James Chiang

Rules for Creative Living: Rule #2 — Limitations

Clint Eastwood is one of my favorite Hollywood artists and most certainly the coolest. A brilliant director, producer, composer and actor, his career spanned 71 films. Both the characters he played and the films he directed expressed the sincere and (sometimes harsh) truths of life.

“Men must know their limitations.” — Clint Eastwood, Filmmaker, Composer, Actor

There are so many platitudes regarding limitations; the idea that we can be anything we want, that we have the right to unlimited wealth and opportunity (which is, by the way, very conveniently compatible with a constant growth and consumption society). But perhaps the most common idea about limitations is that they are bad for us. The very saying that “the only limitations are those we put on ourselves” implies as much eventhough it can be alternatively interpreted as a call for greater conscience and true discipline.

I personally really dislike such a mindset. The reason is because it actually offers a false interpretation of the universe and its laws. It’s purely ego-driven. It’s not that great individual things aren’t right or aren’t possible but rather that it’s not realistic to do or have “anything or everything.” I could never be, nor do I ever want to be an engineer or an Olympic swimmer or wish to own the biggest yacht or be the president. And there’s nothing wrong with NOT being or wanting any of those kinds of things. We only need to find ourselves and be the best, most truest version of ourselves. Borders and limits don’t hinder us, instead, they help make us better. Sometimes finding out who we are — to honor our truth — begins with knowing who we aren’t.

“Cinema is a matter of what’s in the frame and what’s out.” — Martin Scorsese, Filmmaker

Goodfellas starring Ray Liotta, Robert De Niro and Joe Pesci is one of Scorsese’s best films. Director Martin Scorsese’s movies are gritty, truthful and raw. He’s unafraid to show what his characters are and what they represent. By working within his boundaries as an artist, both in vision and execution, he has become one of the most unique voices in the world of cinema.

Here’s a list of some of the reasons why I believe having limitations makes us ultimately better:

a) It simplifies everything

“We don’t make movies to make money, we make money to make more movies.” — Walt Disney, Founder of Disney Studios

Pioneer Walt Disney wasn’t that good of an animator. He knew his limitations as a craftsman. This forced him to become a visionary producer and carry out his dream of bringing animation to the forefront of cinema, and thus alter history for the plethora of animation artists that would come after him.

To work smaller, slower and simpler is beautiful and having limitations serves as a stark reminder to do so. There’s already too much information, too much confusion and too much complexity in the world we live in. Simplifying things at work, in the home and in our own minds allows us do it all better. Having limited options, be it money, time or space, forces us to say “okay, let’s do less.” Our so-called civilized world might constantly be asking us to do more, to squeeze every ounce of energy and life out of us to serve it, but we KNOW that nature and our own nature tells us different. If we’re overwhelmed, there’s real reason why we are. To humbly accept what we can’t do, to know that having too many balls in the air means that we’ll eventually drop them, is to recognize reality. It’s OKAY to not do or have everything, to not have it all be perfect and to not please everyone. Because you can’t. It’s an egotistical and farcical illusion to actually believe we can “do or have it all” or even to foster the idea that we should. As I’ve grown older, I love how limitations have served to channel my energy towards fewer things and thereby doing whatever I do with greater focus and efficiency. We prioritize when we can’t afford to waste any more attention on things that don’t matter.

b) It defines our work

“To play a wrong note is insignificant; to play without passion is inexcusable!” ― Ludwig van Beethoven

Ludwig Van Beethoven is often depicted as a mad genius brimming with great feeling and intense ferocity. Whether this was true or not, his compositions certainly confirm a standard of excellence that was unrelenting, having composed some of the most powerful music ever created. Nothing stopped him from doing his craft, not even his loss of hearing. He defined his kind of music — music heavily inspired by passion.

If we had no limitations, we’d have nothing to work off of or against. The most basic example (especially familiar to all animators) is the concept of gravity. If there was no ground we couldn’t stand up straight. Without a hard surface to push up against, we couldn’t distribute or build force of any kind. All things are relative. And weightlessness is neither desirable in animation or in life. Our specific limitations enable us to develop specific solutions. The barriers to our art — the painter’s frame, the time limit of a song, and the limited frames of an animated shot — are what grounds the work. We’ve all seen big-budget movies portraying boundless worlds with no real endings feeling both stagnant and small whereas some little films with limited worlds that have personal stories feel both epic and eternal. When we understand our craft and work within the limitations of our of tools, we extend the capabilities of the craft and the specific expressive capabilities of ourselves. It gives us our style and method. It helps us set standards. And it makes our work definitively our own because of our own unique challenges.

c) It forces us to innovate

Citizen Kane, directed by Orson Welles. Welles was one of the most innovative filmmakers of all time. His seminal work, Citizen Kane brought about numerous artistic and technical innovations in the art of movie-making.

