After reading the door-stopper, The Last Dangerous Visions, I thought I’d go with a quicker read for my next book. Luckily, Art & Fear was sitting on top of my to-read stack next to the bed. Co-written by David Bayles and Ted Orland, the book takes a look at both the good and bad aspects of being an artist.
It’s not necessarily a motivational book, but after reading it I did feel better about myself as an artist. What appealed to me was how the authors were able to address the fears, concerns, and anxieties that I feel.
Art is usually made in solitude. There isn’t immediate feedback. There isn’t someone next to me saying encouraging things. There isn’t an audience cheering me on. Or booing me. All I can do is make art the way I see it in my head.
Of course, I don’t make art with an audience in mind. Doesn’t matter if I’m splashing paint on a canvas or typing out a short story on my laptop, I’m creating something that I want to see or read. I create for myself, first.
The authors touch on this on Page 2, where they write, “…it means living with doubt and contradiction, doing something no one much cares whether you do, and for which there may be neither audience nor reward.” I take this to mean that we do it out of love, out of necessity, out of need. That sums me up fairly well.
There’s another passage near the end of the book that also resonated with me. “The only work really worth doing – the only work you can do convincingly – is the work that focuses on the things you care about. To not focus on those issues is to deny the constants in your life.”
I think this ties in with the old writing adage: Write what you know. In other words, make are that you care about, that conveys your feelings, your thoughts, your hopes and fears. To me, art isn’t just about creating and self-expression. It’s also a form of therapy.
I enjoyed Art & Fear. It’s a quick read, only 122 pages (including the postscript), and I found quite a few passages that spoke to me. Did reading this book inspire me? A little bit, perhaps. But mostly, it made me realize that my feelings are universal. The anxiety, the fear, the indecision…it’s all part of the process and I shouldn’t allow it to distract me or lead me astray.
Definitely give this one a read. I think you’ll find bits of yourself on these pages.
RB
You touched on 2 things that resonate.
Addressing contradictions. That’s why I enjoy coming across paradoxal statements. It moves my thinking into a different plane.
Sometimes I’ll hear a statement that isn’t meant to be a paradox but it has the same effect.
The second thing that resonated with me is art partially serves as therapy. At times I use art to sort through the cognitive dissonance that confronts me.
The beauty of conversation leading to a different understanding and appreciation.
Thanks Richard.
That’s really interesting, Jasper. I agree that art and creativity can help sort through contradictions in our lives.
I hope you get a chance to read this book. I think you’ll find some inspiration in it.
Nice – I may check out this book but I’m kinda afraid to!
Ha! You have nothing to fear by fear itself. 😉
I’ve read it a couple of times and I agree, it helps to feel not so alone. Have you read The View from The Studio Door…comes to mind, I can’t remember the author. Look it up. I remember that being a good read too. ☺️
Thanks for the recommendation, Phoebe. I’ll pick up a copy. 🙂
Cheers!
I wonder if Stephen King has read this book. He seems to have taken the book’s premise to extremes.
LOL! I’ll have to do some research to see. On a similar note, his book, On Writing, has some fantastic insight into the writing process.
King is very perceptive and smart.
It really helps to have those feelings validated, and know you aren’t alone in feeling so.
Absolutely, Dawn. We tend to work in a vacuum, so reading this definitely gave me some comfort. 🙂
I always wrote (writing was my art) for an audience. And I taught my students that as an artist you run a service business for others to enjoy. The basic difference between a hobby artist and a professional artist is that the professional artist produces with recipients in his mind, the hobby artist follows his own interest. In my understanding, as a professional artist, you have a social responsibility. Maybe not so much as a hobby artist as your influence is very limited.
Kb 🙂
Excellent points, KB. For me, I tend to overthink things when I try to create with an audience in mind. In the end, my work suffers from it. Of course, all artists have different views and motivations. We just have to find the process that works for us.
Thanks for stopping by, my friend. 🙂
I like to think in terms of writing for an audience of one. Often I write with a particular person in mind.
Currently I working on my toughest poem. It’s for a friend who at 38 years of age is in palliative care. I have shared poems about a person with them and been very much appreciated. None of these people have been in situation as I’m currently dealing with.
That’s interesting, Jasper. Good luck on your poem. I hope you are able to capture your thoughts and feelings.
Glad you found a good purpose for the book. Sometimes, they escape us.
Thank you, Pat! 🙂
Sounds an interesting read and while it applies to art, it sounds applicable to many things.
Very much so, Sheree. Thanks!
Hah, that is a very interesting approach and one I really like.
I quite down to earth and realistic myself, so it suits me.
If you like a quick result, either good or bad, being a social media influencer is perfect.
But in 100 years from now, nobody is going to mention the instagram influencer who posts 3 times a day of what they eat…
Shakespeare, Mozart and Picasso,however, their influence will stay alive 😉
So very true, Andrea. One of the things the authors note is that we don’t know how our art may be received years after we’re gone. I could see your doodles in the Louvre one day! 🙂
Haha – good one, Andrea!
Richard, it sounds like a really nice book worthy of reading. I like your quotes. It is encouraging. Take care. M
I think you might like this one, Morag. Even with years of work behind us, it’s nice to be reminded that we aren’t alone. Cheers!