Can Outrage,indignation And Other Negative Emotions Spark Inspirational Creativity?

Oh yeah, and I was saying...............

what happened to our comments?.. that was a good discussion..

Strange that we are allowed art featuring crosses, that torture/death device referred to in the bible.. and yet were not allowed art featuring a certain little star symbol..?

Anyhow..occasionally if i'm too angry when sculpting stone, I'll hit my thumb or chip off too much!

Barry,I burn my fingers with every sculpture I make.

Ask Bob Dylan.

Yep. I was in a really foul mood which is highly unusual for me. We had ordered a new mattress for the bed from Overstock and UPS lost it. I gave up two days of work waiting for something that was never going to arrive.

Somedays I want to paint, and when I'm in a paint mood I want to 'sling' paint. That's how my current work in progress was born. It's not a precise little painting, it's cartoon-ish and folksy and I'm having a great time painting it.

I was very angry when I started but after an hour or so the anger left and I felt better.

The new mattress will be here next Friday. Or so I've been told.

I think the short answer to that is yes. And I think that through that creativity some are able to heal and heal others. That is the beauty of art is not just visual it is mental and emotional. Whenever art lacks emotion whether it is positive or negative the art itself will lack depth and meaning.

The sculpture depicted above is titled "Why God" and it is my sculpture and I will talk about it, "Why God" was made following a deep feeling of indignation upon viewing images on day time tv I care not to disclose the subject matter of. The indignation made me angry and made me want to express that anger, but I choose to do it through my art, by channeling those emotions of the images that were ingrained in my mind I made this sculpture, but it doesn't stop there, I made several other sculptures all different but all had one thing in common, I don't care to discuss what that was, but I'll say this much, it was caused by indignation at some thing I saw, some thing beyond my control, some thing that if I could Stop I would. This has been a very effective tech to make a conscious effort to internalize negative emotions, explore them, question why I feel said emotions using logic, never totaling trusting the emotions of themselves, but being aware of them and then try and communicate the message, question, or conclusion I draw if there is one to draw through my sculptures.

@Barry, Just to clarify for you, no comments were removed from this thread, this is a new Thread that was allowed without the alleged offending images, the comments you might be talking about are in the other thread that was closed. But Please lets not discuss anything from the other thread here as it is a violation of the rules. Thanks!

My first 2 books, Bitch Unleashed and a political title, were satire inspired by outrage, long before I wandered into travel writing. Now that I have evolved into visual art the work that comes from a place of the most irrepressible nature are those that stand up for nature and animals. I might be able to say to myself, I want to rework that bridge photo into something today, but need to....do run errands or... But when a protest style work demands to be created I cannot suppress it - even if I should. I don't try to suppress it. Obsessive inspiration is a gift.

Nola, I understand your passion, nature and animals ,the defenseless, for me it's the senseless indiscriminate killing of innocent people. Obsessive unabridged inspiration is also a gift.

Will You Still Love Me? is a painting that evolved from a dark and secretive place that was violated. My first New York solo show where I was engulfed by people wanting to hug me, touch me and talk to me. Ask me questions. Invade my space. (For those of us who are loners, this is a nightmare place to inhabit.) That night I began painting this desolate and religious transgender which took me four months to complete. Sometimes I think she painted herself. I put a lot of my power into this painting. Fear and isolation the motives. I painted all that fear out of me. Over and over.

Wow,very powerful painting Carolyn, very powerful! Thank you for not posting it here though for I'm sure the discussion would have been closed down for sure.

Well what ever fires you up to get going if fine. Some people react too comfortably to success, some people just respond to a kick in the pants better than promises of rewards. So as far as how to come up with the attitude you need to be productive than either is just fine and you should try and get yourself in-the-mood.

But although I'm not a self-expressionist movement with my art, it seems to me that there is a difference between the emotion that you naturally have or are feeling and any emotion you would be acting out in trying to pick or control this within you or your work. At least other than, I'm obviously not in-the-zone and need to try this again tomorrow.

I really balk at the belief that one emotion (or subject, theme, discipline, medium, etc) is better art than another.
--mary ellen anderson

Mary Ellen, I don't think it's a matter of picking an emotion or needing or seeking out the emotion to be inspired, but rather it's a tech or method or better yet an awareness of ones self state of emotions and how those emotions can be channeled to spark creativity. I don't believe I said that one emotion or subject or theme or discipline is better or worse than the other, I did say that I believe that maybe the negative emotions my spark creativity more so than "positive emotions" just an opinion but not that one is better than another.

