Comments on: the myth of the tortured artist http://blog.danielsroka.com/artist/myth-of-tortured-artist.htm Watch behind the scenes as fine art nature photographer Daniel Sroka tries to make a living from his art. Blow-by-blow excitement! Tue, 07 Sep 2010 17:00:16 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: William http://blog.danielsroka.com/artist/myth-of-tortured-artist.htm/comment-page-1#comment-28504 William Sat, 18 Jul 2009 05:11:53 +0000 http://blog.danielsroka.com/art/myth-of-tortured-artist.htm#comment-28504 By the way I was observing some of your art work. Beautiful By the way I was observing some of your art work. Beautiful

]]> By: William http://blog.danielsroka.com/artist/myth-of-tortured-artist.htm/comment-page-1#comment-28503 William Sat, 18 Jul 2009 05:05:01 +0000 http://blog.danielsroka.com/art/myth-of-tortured-artist.htm#comment-28503 Hi. I would call myself an artist. Although at times I'm not tortured, I feel as though I am. I convey that sometimes through music but not always... Listen, Mozart, being one of the greatest composers of his time, wrote the happiest songs. When I hear his works I think of bright colours and flowers in bloom.. He wasn't tortured, infact he was quite happy, as his art shows, and the people adored him for that. Bob Marley wasn't always tortured his music is in close association with "good happy vibes" and people adore his music... even his sad music. I don't try to be happy or sad I just try to find the beauty in the depth of life and show that to the people around me who fail to see, but it tortures me when they fail to hear that beauty and I feel that's what a tortured artist really is. A person who tries to show other people beauty through art and are tortured and starving because the people will not look beyond the surface.....I hope you understand Hi. I would call myself an artist. Although at times I’m not tortured, I feel as though I am. I convey that sometimes through music but not always… Listen, Mozart, being one of the greatest composers of his time, wrote the happiest songs. When I hear his works I think of bright colours and flowers in bloom.. He wasn’t tortured, infact he was quite happy, as his art shows, and the people adored him for that. Bob Marley wasn’t always tortured his music is in close association with “good happy vibes” and people adore his music… even his sad music. I don’t try to be happy or sad I just try to find the beauty in the depth of life and show that to the people around me who fail to see, but it tortures me when they fail to hear that beauty and I feel that’s what a tortured artist really is. A person who tries to show other people beauty through art and are tortured and starving because the people will not look beyond the surface…..I hope you understand

]]> By: Duck http://blog.danielsroka.com/artist/myth-of-tortured-artist.htm/comment-page-1#comment-28267 Duck Fri, 01 May 2009 21:28:24 +0000 http://blog.danielsroka.com/art/myth-of-tortured-artist.htm#comment-28267 Now I'll propose a completely new way of looking at the matter. The artist should not call himself an artist; all ideas of "artist", happy or tortured, are mental projections. Still, it is very difficult to detach ourselves from such projection, we need it if only to have an objective in our lives. But it is possible to be artists without calling yourself such: actually, it happens a lot. As for tortured or happy: the artist and the human being in general should be none and both. He or she shouldn't focus on being either tortured nor happy, but accept that both sides are inside of him. Self-destruction doesn't allow you to create good art (it does allow you to become a myth, sometimes). You kill yourself and you don't create anymore. That is not art by itself. That is creating a product of yourself. Some are called artist this way not because of their work, but because of their life. It's a sort of narcissistic act. Yes, artists are sensitive people prone to self-destruction. That's why many self-destroyed. But definitely not all. Many found their way through the burdens of life. Life is hard, it's supposed to be. Recognizing it and accepting it is the beginning of a path of healing for any self-destructive person who is far from the opposite myth of the "happy artist". Conclusion: tortured and happy, are both illusions. One must stay neutral. I like what Brian says: after having experienced a wide range of experiences and emotions, the artist can both appreciate and communicate more of life. That is when many men, if they USE their pain, they can transform it into great accomplishment - works of art, or anything else. In the end, the self-destructive artist only wants to create and affirm life. He just buys into the demons that tell him to exceed on the dark side - wich is scary, dark and difficult if one is being drawn into it. It can blind you. But being too optimistic, is an illusion as well. One must find a third path of moderation, as Goethe said: a genius must only practise moderation to be happy. He as a great artist. The true myth here is that an artist can't be moderated, that he is excessive and can't change this. No. An artist is a human being with his demons that he must learn to tame through overcoming his challenges. This is the heroic journey of any artist and great accomplisher. Now I’ll propose a completely new way of looking at the matter. The artist should not call himself an artist; all ideas of “artist”, happy or tortured, are mental projections. Still, it is very difficult to detach ourselves from such projection, we need it if only to have an objective in our lives. But it is possible to be artists without calling yourself such: actually, it happens a lot.

