Anger & the Creative Process
There is NO planet B – ANGER for the disrespect we have shown our planet (collage +)
“Experiencing sadness and anger can make you feel more creative and by being creative you can get beyond your pain and negativity” – Yoko Ono
A fretful feeling had been slowly brewing in me all day. I’d promised myself a few hours outdoors, sketching in my countryside-backyard and it took until 3pm to eventually get perched on the edge of a recently harvested linseed field. I had arrived to soak in my view and create a few quick drawings.
In the lee of the car I reckoned I’d be nicely protected from the elements, but as soon as I started setting out my jars of ink and water, a lively and mischievous wind appeared from nowhere.
I pegged open my sketchbook, pinched a jar between my feet and tried to relax and concentrate on the sweeping vista before me, peppered with bales of stubble.
The mellow me (ME), said quietly, “It’s ok, forget the wind, relax and just enjoy being here”. Then suddenly, another voice arrived. It was the other me (OM), the one that’s impatient and likes to be in control.
OM – “But why is it windy now…there was no forecast of high winds! How am I ever going to draw in a friggin gale?”
ME – “Just draw what you see and what you feel. Enjoy just being here, this is all part of the experience. Take it slowly, nothing is at stake”
OM – “But this always happens when I venture out. Why is it all so difficult….and now my neck is burning…the sun is roasting me here…I thought I’d picked a spot in the shade!!”
ME – “Well, put your art-shirt round your shoulders and do what you can in 10 mins, then be content with whatever you’ve done and go home and drink tea.”
OM – “But I wanted these drawings to be really useful. I wanted to return home revved up and inspired for my next piece of work. And this is rubbish!!!”
ME – “Sounds like you’re angry that things aren’t working out the way you’d hoped. I can hear you’re all wound up. That’s ok, feel your anger, no one is watching. Listen, every artist, who has every tried to manage materials, while balancing on a 3 legged camping stool, out in the great outdoors, has felt the same. Why do you think things should be any different for you? If you need to feel angry, go ahead, if you think it will help…but don’t give up and don’t feel sorry for yourself, that’s just pathetic!
OM – “Well, maybe I’m not angry about the wind, that does sound kinda stupid. Maybe it’s something else….”
ME – “OK, we’re getting somewhere. What’s the anger about?”
OM – “I don’t know for sure, but I’ve got a hunch it’s about how to find a way to sell my art work and how to manage this time of COVID uncertainty, when art galleries are closed and selling art is super difficult”.
ME – “Well, that makes sense. Thanks for being honest. But remember, you and every other artist, performer and those who make-and-create will be feeling the same anxiety. So, what needs to happen right now? If you do nothing, nothing will change and you’ll go on feeling angry and anxious. If you make a plan of action, you’ll feel a lot better. Use your anger to spur yourself into doing something that will create fresh momentum and help you to walk yourself out of this situation. How does that sound?”
Anger is not always such a negative emotion if it fuels and motivates us towards positive change. In many situations, anger can become the necessary driver to enable us to…
Wake up from a complacent slumber of introspection and get us emotionally recharged and focused again.
Start a dialogue with ourselves, so we can discover what’s at the root of our dis-ease, sadness or general gloom.
Bring about greater honesty within and stop us running away from what’s holding us back from moving forwards.
Provide the necessary input to boot us into action.
“A wonderful emotion to get things moving when one is stuck, is anger. It’s anger more than anything else that has set me off and roused me into productivity and creativity” – Mary Garder
I moved my anger to action that afternoon, by deciding to host an ART EXHIBITION of my work, in September. If anyone is interested in joining us for the event, we’d love to see you. Do email me and I’ll send you details: jane_beaumont@hotmail.com
Date: Sat 26th & Sun 27th September 2020
