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.