The Serious Artist and the Pursuit of Personal Joy
The Serious Artist and the Pursuit of Personal Joy belongs to the following groups:
Complex Simplicity of Art, ! 100% !, All Around the Styles, Art Inspired by Dreams, AW Welcome Center, Bits and Pieces , Canadiana - (limit 3/day), EF Welcome Center, Everyday Life, Feminine Intent (LIMIT TWO IMAGES PER DAY), First Things, If it doesn't belong, Light In The Darkness, Live, Love, Dream: , Outsiders, Safe Haven, The Healing Journey, The Patchwork , THE SISTERHOOD, Ultimate Resources, Unconventional Artistry - 3 per day, Who are YOU to Judge? and You're AcceptedThe article below is excerpted with full permission from Robert Genn’s newsletter…Genn is a well known international artist who runs a listing site for artists, called The Painters Keys…
Everyone has heard of the “serious artist.” The term has a lot of different meanings. To a person who paints only on Sundays, one who paints every day might be one. An artist whose work is difficult to understand may consider those who paint understandable things “not serious.” On the other hand, realistic artists sometimes consider modernists to be only wanking the public and therefore not serious. Some think serious artists are those who deal with serious subject matter—poverty, war, politics, injustice, etc. Except for a bit of irony once in a while, these folks don’t generally think humour has its place in art. You may know of artists who take themselves so seriously they become significant hazards at dinner parties.
Hey, it’s okay to be serious about honing technique, learning the ropes and trying to understand the muse.
When I was younger and much more idealistic, I used to worry I was not serious enough. In my studies, I eventually got around to the critic Bernard Berenson and was relieved by his idea that art ought to be life-enhancing and not life-deprecating. I figured it was okay to please, both myself and others. Anger and angst were just fine for anyone else.
Further, I’ve always thought that in an ideal state people should do only what they love—perhaps an impossible, hedonistic position. I’m sticking to it. The pursuit of personal joy is serious business.
To experience joy one has to consider play. The British writer G.K. Chesterton said, “Children’s play is the most serious thing.” Unfortunately, age and accumulated wisdom tend to interfere with play. It’s a human condition. Or is it?
“We have an infinite number of reasons to be happy, and a serious responsibility not to be serious.” (Maharishi Mahesh Yogi)
“God,” said Voltaire, “is a comedian playing to an audience too afraid to laugh.” Obviously, some folks think all this seriousness is a byproduct of a great cosmic joke. And these little stretchy things-these canvases and the stuff we mark them up with-are truncated playgrounds of the human soul. In the end, it is we who can become the master jokers. “It is not necessary for the public to know whether I’m joking or whether I’m serious,” said Salvador Dali, “just as it is not necessary for me to know it myself.”
What in your opinion is a serious Artist?...Janis
Estelle O'Brien
anyone who approaches their work with passion :)
Janis Zroback replied
I totally agree…thanks so much for commenting…
BLYTHART
It’s not something I think can be easily defined. Is an artist serious because he/she earns big money from their work? Is an artist serious because he/she would continue to paint even if no-one liked their work? I have lots of questions but few answers. Maybe there are many answers though. For me personally, I consider I am serious because I feel unhappy when I haven’t created anything for a while. I need to paint and draw and study art. It has become part of me. That doesn’t mean I am any good at it, but hey, who gives up sex, eating and drinking just because they aren’t very good at it? :) Although I am being paradox, I’d say that if doing art makes you happy and you find it a fun thing to do … then you are serious at it.
Janis Zroback replied
I am serious about creating, because the process makes me incredibly happy…being successful at it is the icing on the cake…thanks so much for your input…
BLYTHART
yes … I meant to say “paradoxical” :)
Delphine de Noire
For me, it is about connecting with my whole self and the freedom it brings from mental illness… Especially in the persuit of becoming a successful artist…
Thankyou Janis for another thought provoking and helpful piece…
Mx
Janis Zroback replied
You’re entirely welcome…for more articles, check my Twitter posts under Paintability…
kjgordon
Hmmmm…........... serious…......sounds scary….....
seriously though….........I take joy in my creating and pleasure in sharing my work….....