As for tortured or happy: the artist and the human being in general should be none and both. He or she shouldn’t focus on being either tortured nor happy, but accept that both sides are inside of him. Self-destruction doesn’t allow you to create good art (it does allow you to become a myth, sometimes). You kill yourself and you don’t create anymore. That is not art by itself. That is creating a product of yourself. Some are called artist this way not because of their work, but because of their life. It’s a sort of narcissistic act. Yes, artists are sensitive people prone to self-destruction. That’s why many self-destroyed. But definitely not all. Many found their way through the burdens of life. Life is hard, it’s supposed to be. Recognizing it and accepting it is the beginning of a path of healing for any self-destructive person who is far from the opposite myth of the “happy artist”. Conclusion: tortured and happy, are both illusions. One must stay neutral.

I like what Brian says: after having experienced a wide range of experiences and emotions, the artist can both appreciate and communicate more of life. That is when many men, if they USE their pain, they can transform it into great accomplishment – works of art, or anything else.

In the end, the self-destructive artist only wants to create and affirm life. He just buys into the demons that tell him to exceed on the dark side – wich is scary, dark and difficult if one is being drawn into it. It can blind you. But being too optimistic, is an illusion as well. One must find a third path of moderation, as Goethe said: a genius must only practise moderation to be happy. He as a great artist. The true myth here is that an artist can’t be moderated, that he is excessive and can’t change this. No. An artist is a human being with his demons that he must learn to tame through overcoming his challenges. This is the heroic journey of any artist and great accomplisher.

]]> By: Andre Taylor http://blog.danielsroka.com/artist/myth-of-tortured-artist.htm/comment-page-1#comment-28243 Andre Taylor Mon, 06 Apr 2009 10:27:44 +0000 http://blog.danielsroka.com/art/myth-of-tortured-artist.htm#comment-28243 Not every tortured artist sees things in black and gray. Some of the things the people are saying on here are very cruel. You are supposed to be artists? I think you all are focusing on the wrong thing. Isnt art supposed to be your focus? Every piece of art I have created has come from pain....and DURING pain. Have a little compassion for your fellow artists that see things differently. I would never say anything about a so called "Happy Artist". What would that make me look like talking about another artist in that way? In no way is a tortured artist better than other artists. A tortured artist is just all raw emotion. So dont be mad if you cant scream at the canvas. Thank you. :o) Not every tortured artist sees things in black and gray. Some of the things the people are saying on here are very cruel. You are supposed to be artists? I think you all are focusing on the wrong thing. Isnt art supposed to be your focus? Every piece of art I have created has come from pain….and DURING pain. Have a little compassion for your fellow artists that see things differently. I would never say anything about a so called “Happy Artist”. What would that make me look like talking about another artist in that way? In no way is a tortured artist better than other artists. A tortured artist is just all raw emotion. So dont be mad if you cant scream at the canvas. Thank you. :o )

]]> By: Brian http://blog.danielsroka.com/artist/myth-of-tortured-artist.htm/comment-page-1#comment-28166 Brian Wed, 04 Feb 2009 01:43:53 +0000 http://blog.danielsroka.com/art/myth-of-tortured-artist.htm#comment-28166 I think that the most beautiful art comes after the moments of despair. It is at that time that that the artist has achieved better self-actualization and is in a better place. He or she can then appreciate the beauty and joy of life more because of the previous depression or inner-turmoil. Also, the artist is better able to understand the many facets of the human psyche and condition because he has experienced such a broad range of emotions. John Frusciante of Red Hot Chili Peppers fame is a good example of that. He is spiritually at peace despite years of depression and drug abuse and is making, in my opinion, the best music of his career. I think that the most beautiful art comes after the moments of despair. It is at that time that that the artist has achieved better self-actualization and is in a better place. He or she can then appreciate the beauty and joy of life more because of the previous depression or inner-turmoil. Also, the artist is better able to understand the many facets of the human psyche and condition because he has experienced such a broad range of emotions. John Frusciante of Red Hot Chili Peppers fame is a good example of that. He is spiritually at peace despite years of depression and drug abuse and is making, in my opinion, the best music of his career.

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