Seriously. How is it that you are able to contain, or bottle-up these so-called, 'negative emotions' long enough to supposedly 'channel' them or perhaps transmute them into the creative impetus that an artist needs in order to bring something into the world that never before existed?

Life is far too short to burden onself with any extra emotional baggage that might be packed with anger, frustration, needless worry and all their close relatives. It is much healthier and so much easier for us to slough off the anger and lose the irrational feelings related to hatred and fear, the unreasonable despair and sense of hopelessness that bring us down in our spirits, tempting us to indulge ourselves in non-productiveness and narcissistic flights of fancy that delude us into thinking we are all-powerful.

What nonsense is this? All this talk of using the very worst that is in us for creative purposes? Art used to be all about the purely human endeavour of bringing something of great beauty into the world where nothing like it had ever before existed, rendered in such a way as to raise the spirits of those in most need of a little lift.

I see far too much artwork these days that fails to meet even the minimum standard required for achieving that most elusive of lofty goals...to inspire others to create. Instead, I find stuff masquerading as art, pretending to be something significant, propped up by the painted word, commodified by hucksters, charlatans and con men.

The desire to create followed by the act of creating should come as the result of a joyous celebration of the beautiful human spirit that springs from within us.

Patrick, your opinion and you certainly are welcome to it. I much more prefer mine for the reason stated.

Please read what Rhonda posted as I think she is very perceptive to the point of view I have and posted what I consider is a thought full and to point response to the questions in the opening statement. I think the short answer to that is yes. And I think that through that creativity some are able to heal and heal others. That is the beauty of art is not just visual it is mental and emotional. Whenever art lacks emotion whether it is positive or negative the art itself will lack depth and meaning.

oh Patrick btw I would read this tid bit and maybe get the full study of this scientific report before you totally dismiss my premise as nonsense.

What makes someone creative? Certainly, some individuals are more creative than others. We merely need to compare da Vinci and Monet masterpieces to our own prosaic attempts at drawing a bowl of fruit to conclude that artistic creativity is something that is individualized and immutable. However, there is substantial research that shows evidence for strong situational factors influencing creativity. In some cases, intense negative emotions can create powerful self-reflective thought and perseverance, leading to increased creativity (De Dreu, Baas, & Nijstad, 2008; Kaufman & Baer, 2002; Verhaeghen, Joormann, & Khan, 2005; cf. Isen, 2000). In this article, we explore individual differences and situational factors related to creativity. We show that when individuals are biologically vulnerable to experiencing negative affect and are exposed to a situation that brings about intense negative emotion, they show the most artistic creativity.

Mario,
I was really referring more to the modern movements attitudes on what is art, than you personally. There are significant numbers of artists that believe art has to come from macabre and tortuous emotions. I see no difference between the artist's that try to shock in order to get sales and the one that's just using stereotyped aesthetics to sell their work.

But I do wonder on the deeper level whether 'channeling' itself (simply choosing, regardless of positive or negative) is a less true artistic use of self-expression and the true representation of the emotional impact of our world on our art.

Edit:
I've just become aware of Patrick's comments, and in away that's what I'm saying too. There is a difference between emotions and attitude. Attitudes do have objectives and agendas. You just feel emotions, and they color your feeling; not define your work. Don't confuse your ability to channel your emotions into your attitudes, as validity of those attitudes let alone validation of the work as art.
--mary ellen anderson

Mary Ellen, I am not trained in art academia nor was it my intention to pretend to be, I can only really speak from my own experience, now I do not live in some ongoing state of indignation or anger, and if you look at all my work not 1 or 2 or 3 sculptures you might see that in fact most of my work is meant to be pleasing and not offensive or hate filled or anything like what Patrick mentions in his last post about some modern art movement. I am very proud of the fact that I did not go to school to "Learn" art I happen to believe it is a gift I was given, therefore no need for ego to play a role in the expression of my art. Now I don't belong to that group of artist you mention either that you say believe art has to come from macabre and tortuous emotions, nor do I try and shock to get sales, actually I always create what I like, it's also always secondary what others think of my art. I like when people like my art, but it's not my driving force behind making art. If my art offends as it has on occasion, it's not my intention to do that either, but like I said if someone misunderstands my art I don't find it in me to apologize for that.

