Art and Creativity: The Saga of the Tormented Artist-- Is Suffering Required for Creativity?
I came across a quote the other day that went something like "Comfort Zones are nice, but nothing grows there."
Whether or I actually agree with that, it made me think about the almost mythological "tormented artist." There seems to be almost endless stories about tormented, suffering, tortured and even insane artists out there.
Meanwhile, there are lots of psychology papers and articles, along with experts out there who support the broad-based notion that there's a fine line between genius and insanity.
Do Artists Have to Be Crazy?
Having had a couple of galleries, spread out across a couple of decades, I have had the privilege of meeting 100's of artists. And we have had lots of opportunities to discuss art, creativity and what makes people tick... where does the creative spark come from?
Painted Mandala stone... you need to be NUTS to do this, right?
Along similar lines-- although typically more pronounced in self-important big-city art circles-- there's a subtle subtext that the only art that is any "good" comes from a place of torment; from a place at the intersection of insanity and depression.
"I woke up from a horrible nightmare at 3:00am, grabbed a bale of hay, broke some glass on it, wrapped all in barbed wire, then pissed on it and set it on fire. I call it 'Midnight Ennui.'"
Is that really what's the defining factor in creativity?
No doubt Van Gogh, Goya, Edvard Munch, Jackson Pollock, Georgia O'Kieffe, Salvador Dali has demons they were wrestling with... but did those demons actually provide the defining quality of their work?
I doubt it.
Writers and Musicians
Love/Regret, metal sculture by Ephraim Brown
As a writer, I often hear the assertion that people do their "best writing" when they are suffering... or, at least, are spending time outside their proverbial comfort zones.
Speaking in part from experience, I have no doubt that great songs and poetry can be traced back to broken hearts... but broken hearts are hardly a form of insanity-- at least to my eye-- merely a temporary state of distress.
I have written lots of really "good stuff" while feeling depressed and distressed, but I also wrote lots of crap. Similarly, I wrote lots of good stuff while being in a state of happiness.
Critics Suck: The Story of a Couple of Happy Guys
Back in the late 1980s, I met a couple of Swedish glassblowers-- these buys were artists; they created all sorts of magic with molten glass. Their work was GOOD! Trust me on this one.
"Giant Tortoise" print from painting by Jesse Link
One of their artistic statements was "We want to express the joy we feel when we work with glass!"
And that, indeed, they did.
However, they had a hell of a time getting taken seriously, and earning any kind of critical acclaim. The problem? A community of stodgy art critics who could not bring themselves to say something positive about "happy" art.
In this case, there wasn't a thing "wrong" with the artists-- or the art-- the issue was a pervasive philosophy of perpetuating the mythological tormented artist.
What a waste!
I've been looking at art since my parents first started teaching me to have a "critical eye" and how to truly look at something... so that's almost been 50 years. My observation is that good art is good art... and most attempts to bring "torment" into the picture seems more like an exercise in adding mystique to the work, rather than adding artistic quality. Is an artist's state of mind reflected in his or her work? Absolutely! Is it the "defining factor?" Absolutely NOT!
DISCUSSION: Do YOU think torment and mental illness creates better or "more valid" art (or music, writing)? Is "happy" art inferior, in some way? Are serious artists more likely to be insane or somewhat mentally ill? If you're an artist, musician, writer or other creative... do you do your best work while feeling distressed? Leave a comment-- share your experience!
The Red Dragonfly is an independent alternative art gallery located in Port Townsend, WA; showcasing edgy and unique contemporary art & handmade crafts by local and worldwide artists. All images are our own, unless otherwise credited. Where applicable, artist images used with permission.
I agree, torment is not the essence of art! Expressive people can work with whatever they are experiencing. Ideally artists are sensitive and perceptive which can cause them to experience life deeply. For some this can cause more extreme highs and lows and this can help to explain artistic temperaments throughout history but artists don't have to be tormented or in pain to create great art.
I would agree pretty much 100% with this. And in many cases, the invisible requirement of "the artist is tortured" has more to do with being part of "marketing mystique" by big city agents and swank galleries than the actual quality of the art.
