Lyrics

1. observe and describe characters in situations;
2. use simple words to convey rich thoughts;
3. deal frankly with those people otherwise dispossessed of song;
4. carry a hint of the subconscious at play, of shrewd implications about personal identity and social anxieties;
5. possess a dry humour, finely balanced between satire and cynicism.

~ obligations of a songwriter, as ennumerated by Richard Witts in his book, The Velvet Underground

Are there parallel "obligations" for the visual artist?