Process vs. Final Result: What Matters More in Art?

What’s more important in art – the creative process or the final result? This has been an age-old debate and hot topic among artists, critics and appreciators of art.

Is the true essence and meaning of a work found in the artist’s exploratory journey? Or does the significance ultimately lie in the polished, final piece presented to the world?

The process vs. final result tension brings up profound questions about the nature and purpose of art itself.

Some believe the free-flowing creative process of an artist grappling with their materials, taking risks and allowing their unique voice to authentically emerge is where art’s magic happens.

The final artwork is simply a byproduct – one snapshot in time of a much richer, evolving experience.

Others view the completed work as the preeminent goal and contribution. The creative process merely lays the groundwork, but a master artist’s true skill is evidenced in their ability to create a refined final result that can be shared, appreciated and withstand the test of time.

So which side of the process vs. final result dialogue holds more importance and meaning when it comes to artistic expression?

In this post, we’ll explore the merits of both the creative process and the final outcome to determine which truly matters more in art.

The Vital Role of the Creative Process

For many artists and art appreciators, the process vs. final result debate firmly favours the creative process as the vital crux of artistic expression.

The process represents the journey of exploration, self-discovery and giving an authentic voice to one’s inner vision.

Exploration and Authentic Self-Expression

The creative process allows artists to genuinely explore concepts, materials and their own emotions in an uninhibited way. It’s a space for experimentation, risk-taking and problem-solving without rigid constraints.

As the artist follows their curiosity, their unique perspective has room to authentically emerge.

For example, abstract expressionist painters like Jackson Pollock embraced the creative process, letting their consciousness and raw emotion guide the artwork’s evolution through techniques like drip painting.

(I’ve written another blog post about creating art and self-discovery. Check it out; Creating Art is a Journey of Self-discovery.)

Breakthroughs and Unexpected Moments

Some of the most profound artworks arise from breakthrough moments and unplanned creative detours within the process itself.

What begins as a rough concept can veer in entirely new directions based on an unexpected discovery, new connection or “happy accident” along the way.

In the process vs. final result dialogue, advocates for the process value these organic moments of revelation, which can reshape or transcend the original intent into something richer.

For example, Alexander Calder‘s iconic mobiles emerged from playful experimentation with wire, rather than any preconceived final sculpture.

(Creativity is a vital element in the creative process in art. Have a look at this blog, How Can I be More Creative?)

Intimate Artist-Material Dialogue

At its core, the artistic process involves an intimate call-and-response between the artist and their materials or medium.

It’s an active conversation and melding of the physical and conceptual realms. Each creative choice raises new possibilities to explore.

The fluidity of this dialogue is what “process” proponents cherish – that open-ended exploration to fully express one’s artistic voice.

The final result is almost secondary to the meaningful experience and growth catalysed by this journey.

As the famous painter Paul Klee said, “A drawing is simply a line going for a walk.”

Whether exploring new creative territories or following an innate curiosity, for many the process vs. final result question clearly prioritises the vital creative process as art’s driving force and deepest wellspring.

The Significance of the Final Artwork

While I deeply respect the creative process’s fundamental role, I can’t overlook the profound significance the final artwork holds in the process vs. final result dialogue.

For many artists and appreciators like myself, the culminating piece is the entire purpose – the powerful vehicle for connecting the artist’s full vision with the world.

A Vehicle for Connecting and Communicating

At the end of the day, a piece of art’s meaning and resonance hinges on its ability to communicate something profound to its viewers.

The final result is the tangible expression that allows an artist to forge that connection. It’s how their artistic journey manifests into something that can be experienced and interpreted by others.

As an abstract artist, I may relish the creative process, but my ultimate goal is to create a final canvas that speaks universally – that invites the viewer into my perspective through skilful composition, colour and form.

Craftsmanship and Lasting Impact

Impactful artworks endure through their quality of refined craftsmanship in the final form.

A thoughtfully executed final result demonstrates the mastery of the artist’s abilities and commands attention.

Think of how sculptor Auguste Rodin could breathe life into bronze or marble through his deft hand. 

In contemplating process vs. final result, we can’t overlook how the most influential artworks maintain relevance because of the powerful final artefacts produced, not just knowledge of the process behind them.

The Final Piece as the Artistic Offering

From another perspective, the creative process is the artist’s private journey of gestation, but the final piece is their public offering to the world.

It’s the cumulative destination of that odyssey. Whether a sculpture, painting, music composition or other work, the final result is the entire point – the birthed idea fully realised.

As an artist, I don’t create for the sole sake of my own process, but to produce substantive final works that move others.

Like Michelangelo freeing his sculptures from the marble prisons, the finished piece represents the liberation of the artistic concept into the shared experience.

So while I profoundly value the creative process as the originating source, I also believe the final artwork is equally vital in the process vs. final result dialogue.

It’s the ultimate expression that lives on as the artist’s deepest imprint.

A Symbiotic Relationship

Upon deeper reflection on the process vs. final result dichotomy, I’ve come to realise that truly great art arises from a symbiotic relationship between the two components.

The creative process and final artwork are inextricably linked, each one enriching and being enriched by the other.

The Process Fuels the Final Work

As an artist, I understand that my creative process is the very fuel that allows a compelling final piece to emerge.

It’s where I wrestle with concepts, experiment with techniques and let my unfiltered voice and vision take shape organically.

Without that honest exploration, any final work risks feeling soulless or derivative.

