Eric Maisel on investing meaning in our art
Eric Maisel, PhD, is author of The Van Gogh Blues: The Creative Person’s Path Through Depression. In our recent interview, he addresses some of the meaning and mood issues facing creators.
Q: The kinds of anxiety we call stage fright, or fear of the blank canvas (or blank page) — can these be related to meaning issues?
Eric Maisel: When we fear that we do not matter or that our efforts do not matter, we get depressed.
Similarly, the places where we make large investments of meaning, for instance in our performances, paintings, or books, are places of great anxiety, because there is more than our ego on the line, there is our very sense of the meaningfulness of our life.
If the world is not interested in our paintings, for instance, we will be hard-pressed to maintain meaning there; so, when we come to the blank canvas, we can already be a little (or a lot) frightened that a negative reaction to this as-yet-unborn painting will precipitate a meaning crisis.
Continued in interview: Investing meaning in our art.
[Photo: Nicolas Cage in "Adaptation."]
February 14th, 2008 at 7:04 am
First, I want to say how much I love the image at the top of your post from “African Canvas: The Art of West African Women, by Margaret Courtney-Clarke.” It’s a stunning example of creative energy streaming through. One year I had the calendar from the book as well to brighten my days.
Second,I want to thank you for linking to the Riehlife article with Eric. That rather startled me, but in the best way possible.
Third, I’m just agog at how queued up your whole site is…how crisp…how filled with all sorts of resources on these important topics. Further, I’m so happy you are extending the depression exploration into the much-feared and much-mis-understood area of mania. Excellent work.
Having the video here, too, is a wonderful plus. Gosh, what a good piece of work you’ve done. Applause, way past the dessert course!
Janet Riehl
http://www.riehlife.com
February 15th, 2008 at 1:05 pm
Great interview especially bringing out that meaning making requires, “getting back up on the horse” again and again.
I must say I also love the resources here and the articles. I also read the one on fear as a energy drainer. So true. And helpful.
Thank you!!!
Susan