(Pic #1) Detail, Eucalyptus carving. Photograph. Carpinteria Bluffs Nature Preserve. Shooting urban decay is my happy place.
Artists, Writers, Musicians: Just Start!
When The Creative Bug Bites — Let Him
(Pic #1) Left: Living room wall yesterday. (Pic #2) Right: Living room wall today. Amazon box series.
It’s called answering the “artistic need.”
It came through like a brain-bending tornado. And I don’t know why it hit exactly when it did. I had been immersed launching a new small business this week, and felt a bit choked by the complexities of our tech and marketing tasks. I had promised my art partner that I’d stay focused on our business, and try to meet the deadlines in front of us. I felt the pressure and knew that at any minute the dam could break.
Suddenly, I felt sucked into a dizzying vortex. I became defiant, practically childlike in my need to express myself — NOW. It went beyond urge — it felt more like panic. If I didn’t start making art — in some form — I would blow. F**K my promise — I had to make something.
(Pic #3) Detail, Amazon box wall sculpture.
So I ran to the trash and rescued a load of Amazon boxes. I started ripping (therapeutic on its own) and then with absolutely no plan in mind, started squirting and splashing paint all over them. It felt so fantastic, I ripped more and splashed more. Pretty soon I had a multi-level cardboard structure in the house, (Pic #2) and while flimsy, it satisfied me completely. I know it’s not great art. But, as I share in my creativity workshops, that is 100-percent irrelevant. What matters is that I got to answer the call. I soothed a part of my soul and remarkably, came back the next day stronger than ever in my pressing work.
Many studies show that it is critical for human beings to create. The benefits of making art (in any form) are infinite. Art can: 1) Boost our brain function and our immune systems. 2) Improve our mental and emotional health, and 3) Help us process trauma, express difficult feelings, and work through stressful experiences. Case in point: During this year’s pandemic, sales of art and craft supplies jumped by over 200-percent.
It’s a basic human need, and one we should never ignore. Today, I had one of the most productive days I’ve ever had — and I know allowing art back into my routine enriched the hell out of everything else.
Capturing Van Gogh — at Age 6
It’s all about the energy!
(Pic #1) “The Starry Night” / colored pencil on paper / By Mickey Goldman, 2021.
(Pic #2) “The Starry Night” by Vincent Van Gogh, / oil on canvas / 1889.
Nothing gives me greater joy than to see a child express herself creatively in an original way. So often young students are steered toward drawing a perfect replica of their subject. For some reason, early on they are encouraged to make sure the tree on their page looks exactly like the one they are looking at. But what emerges with this approach — is a duplicate — a copy — a basic photo reproduction of something that already exists.
(Pic #3) Artist Mickey Goldman, age 6
But guess what: the child who captures “the essence” of her subject — not the literal translation — is actually creating original art — and more important; original thought. My niece Jamie’s daughter Mickey, who just turned 6, accomplished this while immersing herself in the work of Vincent Van Gogh. Her Mom says she’s a huge fan of the Dutch master, and likes to color in his high energy style. (You can see her spirited interpretation in Pic #1.) Without “copying” his strokes, she captures the feeling of the original with her own dynamic movements and marks.
I’ve heard from many executives I work with that they were told in 2nd or 3rd grade that their drawing looked nothing like their intention. One was even told by a teacher that he should give up art-making all together. Are you kidding me? The bottom line for me is: Let them play. Let them explore. Let them be themselves. This kind of freedom can only lead to fresh discoveries about the world around them, and enrich the lives of rest of us.