I believe ALL emotions and feelings are a valid component in the expressing of art.
Totally agree! Artist should be sensitive, but this can be aimed at something beautiful, joyful and positive. Deep feelings can be not only about torment. I think deep love is something that moves us to create true masterpieces.
For me I think I am better mentally when I am creative. If I go to long without my creative outlet then I get crazy. I guess it's probably different for everyone but for me creativity helps keep me sane. It breaks the monotony, distracts me from all the ill's of the world and gives me joy. I believe we are all creative and the more we can use it the better we will be. I do think that many artist's use their art as a cathartic process that helps them release or process emotional grief . That said I don't feel like mental illness creates better or more valid art, I believe that comes from creative passion, creative exploration as well as commitment to the process of making art.
Yup I agree with you. It's expressing yourself that drives art and as you say is a 'cathartic process to release emotional grief' as well =))
One thing that does seem to hold true is that a lot of artists and creatives are more sensitive than the population at large... suggesting that they also experience more pain/injustice/depression than the broader population. And so there is more (or more intense "stuff") to be worked through by artistic types.
I have personally never found that "being in a state" improves the quality of my creativity... in fact, it tends to be quite the opposite; I'm more likely to sit in the corner in a catatonic state.
Ohhh the cool post.
You ask if 'Are serious artists more likely to be insane or somewhat mentally ill?'
I think artist always have it a bit more different than some lawyers counterparts in terms of career growth. maybe it was cool to have artists during the Renaissance and easier to find a mecene but nowadays.... when you tell people you are an artist they'll just look down on you(fora lot of them, everyone is different). At school teachers despise you if you draw in class or you show some artistic needs. So I think growing in that kind of society you need a strong will to become an artist and go against the current. What drives you can be different for a lot of people but pain and suffering can be one of them. It doesn't have to be visible, but if you look at pro athletes or pro rtists, they have some kind of scars which drives them to become better.
The tormented artist per say though, it's a myth to believe you can do your best work then. but at the same time, Art that sells is art that resonates with people, so I guess it is easier to share strong emotions in your art when you are in that state of strong emotions. but that works for evry kind of emotions wether it is love or rage or pain or happyness.
On that last point of comfort zones though, I don't believe you can do your best work out of your comfort zone. For the simple reason that it is Out of your zone, so you don't know how to do it. The meaning of going out of it is to expand your comfort zone which will better your work and help you transmit your ideas in a better way.
I think Art is a language, and the better you know it, the better your art is ( And those beautiful love letters are not made by people looking down at love =))
here's my 2 cents rambling =)
Very cool post by the way !
I was constantly doodling, to be sure... and often handed in homework with elaborate patterns and scrollwork in the margins. For me, that was mostly a way of "self-regulating" my ADHD... as long as I was drawing on something, I could actually hear and absorb what the teachers had to say. Of course, back then (1960's, early 1970's) the mental health profession and educators had not yet figured out that such an approach was actually helpful... I managed to make it through school with primarily A's and B's.
I do agree that art is a language-- and thanks for bringing that up. Art isn't just "art" to me, it's a type of visual communication. I am not always entirely sure what the message is... but my wife refers to it as "channeled communication," and I'm good with that characterization.
Art seems to hold different "value" in different cultures. In the US (and many other industrialized societies) it seems to be held in lower esteem because it doesn't "do" something (like mow your lawn, or make toast) and so it gets either overlooked or relegated to the ranks of something that is traded because it has "value" or perhaps can be an "investment."
Which kind of sucks!
Yes as you say, but the concept of doodling is good for your health is pretty new ( I see a tendency of more acceptable things since the last 10 years like hypnosis, acupuncture, lucid dreaming... and art is part of that too haha) And I agree also about Art in galleries or as a hobby. It kinda sucks.
At the same time though, I can see the art field blossom in another way through movies, design and videogames and the competition there is tough. I mean, it is very easy to find a tight community of artists striving to be the best of their craft. But it is production driven and most of the time, you don't do art for the sake of art but for a team goal. But the end vision is still the same, trigger the emotion in the viewer (how we do that especially in movies is very questionable though haha).