“The enemy of art is the absence of limitations” — Orson Welles, Filmmaker

Knowing that we’re limited in time, space or resources forces us to get proactive and get creative. When things go wrong for astronauts — and nothing can be worse than things going wrong way out in the middle of nowhere —they have to assess the situation, dig deep into their knowledge base, and formulate solutions on the fly. The urgency of life and death demands it. But even back on earth, we’re often faced with crises. So we’re all given opportunities to innovate in response to challenge. Having limited resources and access makes us think harder and work outside of the box. Easy access and convenience destroys far more than it creates. Artists who lament the difficult, tedium or frustration that’s required forget that it’s the messy hands-on work that makes an artist. For example, Orson Welles dug holes on the floor to lower camera angles and used charcoal drawings as backdrops when he couldn’t afford elaborate sets. When we know one thing doesn’t work we find another way. And often times we come up with ideas that bring not only better results but more fulfilling experiences.

d) It makes us stronger

Eight-time Paralympic Gold Medalist Lauren Woolstencroft is one of the most inspiring individuals on the planet. Born with only one limb (she has no lower legs and only one full arm) this amazing Canadian is an example of strength and courage overcoming all odds and making her limitations a launching pad to being amazing.

“There’s no magic formula for success. Ultimately, it’s about believing in yourself, making realistic goals, believing you can achieve them and going for them without hesitation.” — Lauren Woolstencroft, Alpine Skier

Without limitations we don’t have any challenge. And it’s that very challenge of seeing where we are as people and not being satisfied with what’s in front of us that drives us. A bodybuilder seeing that he currently lifts “only” 250 pounds works that much harder to push himself towards 300. In other words, what looks like a limitation becomes a goal, an invitation to find out EXACTLY what are our actual boundaries. The reason is because we’re usually wrong in our interpretation of the world, its laws and its limits, including those we have of ourselves. Limitations test us and asks us if this is really what we want and what effort we’re willing to put forth. It gives us the opportunity to stand up to the plate and face our enemies and by doing so, develop our courage and spiritual fortitude.

Summary:

Therefore, in contrast with the common misconception that limits holds us down, the truth is we NEED limitations to grow, be creative and do our best. Without them, we flounder around in endless chaos with nothing to ground us, nothing to bounce off of, nothing to push thru. Limitations are a blessing. If you learn to accept your limitations you go beyond them.

Up Next:

Rules For Creative Living: Rule #3 — PREPARATION

Rules For Creative Living: Rule #1 — Honor

Meiyo — the Japanese Kanji for the word “Honor.”

“Simple, genuine goodness is the best capital to found the business of this life upon. It lasts when fame and money fail, and is the only riches we can take out of this world with us.” ― Louisa May Alcott, Writer

Creative living begins, first and foremost, with HONOR.

Honor is almost an outdated concept these days. Expressions like “You know this isn’t personal “or that “it’s just business” are commonplace now. Making profits off family, exploiting employees, lying to colleagues/clients, and any/all such acts of questionable ethics and substandard behavior violates the social contract we have with each other. And what’s extra sad about it all is that we’re all so numb to its prevalence that we casually accept this sorry state of affairs. The other often used expression “it is what it is” says it all doesn’t it? But perhaps honor has always been a rather rare commodity. For it takes great moral character and courage to live honorably and such traits require great tenacity to develop.

“Our own heart, and not other men’s opinions, forms our true honor.” ― Samuel Taylor Coleridge, Poet

But honor isn’t just a concept of glory and distinction or a position of privilege. It’s much more than that. Viewed in such limited fashion, the word stands merely as a noun; a thing to achieve, to hold and display. This is NOT what we’re talking about here. Honor, to me, is a verb — an act of respect towards things, including other people (such as elders) but also oneself. It’s a proactive gesture that admires dignity and truth. It’s also a call towards fulfillment and responsibility by living up to an agreement we have with ourselves and the universe.

Performance artist Marina Abramovic is one of the boldest and most courageous creatives in the past century often flirting with dangerous and controversial experiments with live audiences. She honors her truth with her dedication, and thus honors her craft.

a) Respecting Truth & Your Truth

In the artist’s efforts to create, we search for truth. What and how we see forms the basis of what we ultimately express. And we always try to see and understand the world in the most objective and unbiased light. What we find and present might look different from others but it’s our truth. And for that kind of honesty, the artist must always try to see first himself, just as objectively. Therefore, to live and act honorably means first finding out who we are and why. Only then can we proceed with the what, when and how.

