Last night I watched a documentary about an elderly artist – painter and designer. He’s now 84, has lived a busy life creating and collecting art. At one point in the documentary he said:
“I’m obsessed. Those who are not obsessed about their art can give up right now because they will never create anything worthy anyway. You must be obsessed in order to be an outstanding artist.”
He also said: “I don’t want to die yet. I want to create. I have so many ideas, and I just need time to turn them into reality.”
And then he went on to say: “I don’t care if others don’t like what I do. I want to leave something in this world, and I create my art the way I see it. What others think about it doesn’t matter at all.”
You should have seen this man in his studio. He had an excited smile on his face when he was painting, kneels on the floor, submerged in the world of shapes and colors. He was so full of energy, so sharp, so focused. Maybe he was 84 physically, but his soul wasn’t older than 20. He was a perfect example of life filled with passion, purpose and meaning.
So what’s the lesson here?
1. Be obsessed. Love what you do, do what you love, breathe what you do, live what you do. Be passionate about your art.
2. Creative energy is what keeps us alive. People die when they have nothing more to say. Your desire to create your life’s work is the fuel of your life. Literally.
3. Create what you feel you’re here to create. Creating what you think others will like never brings you the same inner joy and satisfaction. Be bold, be fearless, be authentic, be yourself. Remember: No one else is like you. Be proud of your work.
Today I would like to ask you a very important question: What are you doing when you’re at your best? How does it feel to be completely committed to your creative process? What do you love about writing (or painting, designing, sculpting, whatever your creative endeavor may be)?
My answer to this question is simple. To me, writing means total and absolute freedom. Endless expansion. Authentic excellence. It’s joy at its best. It’s the real, true me.
Discover the book
Discover the Book
Discover the Book
Thank you for this reminder. I just desire to make my obsession into a habit for 2012.
I love, love, love this, Tamara! What a wonderfully Brilliant, Moxie, Chique intention for the magical year of 2012! (You know I’ll make sure you remember to remember, right?
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I LOVE this post! And would love to see the video. This artist calls it “obsession” and I call it passion. Whatever you call it, yes, you must be on fire about what you love. You must be so into the flow of the creative process that you don’t even hear the peanut gallery anymore. There is nothing better than this blissful oneness with who we truly are — creators. Thanks for reminding us Barbara, and calling us toward this sacred place.
Thank you for stopping by, Victoria! I absolutely agree. When we do what we’re passionate about, when we’re in the middle of the creative process, we find ourselves at a sacred place. Very well said, my friend!
Writing takes me away to worlds I’m happy in. People tell me all the time how great it would be to sit and watch me when I write. I doubt they’d see what is really happening on the inside, and I honestly don’t know what it looks like on the outside. I bet a lot of facial expressions showing different kinds of emotion. Writing is living and when I do it, it feels right, like it’s what I’m supposed to be doing.Great post, Barb.
Very well, said, Mary! I love your words! I think we are so submerged in our writing that we totally shut the world out. There’s magic in the writing process!
This is an inspiring post. I’d love to know who the artist is. I had never thought of it this way until reading your post, but the artists I’ve interviewed about creativity all share what the artist refers to as an “obsession.” You could also say they almost paint themselves into existence with each creative act.
Patrick, thank you for stopping by. I absolutely agree and I think creative endeavor is a life sustaining, essential thing for every artist. (The artist’s name is Karel Vysusil, he’s not known in the States but very popular in Europe.)