SOME THOUGHTS ON THE PSYCHOLOGY OF MAKING ART

We dream of art validating our identity 

This is an illusion

Most of the time we will not receive extravagant praise 

And when we do it just makes us want it more

Like drinking water but you just keep more thirsty

We are special because we make art 

This is a lie

Because our unique humanity/specialness is so much deeper than what we make

This is a super shallow definition of what makes a human worthy

We feel like if people reject what we make they are rejecting us 

This is a lie

In sharing art

The default mode is self focus 

I want praise

The healthy mode is I am a servant and I want this to bless you

Why does making art feel so embarrassing for adults

It seems to be a underlying expectation that if you are an adult making something

You are a professional and if your not thats embarrassing

This is a lie

At our core we want love

Making art is not the way to get it

It is a way to give love

We are free when our identities are not on the line

When we don’t give other people the power to tell us who we are

By their response to the things we created