For example, consider how Picasso‘s pioneering process of creating pioneering cubist works sprang from his unfettered deconstructions of form, line and perspective during his pioneering process.

The final groundbreaking paintings were only possible through that bold creative journey first.

The Final Piece Inspires the Process

Conversely, the prospect of creating a profound final artwork is what motivates and guides my creative process in the first place.

I have an aspiration for what the culminating expression could be, which directs my exploration even amidst diversions.

The process doesn’t exist in a vacuum but in dialogue with my evolving vision for the final result.

When sculptor Henry Moore first began working, his process was heavily influenced by his goal of representing the human form, despite his abstractions.

His final iconic reclining and mother-and-child sculptures remained tethered to that original intent.

A Feedback Loop of Creation

So while the process vs. final result debate positions them as opposites, I’ve found they actually feed into each other in a continual loop of creation.

My process impulses shape how the final work takes form, but then that piece also transforms how I view the entire journey itself.

It becomes a cycle of birthing ideas into reality, allowing the new output to inspire new processes and pathways.

As both an artist and an appreciator, I’ve learned to value and cherish this symbiotic relationship between process and final result.

They are indelibly linked as complementary parts of the greater whole – the fullest experience of profound artistic expression.

Balancing Process and Product

While I’ve come to appreciate the symbiotic relationship between the creative process and the final result, I also recognise the inherent tension that underlies the process vs. final result dialogue.

As an artist, part of the never-ending journey is striking the right balance between these two vital components.

Allowing an Open Process

On one side, I’ve learned to embrace and protect the fluid, open-ended nature of my creative process.

It’s crucial to follow those sparks of inspiration and allow concepts to blossom organically, without being too constrained by pre-defined outcomes.

Some of my richest works have emerged from unplanned detours.

For example, when mixed-media artist Jean-Michel Basquiat started combining poetry, symbols and figures, he had no intended final result.

He simply immersed himself in the visceral process. Yet that open exploration produced some of his most powerful and distinctive artistic statements.

Maintaining a Cohesive Vision

However, as much as I value an untethered creative process, I also know I need to harness and unify those impulses into a cohesive final work that still resonates.

 A purely unbridled process without any overarching guiding vision runs the risk of becoming a mere formless expression.

In my experience, striking that balance is a constant push-pull.

For example, when starting a new abstract painting, I’ll let myself play and experiment with colours and brush strokes.

But eventually, I have to rein it in to produce a final composition that feels cohesive and complete.

The Essence of True Art is the Journey Not the Destination…

Documenting the Full Experience

One way I’ve found to honour both the process vs. final result is to deliberately document and share insights into my entire creative experience surrounding a given work. By detailing the exploration, struggles and thought processes, I provide a fuller context.

For example, artists like Banksy leave written accounts or videos explaining their process motivations behind their confrontational public art pieces. It adds richer dimensionality beyond just experiencing the final guerilla graffiti artwork itself.

Remaining Flexible While Focused

Ultimately, the key is remaining flexible and open enough throughout my creative process to allow for infinite possibilities.

But then applying an overarching focused intention to unify those impulses into a clear, impactful final result.

It’s a never-ending process vs. final result dance – constantly finding the balance between freedom and form, essence and expression, journey and destination.

But that’s what elevates art from mere expression into something truly transcendent.

Conclusion: Process vs. Final Result

When it comes to the process vs. final result dialogue surrounding art and creative expression, I’ve come to a balanced perspective after much contemplation.

While I deeply cherish and value the exploratory creative process as an artist, I also believe the final artwork plays an equally vital role.

The process is the very genesis – the open playing field where I intimately converse with materials, concepts and emotions to unleash my authentic inner voice.

It’s a space for risk-taking, problem-solving and allowing new possibilities to organically emerge. The process is where the profoundest moments of revelation and growth happen organically.

However, the final result shouldn’t be dismissed as a mere byproduct. It represents the powerful culminating expression I aim to manifest and share with the world.

A thoughtfully crafted final artwork is how I can create resonance, connection and lasting impact through the mastery of my skills.

Ultimately, I’ve found the creative process and final result are two halves of a cohesive whole – a perpetual cycle where each informs and elevates the other.

My process provides the essential raw material and originating impulses. But the final piece allows those exploratory seeds to coalesce into something unified that transcends the individual components.

So rather than fuelling the process vs. final result divide, I choose to embrace the symbiotic relationship between the two.

I let myself immerse in the uninhibited journey, but then apply an overarching intention to shape those discoveries into a powerful final form.

It’s an eternal dance of openness and singularity of focus.

Only when the creative process and final result are united can the fullest meaning and magic of artistic expression be brought forth into the world.

It’s the balance that produces the most profound and ineffable works that truly endure.

What are your thoughts on the process vs. final result in art?

Do you tend to cherish one aspect more than the other, or do you see them as an interrelated whole as I’ve described?

I’m genuinely curious to hear other perspectives from artists, curators, collectors and appreciators of all kinds.

What has your personal experience been in navigating the creative process and shaping a final compelling work?

Please share your insights and reflections in the comments below.

An open dialogue around these core artistic questions can deepen all of our appreciation and understanding of creative expression.

Other blog posts you may find interesting

No Great Artist Ever Sees Things As They Really Are

Why Do We Need Art

Some Appreciation to an Artist Journey Would be Nice

The Brain on Art: How We Process and Appreciate Artistic Expression

The Direction of Viewing Art: Left to Right or Right to Left