INTJ seeming contradictory trait: visual artist

[Friend]

I am absolutely INTJ- there is no doubt, but I am curious as I look over the long lists of INTJs; there are no visual artists. The interesting part of my artistic expression is that the media and subject matter are very much in-keeping with the INTJ profile.

I am never spontaneous in my work. I always know exactly what my work will look like before I even begin to sketch a thumbnail, and I only do thumbnails if I don't have my ground ready- otherwise I go from my head to my ground- my first linear is the final one. In school, I used to draw my final and then make a bunch of 'fakes' so that my profs wouldn't fail me- or more accurately, so that they would actually see my final work without prejudice. An aside- both my brother and I were in the same program and both at the top of our classes.

I choose neat and precise media and my choices of subject matter include a good deal of scientific imagery and have more intellectual appeal than emotional. I am always baffled by an emotional response to my work; for me there is nothing emotional about it, ever. It is as though I am using symbols and icons, colours, lines etc... in a bazarro mathematics world- one that parallels visual aesthetics. It's as if because I want others to understand that what I know is something that they would do better knowing, I can implant my ideas in their heads with images. Creepy.

I've never tried to examine this until now- now because I've only just become aware of my 'type' and finally had some explanation and relief for why I seem to evoke the responses I do and have my whole life.

Anyway, my point is that my art is in a way, my math, or my organic chemistry- my vehicle for a set of calculations. Does that make sense? Does it adequately explain the seeming contradiction?

I don't get along with artists, typically; I'm too much of an intellectual, rational, and oblivious to their feelings about their work- they don't like me. I love constructive criticism; I cannot grasp why others don't. I was in a class of very few who were culled from the larger program to study technical and scientific illustration. I related very well to many of my classmates there and felt for the first time that I fit, but now I think that's likely because I was amongst a greater proportion of INTJs than would normally occur in the general population. The 'interpretive' illustration stream was completely out of my scope of interest or understanding; they were the typical emotionally driven artists.

As an aside, the only reason I didn't become a chemist (besides my concern for health and that I would hate being in a windowless lab for most of my days) is this internal compulsion to use imagery to express my thoughts.

There are several artists on this board; do you relate to what I've written?

[Firelie]

Partially related.

I'm studying graphic design right now and I'm enjoying it because it's not the art I grew up with...I'm not being asked to make something that's necessarily beautiful or something that makes me (or anyone else) feel anything, I'm making something that is functional, and it takes a lot of thought to generate an idea and plan out a composition that serves the function and does so in an interesting fashion. I enjoy making connections between thoughts and imagery.

I love constructive criticism as well. I'd go so far as to say I'm a bit of a junkie. My favorite days in class are where everyone put their junk up and we all throw around ideas for bettering each other's projects.

I'm not particularly scientific about it, though.

[Santana28]

i would consider myself a "visual artist" of sorts. i've always been naturally artistically inclined, and i've drawn compulsively since i could pick up a pen. would i say it is my natural medium for expressing myself? not at all. can i use it to perfect and express other people's concepts? absolutely. its MUCH more enjoyable for me to take someone else's effort and perfect it, than create my own. I'm not technical by any means (yes, also contradictory) and for me it was really a passion of necessity.. i drew and drew and drew to express on paper the things and feelings of which i was not permitted to discuss or write down. i was quite good when i was younger, and i really hated the attention it brought me. i never went out of my way to show off, but if anyone wanted anything from me i would be happy to do it for them.

eventually i stopped. i work on things very rarely, but i understand what it is all about now. as far as expressing myself is concerned, i'm much more drawn to music or writing than visual mediums. but i still enjoy interpreting and reinterpreting other peoples' work. their emotions seem so much simpler than mine...easier to convey. perhaps it is just my perception. but i feel good when i do it, vs. trying to put myself down on paper.

i've dabbled in graphic design. my husband is a graphic designer (a career i basically started for him and for which he gets all of the credit). i "fix" his projects for him, and its probably no coincidence that his most praised and successful work is usually my brainchild and not his. oh well. "art" is "art", and nothing more.

