Category: Discussions/Essays

“Where admiration is lacking, both heart and work are weakened.” — Albert Camus, Writer

What does passion mean? For the average person it suggests unbridled romance, sexuality or lust, an insatiable even uncontrollable attraction towards the seemingly unattainable object(s) of our desire. Viewed this way passion can be interpreted as unreasonable, possibly delusional, even dangerous. But for the artist, passion means connection — a longing for the chance to explore, express and create something inside this world, inside this life. This kind of passion is compassionate, a passion born of deep admiration and desire for a richer and humbler understanding of the immediate world around us. It’s about taking each and every thing and moment at its fullest possible value. Nothing half-hearted or half-measured. A devotion to truly creative living means to live with passion— to love fully, play fully, and rest fully (and you’ll need less rest if you do!)

This is why it’s so often said that it’s not about doing what you love but loving what you do, not what you do but how you do it. Attitude is what matters most. We can, and should be, passionate about all things if we are to view ourselves as creative beings. Living truly is living truthfully, living with respect and with honor. Although truth may be a matter of perspective, the right kind of perspective can bring us real joy and fulfillment.

When passionate people perform — and yes, that is ultimately what all creation is, performance — they give it their all. Artists of measure, are constantly challenging their ability to focus, to experiment and to push boundaries. They also resolutely stay the course regardless of obstacles or opinions of others. Discipline, consistency and persistence are hallmarks of all the great artists in history. Whatever stage he’s at, the professional digs deep and digs hard into the work he does. And he takes the same approach to everything. It’s no wonder creative people, like many professional athletes, tend to excel across various platforms. Just as that top footballer also happens to be an excellent skier or tennis player, the accomplished animator is also an excellent painter, can storyboard, or build rigs. Why? Because he loves all that he does and applies the same level of focus and attention to the process, in all his interests. Excellence is a way of being.

“Once your thought, emotions and energy are organized, your very body will be organized.” — Sadhguru Jaggi Vasudev, Yogi

Passion means balance too. It means aligning all the dimensions of our entire being — mind, body, emotions — and channelling all the energies along the same path, in the same direction. Only in this way, is there hope of peak performance, or flow. Creative people who take an unprejudiced approach to doing things slip into “the zone” much more often than regular people do and their body of work is often a testament to that.

“Your head is a tower with lenses where light rays dance.” — Paul Klee, Artist

With clarity of focus and dutiful preparation, we can allow our entire being to dance with the universe. Then magical things can happen. For creating art is no small wonder; it takes the most complete attention and at the same time the courage to be utterly vulnerable. When playing with powers beyond our understanding, we must always give our proper respect.

A friend once asked me, while admiring one of my larger paintings, why and how I had formulated it. I said that it did not come from me, but through me, that neither its original conception nor its execution was wholly my own doing. Being a highly rational-minded person, he said it still came from me, that it was really only me, while I insisted otherwise. The reason for my conclusion? The entire process was both a battle and a dream. Much effort went into its creation, but there was so much that was unknown (both before and during), so much serendipity, that the end result was not anything I had anticipated. When I finished it, I didn’t remember how I made it. I still don’t. I think our best work can only come about in such manner, the result of an interdependent concoction of will and destiny.

“The whole arrangement of my picture is expressive. The place occupied by figures or objects, the empty spaces around them, the proportions, everything plays a part.” – Henri Matisse, Artist

I don’t mean to infer that fine results are the result of luck, but outcomes require many elements to both exist and align at the right place and time. This is why the process is everything. We can only control what’s inside ourselves — and that’s why we work from the inside out for any other approach would be fruitless. Our passion is the vehicle to which we can use to marshal the internal with the external. Everything counts. Everything plays a part, both in our art and, in our lives. How we do anything is how we do everything.

At the end of the day, there’s only life. Sometimes it can all seem like an illusion. For life is so uncertain; only the present moment is real and it’s gone all too soon. In Latin, the word for illusion is “ludere” which means play. Perhaps this is why we must “play” with passion — irrefutable, unapologetic, unprejudiced passion. That’s what I call real living.

“Life is a dream. But it’s also real.” — Sadhguru Jaggi Vasudev

“I suspect that most authors don’t really want criticism, not even constructive criticism. They want straight-out, unabashed, unashamed, fulsome, informed, naked praise, arriving by the shipload every fifteen minutes or so.” ― Neil Gaiman, Writer

Feedback is important. It’s what we want. It’s what we need.

