite young, before his recognizable style was developed. In case anyone had any previous doubts as to whether or not Picasso was an accomplished artist, I hope those are now dispelled. Picasso was an excellent artist, as the first painting clearly proves. Here, we can discover the first lesson. Picasso knew that it was important to become truly good before he would be capable of creating an original style. He was raised in a Catholic family that uplifted art. His father was a painter of realism, and, upon recognizing his son’s talent, began to teach him to do the same. While he was still a teenager, Picasso was on his way to mastering the art of realism. It wasn’t until he was able to produce art like the first picture that he began changing his style, becoming famous for the type of art that is associated with his name today. 

     It is hard, sometimes, in the competitive world of art, to focus on excellence instead of originality. Because people very rarely exalt the normal, the temptation to forgo becoming excellent and turn your focus on being wild and new can be strong. However, the remarkable amount of work that Picasso poured into his journey for excellence before originality is a good practice to follow. It is also encouraging for those who wonder if it is worth it to follow a different path—the path of excellence—instead of running with all the people looking to produce something unique. 

    A third person from whom we can learn lessons about originality is J. R. R. Tolkien, the world-famous author of The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit. Before I begin digging into him, I want to say that he is my favorite author in case what I say later makes you think I don’t see him as a genius. How can there be a way not to see him as one? From a very young age, he was already mastering ancient languages and coming up with his own.

      The lesson learned from Tolkien begins with one word: fantasy. Fantasy has overrun bookstores. Fantasy is everywhere, and, when we think back to when it all started, it seems pretty obvious that it started with Tolkien. He made dragons and elves and dwarves “cool.” Or maybe I should say “cool” again. Because, no matter what it looks like, Tolkien did not invent fantasy. According to the Merriam Webster’s Dictionary, Fantasy is merely defined as “the free play of creative imagination.” Perhaps Tolkien changed fantasy into what it is today, but he did not create it. Eclessiastes 1:9 says, “What has been is what will be, and what has been done is what will be done, and there is nothing new under the sun.”

     As hard as it is for some of you to believe, there was fantasy before Tolkien. George MacDonald, the Grimm brothers (do not recommend! lol), Anderson’s fairy tales, King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table…many of these books include dragons and dwarves and elves. And in this can be found the third tip for understanding originality. Tolkien read. He knew what had come before him. He greatly enjoyed tales like Beowulf. It was the great epics of Old Europe that he drew his tales from, taking the elves of ancient stories and turning them into the tall, stately people that inhabit Middle Earth, taking the Brownies of England and turning them into Hobbits. Tolkien never set out to create something original. That is immediately clear when you begin to study all the places that he took inspiration from. By recognizing that there is nothing original in this world, you will find yourself with a much greater freedom to create. 

     But, if there is nothing new at all, then why should I create art at all? A band composer named Frank Ticheli once answered a question as to how you find your voice. “You are your voice,” he responded. “Just focus on being good.” His response is a gem. The answer to the question at the beginning of the paragraph is because God is God, He can create something new. And He created you.

     If you realize that you must 1. Allow God to shape your work into his design, 2. Master excellence before attempting something radical and 3. Accept that there is nothing original on this earth, you may find yourself set free from the burden to create something original.

     Instead of looking to be original, receiving fame and adoration, just do your best unto the Lord to create something truly beautiful. 

The Editors of Christianity.com. “The Life and Faith of Johann Sebastian Bach: ‘Soli Deo Gloria’ (To the Glory of God Alone).” christianity.com. Christianity.com, 20 Dec 2022. Web. 12 Sep 2024.