Everything about Art: http://itsallhandpainted.in/2017/02/28/meet-artist...

Everything about Art: http://itsallhandpainted.in/2017/02/28/meet-artist...: http://itsallhandpainted.in/2017/02/28/meet-artist-nina-tokhtaman-valetova-art-relationship-ancient-cultures-mythologies-fantasy-metaphysic...

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Creativity, Dreams, Meditation, LSD...

Consciousness controls behavior and correlates it with the standard regulations of the society. Human depends on the society and does not dare to break the rules and cross inappropriate boundaries. Instincts and secret desires are suppressed and appear in dreams when they are not controlled by the mind. This much has been written by Sigmund Freud, Austrian neurologist and the founder of psychoanalysis in his books. But what is the connection between creativity and psychoanalysis? Creativity needs a stretch of imagination, running beyond of common thinking.

All artists, including me, have experience with people around them. They often do not understand art, but try to impose their stereotypes. Sometimes they simply want to control the content of artworks and even style. Artists are also affected by the environment and conservative society, which often has a dream to cut the wings of an artist with an eye to prevent to fly in the sky and  make him be down to earth.

In addition, the consciousness of the artist controls him and distracts from creativity, when an artist is involved in the solution of daily problems.

Probably for this reason in America enthusiasm with LSD psychotropic substances greatly influenced the formation of the counterculture of the sixties and seventies. Widely known phrase of Dr. Leary, has turned into the motto of psychedelic use of supporters: «Turn on, tune in, drop out» The word drop out meant leaving of conservative mores and lifestyle mainstream society. Many creative people believed that the altered state of consciousness and the expansion of consciousness under the influence of LSD contribute to the development of their creativity and Altered State is an experience through which one enters into the Separate Reality of the Mind or the Unlimited Resources of the Universe for the purposes of expanding consciousness, creativity, enlightenment, spiritual awareness or to just realize we are more than our physical body.

According to A. Revonsuo mainly a characteristic feature of altered states of consciousness is the systemic changes (relative to the normal state of consciousness) of the connection between experience content and the real world. There is a distorted view of external reality or self-awareness in the form of hallucinations or delusions, and these distortions are added to global change representations.

We know the consequences of drug use and I do not call to expand the consciousness using drugs. By the way I've never used drugs. Currently meditation, and music are considered by a lot of movements as a way to obtain the altered consciousness. State of meditation similar to the sleep state. Therefore, people feel more creative in a dream

Day Dreamer

Myths and legends about visual artists and art have been around since ancient times. To an outsider, art was always enveloped in a halo of mystery. Just think of the legend about the painters of Ancient Greece Parrhasius and Zeuxis:
“Once, in a contest with Parrhasius in realism, Zeuxis painted some grapes so believably that flocks of birds flew down to eat them. Parrhasius, on the other hand, painted a curtain that appeared to be covering his painting, misleading Zeuxis who tried to draw it aside. According to the legend, Zeuxis said: “I misled birds, but Parrhasius misled Zeuxis.”.”
Nevertheless, until the 19th century, an artist’s role was limited to producing commissioned artwork. Orders were made by religious and state organizations, kings, the wealthy, and others.
The concept of fine art originated in the 19th century, when artists began to perceive themselves as independent creative individuals who created works of art expressing their ideas and emotions. Artists presented to the world their views of art and the world itself, which often disaccorded with conventional views. One example are the impressionists, who were stoned by audiences for creating paintings that violated the art traditions of the time. Artists went off on their own and often had no support or sponsorship. Many of them really struggled to survive. The process of creating paintings often entails deprivation, lack of understanding, and some painters succumbed to a tragic ending of their life. We all know of the fate of Van Gogh who did not sell  paintings in his entire life and was able to paint only because of his brother’s support. Starting in this period, myths and legends about art and artists began to emerge in great numbers and grew exponentially in the 20th century.
It is hard to list all the myths that are widespread among those observing the life of artists from afar. Here are just a few of them:
1)  The poor artist myth.
In reality, many Renaissance painters received large financial compensations from kings and churches for their orders. In the 20th century, Picasso and Salvador Dali did not starve either. The fate of artists differed, and much depended on the environment and each particular situation. Contemporary researchers have calculated how much money Van Gough received from his brother, concluding that based on his income, Van Gough was middle-class, although Irving Stone’s book about Van Gough creates the impression of the artist’s deprivation and poverty.
2) To create good art, an artist must suffer.
Suffering does not guarantee the creation of masterpieces. Suffering is a block for the artist that distracts him or her from concepts and ideas. