Art or Die

We've all met that one person that's WAY too enthusiastic about what they do, to the point where they don't know how to exist without it. It doesn't have to be art specifically; let's look at more common examples. There's that one guy who loves Marvel so much that he can't talk to someone without trying to insert it somewhere in the conversation, or that girl who posts WAY too many pictures of her boyfriend on social media. As I described these people, super generically, you probably thought of the obsessive person in your own life (which might be you; don't exclude yourself from that mix. I can get that way too).

Of course, you have to have some passion for something. Life isn't meant to be lived without passion. You have to care about something, someone; whoever or whatever varies from person to person in varying degrees. But I've noticed that if I'm not careful, I can get obsessed with stuff super easily to the point where it's all I ever want to talk about, be it art, a good TV show, a specific person (celebrity or not) or set of people, or a trip I'm planning to take. Being an artist takes a lot of balance, and it's not something that comes naturally.

As a high schooler, I was obsessed with fiction and fandoms, specifically Doctor Who, Marvel, Avatar: The Last Airbender, and so on. I was ravenous in my search for information and I loved to connect with people who liked the same things I did. All that is fine and dandy for a fifteen-year-old; it's an awkward phase in life, and I'll admit it was better for me than trying to date at that age or just mindlessly scrolling on social media (which is something I struggle with now). But, as an adult trying to get into an artist's job (so to speak), balance becomes key more than ever.

ART OR DIE.

If we peeled open an artist's skeleton, we'd probably see they're composed of crayons and Wacom tablets and various paintbrushes. Art runs through our bones, and creativity is what makes our blood red. We have to see the world through an artist's eyes because that's not something easily shut off (if you can shut it off at all). 

When you're first starting out as a professional, trying to get into the industry of your choice, it's back-breaking. Let's take a look at my own life. My final semester was mostly just a flurry of panic and trying to get things done. I'm pretty good at managing my time and getting things done, and I did just fine, but a lot of my time was spent just working and working and working and working and working and working... you get the point. I'd say a good 90% of my time was spent just working on my senior exhibit, on my school projects, and just generally trying to get better.

As a student, your life is so fast-paced and time-constrained that 90% doesn't seem that weird. But as soon as you come home, or the flurry stops,  you realize how WIPED you are, and how much you needed to rest. When I finished my biggest project for the semester, I caught the flu on the last day of classes -- I was bedridden for two days. When I finished the semester in December, I managed to catch, immediately, all of the January crud that had been floating around -- congestion, an extremely sore throat, an ear infection, pinkeye. I even temporarily lost my hearing in one ear. 

How do you keep from dying, when there's so much to be done? And how do you know when to slow down, or even stop? There's no magic formula for "how much art is too much". It's different for every person. But I'll go so far as to say you can't maintain 90% forever, and that you shouldn't.

WHY ARE YOU WORKING?

There's a very real and present danger to the "why" of your creativity. There are plenty of reasons to work so hard. Sometimes it's your grades; sometimes it's just that you want to be better; sometimes it's because you need to put food on the table. Exposure doesn't pay the bills. There's no real wrong answer to why you create, unless it's to put someone down or to otherwise "destroy" instead of build -- destruction befits no creator.

WHO ARE YOU OUTSIDE OF YOUR CREATIONS?

Nosce te (lorem) ipsum; the artist's "know thyself". (Fun fact: "lorem" is not in the original phrase, nor is it a true Latin word; it is instead short for the Latin "dolorem", which means "pain, suffering, or sorrow." Art is pain, eh?) 

Your identity shouldn't be rooted in art and art only. One day you may not be able to hold a pencil or look at a screen, and it would be a shame to lose who you are in those years (I mean, let's just look at Doctor Strange -- fiction, but very much human, no?). You are more than what you make, or where you work, or how famous you are. 

WHAT IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN YOUR ART?

Two things: Your health, and the people that surround you.

1) Let's look at health. I've been battling tendonitis for several years, and I seriously wrecked my right arm during my final semester. I had a wrist brace, kinesiology tape, ice, you name it. My eyesight is trash. And I still needed to get things done. But if art is leading you to lose too much sleep, or it keeps you from eating, or it takes its toll on your body, take a moment to reconsider. Your grades matter, and your productivity matters. But you will be useless when you are unwell or injured. Take the time to rest, and when you've recovered, start again. Your art will thank you for it. Trust me, I hated to rest my wrist; I felt so antsy and unhappy, not being able to draw or write or type or play the piano. But it forced me to step back and reconsider what was important. 

2) Now let's look at the people around you. There will come a day where you cannot draw, or cannot paint, or cannot 3D model. But you will always be surrounded by people, whether in the workforce, or in your home, or in your place of worship, or in your community, or in your classes. The world is composed of others, and it's in your best interest to concern yourself with them. They have a lot to offer, even the non-artists. You can't always rely on yourself, and if you cherish and build your relationships with other people, you can turn to them in hard times. You'll never be alone -- turn that into a reason for relief, not a threat.

So, art or die?

Get enough sleep, take care of your body, and be good to the people around you. Once you know you've covered those bases, then create away.