Cafe Discussions: Artists & Happiness

Hello All :)

It's time for another discussion here in the Lounge. This question comes to us from our very own Gaia Team artist, Jodi.

Re: Cafe Discussions: Artists & Happiness

I feel i am at odds with some products of creativity finding coherent representations of archetypes most relavent. Entertaining a guest recently i found occasion to tour local galleries deriving much pleasure from the experience culturally and aestheticly.
My medium of choice is ceramics, the touch liasing with clay, appealing to the clay to say what it wants to become.
Tactile, sensuous, not requiring contrivance as i seem to experience with drawing, painting and other more abstract expressions.

Re: Cafe Discussions: Artists & Happiness

Interesting question.  I think creativity is unique to an individual and what some consider art others may not.  But I believe that creativity is what drives our evolution, so those who truly find their creative expression are likely more happy than those who ignore or deny it.

Re: Cafe Discussions: Artists & Happiness

Doesn't everyone have an artist in them somewhere?

'Tortured artist'…

Can you have a 'Tortured non-artist'?

I supposed it is easiest explained with example.

As a child I used to get quite frustrated sitting in front of my Dad's piano. He could play, so could my sister, but not me. I'd imagine I could play and start to hit keys and make a racket. Then I'd sit in silence, fingers poised ready. Not make a sound. Eventually I'd get myself in a very low place. Depressed at the thought of endless possibilities, a whole world of music in front of me but…nothing doing.

A 'tortured non-musician'.

Similar events happen with a blank canvas, though I can draw (kind of) and paint (kind of). Again, a whole world in in front of me, but…nothing doing.

A 'torture artist' (kind of).

After getting down and low, I'd just start with a stroke of the brush and continue. Before long I'd have something on canvas. Might not be what I expected, but I can change the appearance as I progress. So in effect pull myself back up and have something to show from the experience.

I'm reminded of the quote 'Even the longest journey starts with a single step or brush stroke'.

So I think the creativity is in us all. Maybe not awakened and nurtured, but there all the same.

I think the hard bit is that an artists work tends to be very personal, and putting yourself on paper for others to see 'can' be a very hard thing to do. Though by doing so, the artist has achieved something. Possibly worth being happy about. 

Or one could not attempt, and ignore, rather not going through the process and being happy at that.

So the happiness you refer to… not sure if it is more prevalent to either.  

But if you can be happy through it all, well, then I'm happy for you. (kind of).

Re: Cafe Discussions: Artists & Happiness

I so agree, Fox. Creativity is something in every person.
I think I am a happy person. I am an artist… in the traditional sense I suppose :)
The thing that tortures me most is when I can't work. When I have 'painter's block'. But overall I am a very happy person. I would be less fulfilled if I did not paint. I need to do it to be happy. But for every person there is something they need to do to be rounded and content and, ultimately happy.
My husband would not be happy if he wasn't a coder. He needs to solve problems in creative ways. I see him as an artist.
So. I suppose I don't think that non-artists even really exist! hehe. But in the 'traditional' sense. I think artists and non-artists are neither happier nor unhappier than each other.

Re: Cafe Discussions: Artists & Happiness

Can you have a 'Tortured non-artist'?

I think all non-artists must be tortured in some way; for me, at least, that drive to create, and the need to create or express, is as powerful and necessary as the need to eat. I think being foiled or somehow not-allowed to create would be painful–if not a slow death.

I hadn't thought about the public nature of art and expression, though. Must it be shared? Or can expressing one's love for the world by dancing alone in some abandoned building be art?

Re: Cafe Discussions: Artists & Happiness

I can relate to this.  Many years ago, when I was dating my ex-husband, I was in a time in my life when I had no way to express my emotions.  He was a piano player and would sit for hours playing whatever came into his emotional sphere.  From musicals to made-up songs, he could release all his emotions through his fingers.  I would sit on the floor under the piano crying…  jealous of his ability when my emotions were stuck inside of me.

Eventually, I discovered singing and I realized that my “art” was to help others manifest their dreams.  In teaching and speaking, I could release my emotions.  My art is non-conventional, but I still consider myself an artist in every way.  It all came together when my friend Cece wrote this quote (which I use to this day in my e-mails): “we, as facilitators and supporters are in essence also artists and creators (of possibilities, inspiration, and fulfillment for the artists we support).” -cece

Blessings!
-yvette


Need Advice? Looking for Inspiration? Ask Inspirations from Binah

Re: Cafe Discussions: Artists & Happiness

I think we must first define happy

Is it passion that we feel
do we find a strong meaning in our lives
are we loving and have loved ones
do we simply appreciate the life happening around us?

what is happiness to you?  Happiness is sort of like an art, we all perceive it differently and we all have different ways of expressing it.  I'm not sure that there is a person that does not practice some sort of art in their lives, but i'm sure whatever it is that each person does, it makes them happy, or they wouldn't do it ;)

Much love,
carl

Re: Cafe Discussions: Artists & Happiness

It is with great joy I read all of your writings here.  Life is such an art form and the artist dreams the dreams - even on Wall Street helping the business people advertise their goods.  I have dedicated a group to Gaia called Dreams of Artists to share on marketing concepts and more.

A business runs on numbers which can be a new art form to the artist.  And strange things like spreadsheets, bookkeeping, timelines, etc., and
something called “zero-ing out the end of the month.”
 
To that end it is absolutely IMPERATIVE that every one of you take responsibility for your business. Get rich.  Leave nothing to chance.  Keep your eyes on the road. 
 
This is especially important for those of us who are artists and “fluffy” and “going with the flow” and who look at spreadsheets like they are weird designs and think numbers are little razor blades flying around in the air.  Get over it.  Get smart.  The universe runs on numbers.  Math is beautiful.  Math runs your computer, your car, your refrigerator and just about everything else.
Math is how you get paid.  Become a friend of the numbers.  Fall in love with them.
 
And be grateful that the people at the head of your company who are great at math and great at business.  We want THEM running a stable business that can pay us for a long, long time.  They HAVE to run it by the numbers or everything falls apart. 
 
You'll love the stability of loving numbers and letting them flow into your bank account and being able to direct them to where you want them to go.  It's grounding and helps you to be “at cause” in your life. You deserve it.  And you can have all the beautiful money-numbers you choose to collect in this lifetime.
 
Blessings. Here's to the Beauty of Math…
 

Re: Cafe Discussions: Artists & Happiness

i feel that creativity is an essential part of a happy life. when we create, we feel joy! when i make a new drawing, i feel happy. when a couple conceive a baby, they feel joy! creativity sparks new ideas and thinking, and it can boost confidence, and undoubtedly, happiness.  as to whether artists or non-artists are happier, i think that they balance eachother. art in all its forms is creativity, and the non-artists are creative too, whether it be in problem solving or a new way of thinking.

just let loose creativity! grab a paint brush or a calculator for that unsolved math problem!

Re: Cafe Discussions: Artists & Happiness

Your life is a work of art
A craft to be most carefully mastered
For patience has replaced time
And you are your own destination

Rick Jarrow

Who among us isn't an artist either inwardly or outwardly? 

Re: Cafe Discussions: Artists & Happiness

Hi, folks - I'm quite intrigued by this discussion - and I do think the questions what is happiness and who are artists are lynchpins of it.  I would like to offer that some of the folk I know who have what I consider a noticeable creative/artistic “spark” - that touches on genius - are people who have in several cases been diagnosed with bipolar “disorder” - and deal with very pronounced mood swings.    Experiences they have shared with me can be described as tortured and troubled, as well as euphoric, blissful and ecstatic.

I think of myself as an artisan - more than an artist.  Certainly creativity - through writing, speaking, healing, beadwork, origami and music - is fundamental to my life.  I often experience it as a fire inside.  I also tap into fairly strong emotional highs, and pits - and each of those ripple into my creating in different ways.

So one of my questions to all of you - is happiness about smooth emotional sailing?  Or can it be about acceptance of one's emotional life flow and one's own uniqueness - which may include significant ups and downs?


peace and blessings -


Sylvia

Re: Cafe Discussions: Artists & Happiness

i can answer that with some young experience! happiness is not about a smooth emotional sailing..it is indeed about accepting the emotional highs and lows and your own unique self. after all, those highs are lows can serve as inspiration. i know i tap into the highs and lows and their extreme points.

i accept that i am rather odd, and i accept that i have pronounced mood swings when i've derailed from my “happy” path. but i've learned to better control myself and my emotions, because all that swinging mentally tires one out!

Re: Cafe Discussions: Artists & Happiness

Re: Cafe Discussions: Artists & Happiness

Hi everyone! Interesting question! I work as somekind of artist and been thru a lot in my life like ups and downs … who hasn't!!! I have somekind of idea that you don't have to be a stereotypic classical image of the suffering artist. I tend to try to transform my experiences and transgress them to turn suffering/pain into something inspiring/light to other people. Or try to share my experiences to other people and support them. 


Love and light to everyone!

Re: Cafe Discussions: Artists & Happiness

Great question and a banquet of food for thought. My personal experience has shown me the wisdom of the  following quote:


“People are just as happy as they make up their minds to be.”
- Abraham Lincoln -


Namaste' to all!