The WHY:

Why do we want or need feedback? Because it helps give us direction. Which way to head towards is important — more or less? bigger or smaller? faster or slower? It forces us to confront choices. Feedback also supplies us with the kind of necessary objectivity towards our art, as it’s near impossible to be the sole judge of our work after much time has been spent being challenged by it. Seeing truthfully is so important and having other (healthy) eyes look helps. Finally, it gives us an update on the status quo, identifying the stage that has been reached and the problems that need addressing. Feedback re-aligns us when we’re off track and keeps us moving forward. We don’t stand still or go backwards when doing art.

If I’m gonna fall, I’m gonna fall forward. At least that way I can see what’s gonna hit me.” — Denzel Washington, Actor.

The WHAT:

The kind of feedback also matters. Feedback should always be as specific as possible, both when it’s received and when it’s given. The lack of clarity is the number one reason for inefficiency and emotional conflict. If it’s not clear, ask again. Better to look stupid now than later. Also, beware of “casual” feedback that’s laced with insincere praise — it’s useless and even misleading.

“Whatever words we utter should be chosen with care for people will hear them and be influenced by them for good or ill.”
— Buddha

The HOW:

What’s usually forgotten when it comes to feedback is how to receive it. We’re all human. Being emotionally committed to our craft naturally puts us in a position to be hurt by comments or suggestions, especially when expectations from either parties are not in harmony. Sometimes, comments can be delivered in highly inappropriate ways — that makes it very tough. But remember this: we’re not here to judge the critic — we need feedback to move on. It’s definitely best when it’s constructive rather than negative, but whatever form it takes it must NOT deter us from the work process. Emotions must be kept at bay. Sometimes, even the nasty kind of feedback can push us forward because our enemies are especially adept at finding our faults. And, when we’re finally skilled enough and ready to break new ground, critics will provide just the right kind of motivation to prove ourselves right.

“Whatever you do, you need courage. Whatever course you decide upon, there is always someone to tell you that you are wrong.” — Ralph Waldo Emerson, Philosopher

The WHO:

What’s most essential to feedback often depends much on where it comes from. If it comes from the client or director (i.e. you’re not the boss) then that’s easy; it’s their product and as paid craftsmen, we’re here to service that demand. If the client wants bright pink walls, we give him bright pink walls. And we do our professional best even if the order keeps changing. Unless we have an exceptional personal relationship with our bosses, we mustn’t question the direction or voice our displeasure.

It’s feedback from other crucial parties that brings complication. If there’s too many cooks in the kitchen — such as having three different supervisors giving conflicting information, then there’s trouble. Always go with what “the boss” at the top of the food chain has specified, get it from the horse’s mouth if possible or ask with respect whose opinion must be served should access to higher powers not be available. Always know the priority and hierarchy of the chain of command. Try to think and see like the boss.

Other complications arise when feedback comes from friends or colleagues. If we find a trusted and proven eye, take the advice. Otherwise know that co-workers aren’t always reliable due to a variety of possible reasons: a lack of superior skill, conflicting interest (i.e. competition) or a perspective without context (i.e. they don’t fully understand the purpose/theme of the work). Sometimes, they can even be too close to the project themselves and have also lost objectivity. Be selective which colleagues to get opinions from. Work closely with them — for continuity and such — but always beware that everyone has their own biases and that self-interest is almost always involved, even if isn’t necessarily malevolent.

If opinions and advice can be obtained from a true teacher or mentor, that’s always best. They’re vested in and personally responsible for our growth and as long as they don’t perceive a threat, they are generally the most reliable when it comes to giving honest professional advice that comes from highly skilled and experienced eyes. These days, however, true mentors are very difficult to find in industry (during work hours) but that doesn’t make them any less essential for any kind of real growth towards mastery. The best, most helpful mentors are those who have both deep and broad levels of experience, who are often skilled at a variety of crafts. They give the kind of rich, realistic feedback and necessary “tough love” often missing in the lives of young artists today.

“You do not choose apprenticeships that seem easy and comfortable.” — Robert Greene, Mastery

“He was a master animator, a virtuoso… Ken Harris did it all.” — Chuck Jones, Director/Animator

Summary:

Once feedback has been received, we move onwards. Whether we find it useful or not, we’ve gone through the process. Again, that’s what matters most. Doing the right thing always liberates us.

“I have already settled it for myself, so flattery and criticism go down the same drain and I am quite free.” — Georgia O’Keeffe, Artist