“The urge, ability, and vision to create is a solo endeavor.” Linda Archinal (from The Painter’s Keys)
What art is ever created by committee? Artists have been known to work together but rarely do they continue together. Most artists who have been thought of as belonging to a group may come together to discuss art or the artist’s life or important issues for art. But when they create, they do it alone. Art is more often, than not, a solitary endeavor. There are artists who work in groups or with others. They are the exception.
The difficulty of solitude for some is finding the time and the space to create without outside distraction. For those with big families or small children, solitude can be difficult indeed. It takes an understanding family to allow the artist the freedom to find the solitude of creativity. Solitude may be even more important for artists living in active families.
Solitude does not necessarily mean one is introverted. The introverted may find it easier to reach solitude by their very nature but is solitude really necessary to the extrovert? Perhaps there are extroverted artists who do well creating with noise and chaos around. Still, it seems likely that even extroverts need some time alone for creativity.
For me, I need time to create in solitude though I don’t think of myself as introverted. At one time, I owned a small shop where people stopped by regularly and often took time to stay and chat. It was wonderful and I loved it but it was not a good time for creating art. I had studio space set up toward the back of the shop. It was inevitable when I would get rolling and in concentration mode, that the bell over the door would signal the arrival of a customer. The concentration was broken. Eventually, I gave up trying to paint at the shop, saving it for days off. That experience taught me to take the time for solitude to paint.
Very true. I think I need solitude to create too. It’s important.
It is important but not always easy.
You know what I’m thinking, M-G … [grin]
Yes!