Why do artists create
art? I’m sure there are many theories, but
a common, underlying force that permeates all the others is, because, quite
simply, they have to. When Creativity
hits, it typically smacks you upside the head, or punches you in the gut, kicks
you in the ass, etc… you get the idea.
You never see it coming but once it’s there, it will not be denied.
Not all art is pretty and
flowery and full of sunshine and butterflies.
Not all art can leave us feeling with same warm tingling of a tummy full
of Mom’s apple pie . As much as an
artist might want to share a positive experience, a happy uplifting take away,
it’s not really up to them to dictate. Anyone
who has ever tried to control the
outcome of a piece of art knows what I mean.
Good luck with that. Creativity
just laughs at you and the piece turns out the way it wants to anyway. If it has a story to tell, by God, it’s
coming out whether you want to cover it up with a flowery blanket of nice-nice or
not. And it’s usually better and more faceted than you could have designed in
your logical brain anyway, if you will just let it have it’s way. Best
to know when to give in gracefully.
I had heard this before: Do not
try to be too comfortable. Embrace the
discomfort. It is important to let it
wash over you and just feel, not think.
Ok, I thought, I can do that.
But how often do we actually let the notion of “uncomfortable” settle
in our bones and allow ourselves to stay there, in that space, no matter how creatively
productive it might be? Probably not
often enough, because, well, honestly, it’s .. um, uncomfortable, duh! But
beware, if you don’t embrace it, Creativity will stalk you like a bobcat eyeing
the next dinner morsel. It will pounce
out of nowhere and smack the shit out of you and before you know it, you will
be spiraling into the depths of the very uncomfortableness you were working so
futilely to avoid.
Here’s a typical
scenario: Just when you think you are
planning on enjoying a nice quiet day, making nice quiet art, or happily
enjoying the harmony that you so effectively orchestrated in your personal
world, Creativity laughs a wicked sneer and says… “Oh yeah? Watch this!” Before you know it, a raw emotion, yanked
unceremoniously from your belly where you’d effectively stuffed it for years,
is shoved hard in your face. “Look at
me!” It demands! “DO something!” It
commands. All the pain, anger and
whatever the hell was buried along with it is now alarmingly staring you in the
eyes, demanding acknowledgement.” What
choice do you have, really?
Plunged into the depths of
the subconscious, you flail, grasping for the life raft of balance and order
that is no where to be found. The dark,
cold waters of the creative undertow has grabbed hold. Now
you’re spiraling down into the icy, hidden caverns of the psyche, swimming thru
lost caverns of forgotten dreams and where the grief and disappointment of dashed
hopes live. But in those depths, in that
pool of discomfort, lies the very thing that ignites the necessary spark to
your next masterpiece. Do you have the
courage to face it? Will you dive deeper
to find unknown treasures or will you kick and gasp for air, panicked,
suppressing those processes again, haunted by them as they lurk just below the
subconscious surface, until they try to snatch you up again? Creativity boldly confronts you “Do you
really want to be artist or do you want to hide?” You decide.
In a recent interview with
Bruce Springsteen, I just heard it again.
He discussed this very thing as it related to the thrust of where his
music comes from. It’s an answer to this
internal sense of uncomfortableness with something that is seeking expression, that
must be expressed. He said he makes
music and performs because he “has to.”
It made complete sense to me and also made the hairs stand up on the
back of my neck as Creativity smacked me in the head, again, saying
“See?!! I told you! Now go DO SOMETHING!”
And so, compelled, the
artist, must find an expression for that spark, no matter how peaceful of a day
they had planned. That very
uncomfortableness leads them on a journey thru which they are transformed. By the end of the piece, they are often as
surprised as the audience at what actually appears on the canvas. It is not planned. It is not controlled. It is simply there, allowed to exist in the
light of day and expressed, in all of its messy, complicated, raw, unresolved
glory. And the artist breathes a sigh
of relief. And Creativity smirks “See? Told ya so!”
just as it’s getting ready to smack you upside the head, yet again…