If people don't see a purpose to art in general though I think they are quite narrow minded. When you look around, everything we have is visual and artificially created (for a good part at least). Even pens were drew before we could use it. ( But not something to teach at school, because 'Art' haha)
(sorry for the long answer, I really like the topic x))
Good points!
I think the art field may also be growing in an "accidental" way as a result of technology. At our gallery, we see more and more people who tell us they are doing "creative things" because they MISS actually "using their hands" to create. These days, all we seem to do is type on a keyboard or use a touchpad... people are starting to miss actually using their hands-- rather than technology-- to create. And so, some of the "art therapy" (and other things) you mention are becoming more and more popular.
interesting question....
I personally can't write well when I am happy. At least not well enough...
Although I think that's because that's the amateur perspective to things. Professional writers are supposed to be able to write well no matter the circumstances.
In any case - no matter how ironic this may sound, but I think that the pain, the suffering, the challenges and heartbreak do contribute to the process of creating good art. BUt so are the drugs and alcohol...
The more I have explored this topic, the more it seems like people have different emotional responses.
Personally, I tend to suck under pressure and deadlines, and I'm more likely to sit in a corner in a catatonic state when I am depressed and/or mentally off-center. Although I have been writing for over 40 years... I am definitely not a professional!
I do believe the pain, torment, depression and torture can add "something" to the creative process, but I'm more inclined to experience that as "post fact," as in "back when I was depressed I had this great idea!" My chances of actually executing that while off center? Near zero.
Appreciate the thoughtful comment!
As @reddragonfly says I think it depends of the person. Art is something very personal. So everyone have their own answer.
In the game production field though, we can strive being in pain, tormented etc and putting most of those feelings aside sometimes, (no good if you are a depressed artist good at painting depressed ghosts and working on a comedy movie or game), but not under alcohol or drugs influence. I think that altering mind states can be good on the short term to have a quick release of .... production ?
But this will not show your true skills and the real 'you'. I am talking in an amateurish level, I guess shamans and people doing that regularly and with control can definitely do good, but the usual John might get to driven and lost in his own mindstate.
Yeah, sorry (I try to learn how to write little by little, I'm better at painting haha) I think that to truly be able to connect with an audience you must empathize with them through that language and alcohol and some other drugs...well... at some point you can't speak or walk properly so doing art..
Cheers !
@reddragonfly, again you wrote great post. while i was reading it I was thinking how you should write for some magazine about art. It fascinates me that exact moment you find to write about, you know artists so well and you know how to write about it. Thanks again for sharing your thoughts and speaking for some of us who are not so good in word expressing.
And for the topic, when I was young I believed that only when I'm deeply down and crazy I make good art. Growing older, and learning about myself I came to the moment like those two guys blowing the glass...Let's make some joy of art, because... beauty will save the world..
Thanks for your kind words and encouragement @jungwatercolor-- I appreciate your support.
I believe it's important we talk about the nature, psychology and business of art, and that's why I write. Whereas I have considered writing for magazines (and have done so in the past) I work under the same limitations as most others in the art field: a lack of money. And most magazines in the art field have the same essential policy: "We would love to publish your excellent article, but we do not PAY for submissions at this time. However, this will look great on your CV!"
Fact is, I can't pay for groceries at the supermarket with my CV, I need to be paid. Hence, I am now working to-- in a sense-- create my OWN "magazine" through writing articles on Steemit, where at least there is a small chance I might make a few dollars for my efforts. And it doesn't "cost" anybody anything... your upvote had no direct expense to you, for example.
But to return to the main point-- I think there is a lot of joy and happiness in art... I don't do creative things to "purge my pain," but because I really enjoy what I am doing.
Thanks for your reply!
Well, reading you replay I see matter with art is everywhere almost the same. But still, consider me someone who is so happy every time I read your new post, I am your faithfull reader :) Just keep up the good work.