So to me a serious artist is one who is full of joy and is pleased to share his or her creations.
Janis Zroback replied
You have a valid point…to be serious means dedication, but not to the exclusion of happiness…
Fee Dickson
Taking a slightly different tack here (and I don’t define myself as a serious artist, though one day I would like to be able to) I think it someone who has the discipline ( and perhaps the courage) to paint even when they aren’t enjoying it, even when the muse isn’t flowing.
Janis Zroback replied
That is something I have been repeating over and over to my painting groups for years…just keep painting, regardless of how you feel…I paint every day no matter what…I named my website janispaintseveryday.com and I do it even if I have a migraine and that is almost every other day, or even if I have no ideas or plans or anything, and some of my best work has emerged from days when I was so ill I could hardly see…I have lots of serious family responsibilities as well, but nothing will stop me, except maybe death, and even then you never know… :))
Janis Zroback replied
Only one sentence of Robert’s I would like to expand on…he talks about doing what you love…I think we should also try to love what we do…
FlowersEtc
Art is to me, discovery of my inner self. As a creation comes from within, it is showing me not only how to express myself, but, my love, thought’s and talent. Not to mention my inner being/soul.
Janis Zroback replied
Well said… thank you so much for your input to the discussion…
catherine walker
well it’s interesting thinking about it janis, thanks for that.
I guess I have become rather a serious person over the
years due to my own life experiences and the job I have to do as a carer.
.It’s a really hard job and I don’t think many people could imagine or
understand exactly what I have to go through each and every day..it’s not easy.
It’s all made me very serious..so I guess My whole life ,including
painting has taken on a rather serious note…mu ;life seems to be imbued with seriousness..
I do have some moments of complete joy and happiness though . and it’s wonderful!!
.they are rare and fleeting moments but I savour them..ha!
. I do try my best to paint under all extremes but I also find that
my bad moods do gets in the way a lot and I paint less when I’m angry
or unhappy with something or someone.
I can’t say whether my best paintings have come out of feeling happy
or sad..maybe a bit of both…maybe I’m feeling pretty balanced at the time when I start a painting..
then I get angry, distracted and have to finish it off when I think the room is clear of all that negative emotion…including my own.
come to think of it ..I can’t paint well when there is a lot of noise and talk going on around me..music is OK but I find that peace and soft music is the perfect condition for me to paint. in.
I guess I’m also serious when it comes to never giving up on what I feel I can dorather OK
I’llnever stop painting altogether.
..I can’t give it up because it seems to be such a big part of who I am
it’s in my blood to keep creating ..and even if I don’t paint for a year or two..I’ll, always come back to it later…almost like it won’t go away and the urge to paint won’t leave me alone.
You know I used to be so happy all the time and could light up a room with my joy..it’s not like that anymore and it’s a bit sad for me too..because I don’t want to be grumpy all my life..that’s not who I really am..I am like a light and a beacon for others when all is going well.
it has nothing to do with anything except unforgiveness on my part..I find it hard to forgive God for what he made me and makes me go through each day .as much as I love God!
maybe one day I’ll be able to forgive him and then become less serious about everything in life.
much love from a grumpy serious but optimistic artist!
I’m an optimist at heart and feel that the next moment could hold a lot a happiness for me
and bring me joy ..I just have to be more forgiving about what life has dished out to me
because God knows that some people in this world have it many times worse than me.
gratefullness is a key ..and if I can be a bit more grateful..then maybe I would be less serious as well..
xxxoooo
Janis Zroback
Thank you so much for your heartfelt comment Catherine…you know I fully understand what you go through each day, as I am a carer too…but I find that gettting into the studio is a great help and even though life can be bleak at times, painting always lets the sun in…. :))
Alison Pearce
What a wonderful article!!
Janis Zroback replied
Thank you so much…I’m really glad it resonated with you…
Anna D'Accione
Thought provoking and an article to question one’s ideas about the word ‘serious’ Does an artist have to be serious to be any good??? or can they be playful and flippant and still create??? Have to think on this one. Love all your articles, you make us question a lot of things that we may not have brought to mind. Thank you
Janis Zroback replied
You’re welcome Anna…I’m happy you enjoyed it..