Life beats down and crushes the soul and art reminds you that you have one.
~ Stella Adler
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arolyn Henderson over at Fine Art Views wrote such a great article today on artists that I chose to highlight it. She points out that the stereotype of the artist (“neurotic, insecure, off balance, and strangely disquieting”) is far from the truth.
“Oh look, it’s an artist,” I always helpfully point out to the Norwegian Artist – one of the most stable, practical, logical, and analytical people I know. “Unkempt hair, vacant yet wild eyes, disjointed thoughts and unintelligible speech – should he really be left alone in a room full of paint?”
Love it.
She goes on to encourage artists by listing six ways they are tough yet sensitive souls who add so much light and beauty to a ugly, dingy world. You can read her full article here.
Now, I don’t paint. I’ve already talked about why. But I write, sing, play piano, etc. And I cannot tell you how many times my art has been dismissively appreciated: “Oh that’s nice, dear. And what do you do?”
Because of this, I am too shy and insecure to believe I could ever support myself with any of my artistic talents. So I have a day job that pays the bills and afford me time and money time to pursue beauty. But deep down inside, I would rather be composing, singing, writing, art-ing full time.
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| The Bower Meadow, Dante Gabriel Rossetti |
I have been different at times, unconventional maybe, ok, quirky even! But I have never been boring. And honey, I would rather be exciting and poor then boring and rich!!
It is difficult enough to endure boring people at the dinner table, but to actually be one?! Perish the thought.
Now go forth and be exciting, you Bruce Adrian Willis Brody, you!
Oremus pro invicem,
~ Mikaela
Are you an artist? If so, do you support yourself with your art? How do you deal with negativity?
3 comments:
My husband is a painter, and he has a day job as an admissions counselor at an art school. It's a good fit for him. He's surrounded by artists and looks at art many of his days, and then he tries to get to his studio a couple of times a week. He has an art group too, which helps i think. What do you do for your day job?
Jen, your hubby is very blessed! My day job is not nearly as inspiring: admin assistant and not for an artsy group!
However, I did start an arts group that encourages and promotes up and coming artists in the Washington, DC area. So that helps balance things!
This is a great article, thanks for blogging about it. I feel like I take this whole idea the other way around: I am usually more studious and boring and truth-y, and I want to be more interesting (to myself, at least), but it takes effort. Practicing some small artistic habits as often as I can helps get me out of myself and stretches my mind and heart. Without these things, I feel I could easily slide back into closed, boring, and really, less health and less my best self.
How awesome that in order to post this comment, it says, "Please prove you're not a robot." :-) Really, I'm trying!
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