Mario. You ask two questions in your introduction to this topic, the first of which is, "What do you think?"

I told you exactly what I think in my post, and while I was at it, I also gave you my response to your second query. This is an open forum discussion. It's unfortunate that you have neither the will nor possibly the wherewithall to engage with me in a meaningful discussion here.

If the sole purpose of this discussion is to solicit the opinions of only those who agree with you, then from the get-go, you should make it clear that the topic is not open for debate.

By all means Patrick your are correct in having your opinion, I said that, I am not dismissing yours opinion, I just disagree with you, you always make a good argument.

Mario. That was not so much a gift you received as it was a birthright.

We are all born with an innate desire to create, but it is not long after our birth that we learn how NOT to be creative.

You are special, Mario, ONLY to the extent that you were spared, or somehow were able to circumvent what would have been the gradual loss of your desire to use your imagination to make stuff.

That's what happens to those less fortunate than we are, and its happening every day school is in session, all across the country.

So. You can now rest easy, Mario, knowing that both you and I are not that exceptional in terms of our supposed 'gifts.' We were just luckier than most.

Let me read that twice, ok Patrick finally a set of statements I can agree with you on. I would never categorize myself as exceptional with regard to my art or anything, and I do feel blessed.I totally ascribe to the notion that praise should come from the lips of another and not my own.

I will concede this one point: That the act of creating something where nothing before existed may be achieved by the creator's ability to transmute the destructive forces inherent in feelings of aggression into constructive forces inherent in feelings of good will toward others, as well as oneself.

In fact, it may be intrinsic to the desire and subsequent ability to create rather than destroy that feelings of aggression be turned away from the inner 'Dark Side' of our being, and moved toward the light.

Mario, answer this one honestly: Do you think our own Creator harnessed or channelled feelings that we mere mortals would associate with a desire to destroy when it came time to conjure up the ultimate creation of all creations?

Mario,
I'm just trying to point out that you're letting attitude (which are based on emotion, not logic) control more than your art, but your life without thought. It is perfectly fine if you're self-educated, but don't let that bar you from trying to find out what an education is about or offers people. The biggest of which is just the time it takes to understand what your trying to do personally with your art.

It's also fine that you're having a great time doing your art, unless you want to do more with it than that (like sales or critical acclaim). Then no one care anymore whether you are having a good time or not. Whether you learned what you should have in school or life. Have suffered the right emotions or have the right opinions. Absolutely, none of that matters. This alone is a lesson that some artists never learn.

Don't be proud you didn't go to school and can still create (so can a monkey). Show that you understand art enough to know what about your creations, with your lack of education and experience, makes it art. You can't do that if you don't know. By passing an education isn't an accomplishment. Proving you don't need it is. It's not that you might not need that education to create your art, but it's inherently harder to prove it simply because there is no accomplishment in not showing up and fewer opportunities to prove your worth if you didn't pay the same dues or know what your taking about.

Now read the second paragraph again. No one cares if that sucks, is hard or even impossible. That's life and the competition of mankind. Regardless, of fair or not every master in history has been able to successfully overcome the limitations their talent was born into in successfully creating and defending their artistic statement not just creating works.

There is a wide difference between hobby artist and a professional artist. Give some thought to which you want to be. Both are valid, but they are pretty mutually exclusive attitudes.

--mary ellen anderson

@ Patrick No, but we are not that ultimate creator, and we better stop it there, because from what I can remember I almost know what your going to say next.

Patrick, I honestly don't recall ever having any long-term manifestations of anger in my life, my anger is usually in the form of indignation and usually brief in duration, lasting only long to make a conscious decision to channel it into time at my torches, burning it away so to say.

A reaction of outrage or indignation is not really of ones own making but rather an emotional response to some external action which usually one has little or no immediate control over.

Patrick, as much as I appreciate that you conceded as you say, I can't agree with you because you insist on calling the emotion "Destructive" I don't see it that way, and I don't consider it aggressive either.

@ Maria, I had a large thick illustrated family bible with spectacular color images, amazing art, I love viewing that type of art myself.

Longer-term manifestations of anger take the form of hatred. So, you've never hated your job or your boss, never hated unreasonable homework assignments when you were young, never hated having to pay unnecessary taxes, fines or fees, etcetera. Plenty of experience with negative emotions, including outrage and indignation, both of which are merely forms of anger, but never have you indulged yourself in feelings of hatred, right?

