Day 30 - Why? Art and Fear

Art and fear go together.  Why this book...? I was first intrigued by the title as I had NO idea these two concepts went hand-in-hand.

After one reads Art and Fear it is my hope that one gains a better understanding of how FEAR impacts one's artwork as well as the rest of our lives; and how our ARTWORK may increase our fears and what to do about it no matter where one is at the beginning phase of creating or those who are well entrenched with art making.

The authors, David Bayles and Ted Orland both worked Ansel Adams as his assistant.  Much of the authors creative works in a lens of photography.  I hold their work of this book as a creative text to remind me of the many obstacles along the many pathways of a creative process, and no matter who it might be, we all walk along the same path of fear when creating, Their call to bring this to the attention of the reader, I believe helps normalize the emotional responses we all humans make when we create. 

The authors break these down to bite size nuggets to digest how to work through some of the fears you might have never even considered.  What contributes to these fears are some beliefs one might have not know they had about making art.  For example, most people when they make some sort of artwork, are thinking about the end product, and where this spectacular piece of art will live.  To be gifts to friends / family, sold to strangers or up in some gallery or museum.  So from the beginning, there are stresses about the materials, the time it will take to create, where will the piece leave until it goes to its final home, and will it look good.  The authors further suggest an artist QUITS when they lose the destination for their work... the destination of place where their artwork belongs. As an addiction counselor this seems on equal standing for others in their adult development.  When a person who is dealing with addiction does not have a place to belong, they want to quit - they have lost their meaning toward the destination. 

I encourage you to buy a copy of Art and Fear for a better understanding of your own creative process.  Whether you're a master artist or beginning artist, this is an excellent book.

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