Starling: Let's Be Friends
So...That's What Friends Are For...
That's What Friends Are For
How do our friends support our creative practice? In this episode we look at a few artist friendships and think about the way we connect to the friends in our life. Did you know Duchamp and Dali were good friends? Let's consider how using the buddy system may help our artistic output as well as enrich our lives. Listen to the episode at the link below...the check out the content around this topic in the other links. And review the practices discussed in this episode.
This Week's Quote Was From C.S. Lewis:
Duchamp & Dali
Discover the relationship between these two eccentric and innovative artists. The picture is from a book I can't wait to read about their friendship and their art. You can order it at this link:
https://www.amazon.com/Dal%C3%AD-Duchamp-Dawn-Ades/dp/1910350478
Yayoi Kusama & Eva Hesse
Check out the link below for information about Hesse and Kusama and their innovative work.
Andy Warhol & Jean Michel Basquiat
This is a great read about the "bromance" between Warhol & Basquiat.
Van Gogh & Gauguin
Some friendships are harder than others, and sometimes we have to know when it's best to "break up". Check out this link to delve into this famously tragic friendship.
Friendships between Famous Authors
It's Not What You Know, It's Who You Know...
This article explains that artists don't get famous because their work is good, but because of who they know...so our friends are important.
Suggested Practices:
- The first thing I would suggest is to take inventory of your friendships. Decide whether you have been keeping surface level, shallow friends or if you are already in some friendships that ask you to go deep. If it’s that you are trapped at the surface in your friendships…figure out if it is you or them that has been keeping you from more fulfilling connections.
- Evaluate how your friendships support your creative practice, and how you support that in others. Can you think of conversations you have had with friends that spurred creative thought or prompted creative work to be developed?
- Are there friends that are draining your creative energy? Do you need to limit your time with some people in your circle because they are bringing out the worst in you instead of the best?
- I really enjoyed exploring looking into artists’ friendships. Look up your favorite artist, of any medium…painter, writer, dance, chef, musician and see what you can discover about their friendships and how they have helped or hindered there creative process. Its kind fun to think about what your friendships have in common with the ones you discover.
- And in that same vein…consider your favorite friendships from tv, film and literature. As I was thinking about this I realized that there are not many models for true adult friendships that are healthy out there. There are a lot of great kids ones, like coming of age friendships. And there are the golden girls…but the stuff in the middle seems a little lacking. So if you have good examples let me know.
- Invite a close friend to give you some real talk. Let them give you a critique of your work, or even just discuss some of the shortcoming you have. Be open to hearing where you need to improve. Only ask trusted friends who you know will be honest and loving with the conversation. And don’t be surprised if they ask you to give them some criticism too. An honest exchange is a good catalyst for improvement, both in our artistic expressions and in our self development.
- Recall a favorite moment in a close friendship, or even a very difficult one. Try to access all the senses connected to that memory. The colors that surround it, smells in the air, tactile impressions, anything you can pull from that moment. Then create something from it…using all the sense information you can remember. Like a short story that captures just that moment, with no before or after, or a drawing that is less of an illustration and more of a representation of your emotions in the moment.
- There are so many practices I could suggest with friendship, but I think the biggest one is this. Ask a friend to create something with you or challenge each other to create around the same theme. Build a connection through creating and discussing your creative practice. You will get further in your own if you use the buddy system. So figure out who is in your life you want to connect with in this way and start to really develop how you will encourage each other in whatever art forms you choose to work in. You may have different methods or mediums but make a habit of discussing the practices, process and idea development with one another. You will be surprised at how much deeper you can get when you are asked to expound on these things with someone else who is engaged in a similar creative venture.
This Week's Playlist
Best Forevers
I mentioned Best Forevers, a podcast by Dr. Alysa Lucas that explores friendship....among other things. Here is a link to her show.
Starling Merch:
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