You're still missing my point, Mario. In a way, I'm actually agreeing with you, yet you refuse to accept this as a concession because, as moderator of the thread, only your opinion is valid.

Each of us is flawed and imperfect, Mario. What harm would come to you if just once you were to concede someone's point solely for the sake humbling yourself? What if each if us did this selfless thing now and then...what do you think would happen?

Ok, Patrick. I concede to you concession. Lol, I humbly admit that I am flawed and imperfecto.
but if you really want a good laugh read the Op in the other thread Your funniest real life story.

Fantastic!

Real life stories? Great...I could use a good laugh!

See Patrick, it's not all anger, outrage and indignation. The focus of my next sculpture is going to be LOVE.

Their is a flip side to the subject of this discussion and that is that Positive emotions can also be a catalyst to spark inspiration creativity, it's not all one way or the other, I believe some thing drives my creativity, to the degree that I understand what that is, there may be a way to harness, probe and channel that into the process of the creation of my art. For me it's a complex combination of different things, state of mind, emotions, understanding, desire, passion, expression and communication that play a role in my creative process and influence the outcome of the art . Love I believe is the most powerful of all emotions,much more than just an emotion it perhaps is the pinnacle of all things that inspires creativity. This is a sculpture I completed today with that very thought in mind.

I'm I missing the point by saying "Guernica?"

I don't understand your question Geordie, or was that a rhetorical question?

Geordie..you should be shouting Gouranga! :-)

Hello Mario,

It just seemed to me that it is so obvious that great art comes from Outrage and indignation, or shall we say conflict, or did I misunderstand?

Did people agree with what you had to say or have I drank too much whiskey again?

Geordie, some get it, some don't, some love to debate and then concede, but either way if you gotta ask did I drink to much whiskey? you probably did.Lol

Q: How can anyone know what great art is?

A: No one can definitively know, because great art does not exist. There is only the painted word.

Hi Barry,

Is that a citrus fruit?

What word would Jesus have used?

Love?

Love thy this, Love thy that and love thy the other and we will all live happily ever after, until the bad man wants to throw bombs on your head and when that happens get your colouring book out.

Patrick Anthony Pierson1 Minute Ago
Q: How can anyone know what great art is?

A: No one can definitively know, because great art does not exist. There is only the painted word.

__________

Hello Patrick,

Look at the price tag

Patrick, that would make a good topic for discussion.

Mario Carta13 Minutes Ago
Patrick, that would make a good topic for discussion.

________

Aye I know Mario, are you saying that because you know he will get beat?

I would not be that cocky, not with Patrick, he is like a magician with words and he loves to debate, some thing I never learned how to do.

Mario Carta1 Minute Ago
I would not be that cocky, not with Patrick, he is like a magician with words and he loves to debate, some thing I never learned how to do.

________

Aye, well stick in son and one day you'll get there.

What inspires your art Geordie, besides your whiskey ( just kidding) ?

Mario Carta8 Minutes Ago
What inspires your art Geordie, besides your whiskey ( just kidding) ?

___________

People

Patrick, do you care to elaborate on that "there is no great art" statement you made, I'm really intrigued to know what you mean by that.

Thank you Philip, I will check it out later, my eyes are just to blurry now.

@Philip, having read most of the interview, I would say he is certainly trying to make a statement and he sure does distinguish himself from the mainstream photography establishment. I can't say I like his photography or his subject matter, but I always appreciate the fact that one individuals dare to defy the convention crowd thinkers against the odds, and succeed at it.

Mario, you wrote: "Patrick, do you care to elaborate on that "there is no great art" statement you made, I'm really intrigued to know what you mean by that."

You'll find a clarification of my statement in comments I left on another FAA Forum thread.

Go fish!

Ahh, ok, I saw thanks!

The Shame of war, a new sculpture I completed today, the negative emotions which naturally emerge when I see the human suffering caused by the senseless killings of today's wars.



description of sculpture:

The real victims of wars, these innocent children and a devastated mother needing food for her infant child which tightly clings to her, the older child comforts her with a hand on her back saying mother don't cry! it will be all right, as he extends his other hand with an empty plate, begging for a morsel, Oh the shame of war! No justification can right the human suffering caused by wars,no not a single one!