Monday, March 29, 2010

Why am I an Artist?

Unwise Men, 19 x 23" framed

Why am I an artist?

People do ask me this. I never seem to have a proper answer. I will attempt to answer here.

  • Constant desire (need) to create.
  • Skills toolbox empty except for a couple of mismatched screws rolling around.
  • End of the road – if I can’t make this work, then I feel there’s nothing left to be done. While what I create may change, the fact that I must create will not (unless I am dead). I guess I can sum this one up by stating “art or death.”
  • Don’t work well with others.

Are these crappy reasons to be an artist? Probably three out of the four reasons are crappy. But they are my reasons.

Perhaps I could add a fifth reason: my childlike wonder of the world. In grade school, my mother called this immaturity. I had no response to that. Except to lose even more self-confidence. Today, I would argue that, no, it is indeed childlike wonder of the world around me. It fascinates me so much that I could not possible concentrate on filling up squares on a spreadsheet.

One reason not mentioned would be to get rich. Didn’t Thomas Kinkade get rich? I’m sure there are others. For some reason, the wealth is not flowing. Could be that my childlike wonder gets in the way of marketing and business sense? Money is definitely NOT a good reason.

Fear could be a reason. It could be that I have a fear of the “real world”. That place where people drive to corporate campuses and wind their way down “hallways” of carpeted boxes until they reach their cubicles. At this point in my life, trying to insert me into a cubicle would be like trying to insert a cat into a whirlpool bath.

Latent agoraphobia?

Fear of disappointing people other than myself?

Lack of business attire?

If anyone has a good reason, please submit it. I need better talking points.


2 comments:

  1. After reading this post I agree you definitely DO think outside the box.
    And I don't think you need better talking points, it would only add fuel to the fire...LOL.
    Peg

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  2. why is anyone anyone...at least being an artist is always a choice. i'm thinking many people are doctors and lawyers because their parents wanted them to be such. i know parents push and have their kids go towards the arts too but you can't just learn art and do it without at least a modicum of creativity.
    why do you need better talking points?
    the less mind that goes into art the more i like it. being an artist means you dont have to have a reason, see???

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