Every work of art is saying something
As an artist, it’s impossible to not “say” anything with the art you produce. In fact, if you’re staring blankly, unsure what to draw, paint, sculpt, or write, you’re probably dealing with an uncertainty of what you want to say. Thus, asking “what am I trying to say with this?” is one way to try to get unstuck. That’s how fundamental the question of what you’re trying to say in your art is.
Creativity comes from many ideas mashed together in different, interesting ways. That’s why art is inseparable from an individual—their creative output is a result of personality, experiences, and what the artist is trying to say.
What an artist is trying to say may not always be evident in the finished work at first glance—perhaps not even recognized by the artist themselves—but it is there. Sometimes it is abstract like feelings and emotions, and other times it is more straightforward like appreciation.
A portrait, for example, is generally speaking appreciation of the subject, the person. There can be other, deeper things the artist is trying to say. (Can you think of a portrait you’ve seen and think of any?)
Landscape paintings, as another example, can be the artist saying that the place is special or beautiful to them, saying that the particular moment in time was worth saving, or speaking of the artist’s appreciation to Yahweh for His awesome creation.
A more obvious example is what is termed “commercial art,” including comics, signage, and illustrations. With these forms of art, the focus is heavily centered on the message being delivered, so it is much easier to see what the artist is trying to say.
Every work of art is saying something. Every work of your art is saying something. If you can be intentional about what you’re saying through your art, then you can say good and beautiful things that edify and build people up and glorify Yahweh.