On Art and Fear

Perspectives from The Artist's Road

Irises by Vincent Van Gogh

We’ve been rereading the outstanding little book Art & Fear: Observations on the Perils (and Rewards) of Artmaking by David Bayles and Ted Orland, and this has served to remind us that we have come a long way in our artistic journey, and learned many good lessons. It also reminds us that the artist’s life is a daily process that cannot be measured in the usual terms of financial or critical success, as many other endeavors can. Those achievements are wonderful perks, to be sure, but they are basically beside the artistic point. The conundrum is this: while we all need money to live, it is dangerous to paint or create solely for money. True inspiration does not spring forth from the wallet, and the results usually prove that. Financial and/or critical success, especially early in a career, can set up a self-destructive feedback loop, diverting the artist from the path of discovery and growth. After all, to try something…