Anaïs Nin said that “great art was born of great terrors, great loneliness, great inhibitions, instabilities, and it always balances them.”
As an artist, we must not hold back our thoughts and feelings. Everything has to go into the art we make, be it writing, drawing, or music. But this is a whole lot easier said than done.
Are you prepared to pay with my heart? Do your emotions conflict with what is considered “nice” or politically correct? The wants and desires churning in our deepest heart of hearts aren’t always pretty or likable.
I have a big issue with this. I constantly hold back, thinking I’m going to let someone down or offend. It often feels like my heart is a sealed vault where the combination has been forgotten.
Oftentimes we obsess over staying “safe” with our creations. What would people think if they saw this? Am I revealing too much? One way to break through and finally express your emotions in art is to create for yourself first. Don’t worry about where it might be published or seen. You want the creation to reflect who you are, regardless of what anyone else thinks.
We all have thoughts and feelings swirling around inside us. It can be overwhelming if we can’t let off some of the pressure. Artists are primarily makers and creating something, anything, weeds out the negative or damaging emotions. Otherwise, they will take root in our brains and infest all our thoughts.
Art can be this tool. Creating, even for a few moments, will change the chemistry of your brain. And the more honest emotion you put in, the more therapeutic the experience will be. Even on a day where I feel depressed or unmotivated, a short sketch or working on a story changes my outlook.
It isn’t a cure all. Creation is more like a release valve on your mind and soul. But your heart and your emotions can supply a river of creativity.
Tim Kane
