Other than as a way of earning a living, what drives an artist, writer, musician — any creative person — to do what they love doing? Why does an artist paint? Or a writer write?
I know there are many reasons — all as unique as the person(s) behind the art — but here are just three:
1. Lose oneself in play and discovery
I lose myself… in the wonderful mess of creating journal covers or filling up the pages with words arranged all sorts of ways.
Or dropping wet watercolors onto a thick thirsty sheet of Arches 300# paper and watching where it goes… what I can encourage it to become by tilting it and pouring salt on it.
Or laying a graphite stick on its side to draw a shape simply by shading its sides and watching as three dimensions form on a two-dimensional surface.
Or just with a pen or pencil, doodling and scratching out designs on whatever surface I can claim.
2. Reconnect with oneself
Deb Boyken at Punctuality Rules says writing helps her be herself…
In many ways, sitting down to write something feels like getting back in touch with my brain. Much like a painter who finally finds the time to pick up a brush and place it on canvas, or a runner who puts on her shoes and goes out the door–writing touches something that makes me feel like ME…
3. Express oneself and tell stories
My artist and writer friend, Elizabeth (Sally) Roth, describes the artist behind her paintings at her Cottage Door Studio:
I am an artist with no formal training in the arts. I paint, draw, photograph and write because I find these the only ways I can express my true self.
I have many stories to tell, as we all do. Painting one’s — or another’s — story is what my life is about — painting (both with) words and paint…
Sally painted Mary’s Annunciation, at left, during a week-long workshop in Vermont, and the story you see is reflective, personal, and beautifully told in watercolors.
This print plus more of her work is available in her online shop.
What is your way of playing, discovering, reconnecting with and expressing yourself? And can you add another reason for doing it?
Thank you so much for coming by.I hope you’ll share………………….
{ 17 comments… read them below or add one }
Artists paint, writers write, carpenters build, scientists explore, doctors heal, etc. all for the same reason. We are all here to authentically express our full potential using our innate talents and gifts. And when we are in alignment with that purpose, life is playful, joyful and fulfilling. Magical.
I love your tactile descriptions. I want to pick up that brush or, more likely, start pounding away at this keyboard. Thanks for being inspirational!
Terro’s last blog post..Torture, Too, is in the Eye of the Beholder
I am honored to have a small part in your beautiful work here. Thank you.
When I write I sort out my thinking and refine it into a form that I can share with others. I am working on boundaries right now as I am out of practice in person after being home 24/7 for 3 years while my mother was dying. Sometimes in person my mind is going far too fast and ideas pour forth…the discipline on paper gives meaning and clarity. Writing is not enough about play YET!
Lovely post
Patricia’s last blog post..Fear Sandwich
Another of your inspiring and intriguing posts.
Your descriptions of the three motivations all ring true for me. Especially to the joys of art I would add going into an art shop and wanting to buy every one of those enticing rainbows of coloured paints and pastels. (In spite of the fact that they’re no use to me now because now I do mostly digital art!)
There’s a main motivation of mine that you haven’t added. I want to capture the moment. That surge of excitement I get when something inspires me, whether it’s a face, a fairground or the glitter of frost on a twig. I want to capture the wonder. I can’t bear that it should be lost.
Valerie Beeby’s last blog post..iPhone hatches Easter chicks
It’s neat how this happens, but I find that numbers 1, 2 and 3 feed off each other in my case. I write to lose myself (let go of false beliefs) to reconnect with the real stuff and express what is there. It’s like peeling the layers of an onion.
Davina’s last blog post..Positively Breathing — A Series Intro
I Paint and write because I HAVE to, like breathing. I also create for all the reasons the others have said above. Above all, it is fun – nothing like it. Henry Miller once wrote a little book called, “To paint is to Love Again.” He was known for his writing but also loved to paint just for the pure joy of it.
Adele’s last blog post..Merce Cunningham at 90: Dance and I Ching
I love your painting, the top one reminds me of the watercolor on silk that I own. It’s gorgeous
I think creating is for all of the above reasons in most of us. Everyone needs a way to express themselves.
Anita
Sliloh’s last blog post..That woman can sing!
It’s a perfect reminder of doing what you enjoy and finding joy along the way.
I used to draw all the time when I was younger. Somewhere along the way I decided I couldn’t be the best so I stopped. Now I know the lesson is, it’s not about being THE best, it’s about being YOUR best.
J.D. Meier’s last blog post..Choose Your Jobs Based on Strengths
I’d say a writer writes and a painter paints because they have the gift of letting their imagination soar through the skies.
It all comes down to imagination and curiosity. One leads to another and art is born
Samar’s last blog post..6 Occupational health hazards of freelancing
I know no other way…. creativity has always been a part of my life even before I had formal training.