[INTJoe]

I am artistic, and certainly met other artistic INTJ's in architecture school. Perhaps, because we are so rational, we simultaneously know what is irrational? Not that art has to be irrational. LIke you said, you apply some sense of order to your art. I think I do, as well.

Next on my "to do list" is to take a sudoku puzzle, assign a color to each of the 9 digits, and paint a mosaic. This way, you've got colorful artwork to display, which is also "perfectly random".

I've painted similar things in the past.

I also want to paint an abstract representation of the State of Colorado.

And I want to display the funniest lines from my favorite comedies in frame form. This way, guests can opt to read what it is that makes me happy. ;)

[Santana28]

I am artistic, and certainly met other artistic INTJ's in architecture school. Perhaps, because we are so rational, we simultaneously know what is irrational? Not that art has to be irrational. LIke you said, you apply some sense of order to your art. I think I do, as well.

Next on my "to do list" is to take a sudoku puzzle, assign a color to each of the 9 digits, and paint a mosaic. This way, you've got colorful artwork to display, which is also "perfectly random".

I've painted similar things in the past.

I also want to paint an abstract representation of the State of Colorado.

And I want to display the funniest lines from my favorite comedies in frame form. This way, guests can opt to read what it is that makes me happy. ;)

i pursued architecture for a bit myself. you're right - i think our rational nature gets in the way of the pure "art" aspect. to us, it is more the perfection of a style or technique. i'm conflicted about the term... which is why i'm kind of led to believe that "visual" art is a naturally imperfect medium, as opposed to music or even some writing. visual art which celebrates its own imperfection is the kind i am drawn to. good visual art is too cerebral to be pure representation...

[INTJoe]

visual art which celebrates its own imperfection is the kind i am drawn to. good visual art is too cerebral to be pure representation...

This is why no human could ever compose artwork as glorious as that of Mother Nature.

[colmdubh]

I love drawing and sculpting as hobbies...everything is done with an intent and if I make a mistake I give it a meaning so the original idea tends to evolve based on the additional ideas I come up with

[lhsimm]

I've always hated the word "artist." I also hate being called an artist. I do illustration, animation, and graphic design for a living, but I prefer to call myself a visual problem solver. "Artist" is a fuzzy useless word.

Besides, the list of typical INTJ careers leaves out one important detail: if you can apply a system to something, use an intellectual approach, an INTJ will do the job. A visual system is just as valid, and not out of character.

[Santana28]

I've always hated the word "artist." I also hate being called an artist. I do illustration, animation, and graphic design for a living, but I prefer to call myself a visual problem solver. "Artist" is a fuzzy useless word.

Besides, the list of typical INTJ careers leaves out one important detail: if you can apply a system to something, use an intellectual approach, an INTJ will do the job. A visual system is just as valid, and not out of character.

i agree about the term "artist" - i prefer "creative" instead (i think i had a thread going about this somewhere once).

an INTJ could technically be the most skilled at a variety of mediums considered "art" - but you would have to define "artistry" as being good at something vs. the interpretations or expression of something non-technical in nature.

i think an INTJ would make an EXCELLENT art forger ;)

[yondyr]

I agree too about the term 'artist' ..too often used by fanciful people. I'm heavily into a range of art forms, including but not limited to fibre arts, gallery works and have a book on creative darkroom photography published when silver prints were in their heyday.Though now digital permits many but not all of those same techniques to be accomplished with ease.
lol so true, Santana, the challenge of the forgery for the whimsical sake of it all!

[Nausved]

I love art, and I think I'm excellent at anatomy, at least for someone who has never studied art formally.

Most of my artwork would fall in the category of scientific illustration. I prefer drawing fluid and organic forms (plants, animals, landscapes, etc.) to more straight and technical forms (buildings, crystal structures, etc.). I am decent at the latter, but it just doesn't excite me the way that skin overlaying a deltoid muscle can.

