Making art from experience
As I cosy back up to the idea of a huge project, I keep coming back to this thought: my favourite bodies of work are all from people who created them deep into their adulthood. Obviously, "good" art comes from experience but I find myself lost in a some stupid, imaginary exchange with myself about freeing myself of the expectation to create something monumental. I don't have much experience yet, but there is experience to be gained from creating too. I mean, think about your favourite creator, director, author, mixed media auteur and if they hooked you with their first ever piece.
Even then, it's not like my life has been experienceless up to this point. My hesitance has always been shaped by the "young prodigies," who seem to have cracked the code early but there are some things to consider:
- Different people find success in different times of their lives. I may not feel successful right now, but I will.
- If anything, these prodigies just prove that beautiful art can still be created from any experience.
- How do I even define "good art" in this context?
- Do I even want fame the way these people have it or do I just want to make people feel a certain way?
It's not lost on me that my expectation (and subsequent self-consciousness) has been coming from a constant dissatisfaction with the journey of creating things. I guess it's cyclical, the outcome isn't what I want so I'm less invested in creating, but being less invested in creating leads to the outcomes I don't want. The ultimate solution has always been my daydreams, imagining scenarios where I'm adored for making things instead of actually making them. Blegh. That's been a lifelong affliction. Nevertheless, to put it poetically, I'm feeling the shackles slip.
It's not much but I wrote 300 words yesterday and had fun doing it.
Edited 12 hours, 9 minutes ago.