I’m no one thing…. I play with whatever takes my fancy.
I’m glad I found you again.
Saw a comment of yours elsewhere and I remembered I hadn’t been here in a very long while……….. long time in terms of the blog world
best wishes always
Ribbon
Ribbon’s last blog post..Baboon…
Valerie, I agree. We are all born with purpose and passion — born with the gift. But it is ours to develop. And then comes the sigh of fulfillment… little things over a life time. A biggie at the end of it, ideally. Thank you for coming by to comment.
Terro, thank you. It holds for writers too, doesn’t it?
You are so welcome, Sally. (Elizabeth)
Hi Patricia. I write to understand and paint to see better. So I get what you’re saying. As far as play goes, at this stage of my life, my work is both work and play. Play because I enjoy doing it almost as much as having done it. (I guess pure play is just enjoying the process period. Will aim for that in my workl)
Valerie — I love how you said that. Capture the wonder… of a glitter of frost on a twig. Beautiful!
Thanks Davina for your insight. When I lose myself it’s to anything extraneous — time and schedules and people other than what I’m focused on as well as false beliefs. But that’s certainly part of it.
Hi Adele. I must write and paint as well. Feel like I’ve cheated myself if I don’t. I’ve read and heard others say the same thing. It’s what connects us to each other and to our work. Will have to look up Henry Miller’s book. Thanks.
I agree completely, Anita. We are created to be creative. And we all do it in different ways… my friend says she’s not an artist, but she creates solutions to financial problems. She designs quilts. Analytical and methodical, she says. Creative, I say.
…and thanks for liking my “silk” painting. ‘Twas fun to do. A doodle with watercolors.
Oh J.D.. You nailed it! Competition is a good thing, but it must be understood. Even in sports, it’s always a matter of bettering ourselves. And our best is always changing. Thank you!
Hi Samar. Curiosity and imagination are gifts we all have as kids — sometimes they get knocked out of us (or locked away) in our need to act our age, as many of us learned in school settings. My appeal to people is to get it back, unlock those old treasure boxes of what-if and let’s-see-how-we-can… Find out where it takes them. Thank you for coming by.
Hi Ribbon. So good to see you again. You say you play with whatever takes your fancy. You do! I love your blog. You make me smile. Thanks for coming.
Because it is like rubbing the lamp and letting the genie come out to play.
Writer Dad’s last blog post..The Classroom is Only a Baseline
What a fun response! I bet you raise your kids as we did — by playing with them! Thanks for coming by.
Doing art makes me feel more like me. Art gives me a satisfaction that adds happiness to my life. I find that depending on my mood, I do different types of art. I love doing paste papers because they are like play to me, like doodling. They are fun, fast, and intuitive. I don’t worry about precision. Collage is also an intuitive process for me. It takes more thought than the paste papers (which get used in the collages), but still has elements of play for me. Fiber arts such as stuffed animals, punch needle embroidery, appliqué have creative aspects of the design, but also include repetitive, but precise work such as sewing. Sewing a seam or filling a shape with a solid color of embroidery thread needs concentration to keep the precision, but doesn’t really take artistic thinking. For example, follow the seam to the end; fill in the shape neatly with this color for embroidery. A combination of the various types of work lets me change as my mood changes.
Hi Ellen.
I remember making clothes for myself mostly (and later for my girls) because that was the only way to get new clothes the first few years after college. You say “go to the end of the seam” and it doesn’t take much thought. I remembered thinking how tedious sewing could seem, but it didn’t. I felt I was sculpting a sleeve by fitting it in. There was tactile pleasure in turning it right-side-out and feeling the perfection of a seam well-sewn.
Does that sound silly? I had not yet painted at that point in my life. (Once I discovered the pleasure of paint brushes on canvas or paper, the sewing machine got put away.) But for me, making a shirt or gown was like designing. If I felt good making it, I finished it. If I didn’t, it went in the trash pile. Ha!
I too love collage, for all the reasons you gave. I especially like your first line. Art makes you feel like you. Beautifully stated. Thanks.
Lovely blog site Barb and beautiful sentiments throughout.
I like music and art as I can lose myself in it…..in a totally isolated world of my own.
I don’t paint on real canvas; I’ve no idea why! but I do love my digital painting.
Your gallery is wonderful and I feel priveleged to be able to view your lovely works.
I too made nearly all my own clothes and my childrens’. I got a great deal of pleasure from doing that. Now the eyes are not so good and have difficulties even threading needles. I had a few disasters, but on the whole all garments fitted well.
Similar in painting, some disasters and some I feel quite proud of my achievement… I keep learning and practising
Have a good day!
Maureen