I am highly visual and spatial, and drawing has helped me fine tune these thought processes. I owe a lot of my intelligence to artistic endeavors in my youth, I think. At the very least, I owe my good grades in Organic Chemistry to it!

[Daniel]

I don‘t like the world artist either. It‘s so chaotic and irrational. I‘m studying architecture. There is a conflict between being rational and „artistic“. Some people make their designs only based on their feelings. It‘s hard for me. I tend to design super rationally, house as an effective system, as a gadget. However I have this inner feeling what proportions are good, what is aesthetical. I‘m also an AutoCAD junkie, I love drafting and graphic design...mmm...oh oh and scientific illustration.
All in all I love visual logic: drafts, diagrams, electronic schemes, blueprints.

[brianh]

Art is being creative, in my life I have done many different jobs and hobbies.
Currently most of my income comes from chainsaw carving, but I do signs and furniture I use a CNC router for the signs and some furniture

I did a lot of CAD design work for a furniture company using solid works until I quit and went on my own. I have a low tolerance for idiots in management positions.

I also design and build bicycles for a hobby.

The enjoyment of creating something is what ever you want to call it.

[creativeRhino]

I think you may be surprised.

I know a few potters who are almost certainly INTJ.

I used to be in IT, now I am a potter/ceramic artist.

It is a technically challenging thing in terms of practice, then there is the conceptual bit of the art to come up with and then make real.

Ceramics is not for "control freaks" though.... too many variables.

Some potters revel in this, others fight it.

[Lumbering Jack]

Well, Friend, you've described a lot about how I feel about art.
I'm not formally trained or anything, but I love to draw -- and I love to do it following a specific formula. I also greatly appreciate constructive criticism and highly detailed instructions on how to draw things.
I recently came across a book (simply titled "How to Draw Animals" by Jack Hamm) that breaks down key anatomical elements in most animals. From those elements, you build on to that form to make a more specialized animal. I've been finding it totally fascinating because it gives me a process for my creativity.
Likewise, I find thumbnailing a bit of a chore because I already know what I'm drawing before I get there. Loose lines and swirls aren't ever going to help my creativity. I probably think about a drawing a lot longer than I actually take to draw it because I'm arranging everything in my head beforehand.
On the flip side, I loathe "random" art -- you know, paint splotches, scribbles and color arrangements. Where's the thought in that, y'know?

[Antares]

No visual artists? I'm a painter! :D Ok. An amateur one. I'm also an amateur photographer and I used to design cyber art for a website (lost my touch now). I can have spontaneity though. I started with the picture of a butterfly and the picture of an eye and decided to experiment; it turned out quite wild. The brush strokes were bright and fiery; as if I've entered a new style all together; deviating from impressionism.

Here are my very controlled works... both from the first six months of my painting 'career'. Both based off photos; you might be able to find the dolphin on the internet (I forgot where it came from, and I'm not sure if it's still there) and the other is taken by someone I know.

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I don't get along with artists, typically; I'm too much of an intellectual, rational, and oblivious to their feelings about their work- they don't like me. I love constructive criticism; I cannot grasp why others don't. I was in a class of very few who were culled from the larger program to study technical and scientific illustration. I related very well to many of my classmates there and felt for the first time that I fit, but now I think that's likely because I was amongst a greater proportion of INTJs than would normally occur in the general population. The 'interpretive' illustration stream was completely out of my scope of interest or understanding; they were the typical emotionally driven artists.

An artist I know tells me that she doesn't like intellectuals, or even the music majors because they were 'boring'. Before examinations, artists, with their flowery and artistic attires, would sit on the stairs with paint sometimes on their clothes. Musicians would wear their suits, ties and skirts standing there; prim and proper. The intellectuals would wear whatever pleases them that day (nothing inappropriate) and most of the time with dull looking glasses. She said: "All they do is deal with equations all day; time after time again; sitting in an office like a bloody secretary. They're no fun to talk to."