“… choice implies responsibility to one’s conscience, and, in the conscience of the artist, the Truth of Art is foremost.” — Mark Rothko, Artist

Who am I?

This is a question that can take up to a lifetime to answer. But at some point in life, we all can sense whether the direction we’re heading is in line with our truth, our destiny. It means digging deep into our past, analyzing attentively the present, and then making the bold intuitive step towards realizing our future as it continues to unfold. Are we put on this earth to be artists or doctors? Are we choosing out of passion and purpose or status and security? (Remember, nobody wants a surgeon who does it strictly for the money either.) To be an artist — to realize that one MUST BE an artist — is a frightening truth to deal with but it can also be one that is incredibly liberating.

“I suppose the only word for me, when the chips are down, is that I am an artist.” — James Baldwin, Writer

James Baldwin. This magnificent thinker and writer was a daring figure of the 20th century who boldly explored the challenges and complexities of our social fabric. Image from the film, I Am Not Your Negro by Magnolia Pictures.

But do I have what it takes?

All of us deal with doubt. And by partaking in the creative fields such as art, music, literature or drama, the risks to our mental and physical survival are significantly magnified. There is REAL justification for the fears our parents/concerned elders had over our choosing to be artists. So it’s only natural that the issue of talent is brought into question, but the truth is, creative ability, especially in the arts, is especially difficult to assess. And then there’s the timing of it. This isn’t competitive sports where the limitations of an aging body weigh heavily against the late bloomer. In art, no such barriers exists. If we discover that art is our calling, then the next step is to find the necessary means to go about our business of being an artist.

“Life is short, and it is sinful to waste one’s time. They say I’m active. But being active is still wasting one’s time, if in doing one loses oneself.” — Albert Camus, Writer

Artist Carmen Herrara seen here working in her studio is now 102 years old. Ignored almost her entire career as a modern expressionist painter (during a time of male bias/dominance of the market), she only had her first show at 89 years of age. Her work is now highly valued and exhibits world wide. (photograph by Jacob Schmidt)

b) Taking Responsibility:

The real question, therefore, isn’t whether we’ve got the abilities, but whether we can develop the mental and emotional fortitude to battle thru the inevitable challenges. Once we choose to be artists, a contract with the universe is formed and we mustn’t violate it no matter how hard it gets. If you choose this career out of love, then be a good and faithful lover.

“To labor in the arts for any reason other than love is prostitution.” — Steven Pressfield, The War of Art.

Once such a deal is made, one’s way of life becomes defined and limited, narrowed down to a smaller road by which to travel. And this is good. For making decisions — choosing among the bounty of options — is the hardest thing to do in art or life, and this IS the biggest one you can make — to know yourself and live your truth. But once on that path, we must respect the principles of what it takes to be a real artist. To honor the craft and its tools necessitates also the obedience to its laws such as hard work. The road you take becomes your house so to speak, and you need to keep it clean, orderly and functional. And for the artist, that means having a clear and focused mind that’s dedicated to the accumulation of knowledge, skill development and an ongoing commitment to seeing truth in yourself and the world around you. We must learn also to accept this truth; that we are responsible for everything that happens to us.

“I don’t believe in circumstances” — George Bernard Shaw, Playwright.

As hard as this world is, there lies a great truth about taking charge of our own lives. We cannot and must not give up the authority over how we are to conduct ourselves day in and day out. This means NEVER compromising our moral principles or our artistic integrity. And it’s much harder to do than people realize. Our society in its many shapes and forms preaches conformity in the guise of equality and social civility. We easily forget that a truly kind and mature society is one where individuals can be themselves and respect each other and their choices, and we don’t need labels to do that. We all know it’s all too easy to compromise our principles for the short-term — to be liked, to be accepted and to be “successful.” But only when we fulfill that challenging yet worthwhile commitment to truth can we possibly set forth an example for others to do the same.

From the beautiful short film “The Man Who Planted Trees.” Frederic Back is one of my favorite animation artists of all time. He was completely devoted to fulfilling his contract with the universe. With each frame painted by hand, he released his love for the earth and his art onto film.

By being true to ourselves, our work — which reflects that same honesty — solidifies in its earnestness and becomes timeless.

“Creative work bridges time because the energy of art is not time-bound. If it were we should have no interest in the art of the past except as history or documentary. But our interest in art is our interest in ourselves both now and always. Here and forever. There is a sense of the human spirit as always existing. This makes our own death bearable.” — Jeanette Winterson, Writer

Summary:

The fundamental rule of Honor is this: (a) find out (decide) who you’re supposed to be (find your truth), then (b) go be that person (fulfill that truth).

Up next:

Rules for Creative Living: Rule #2 — LIMITATIONS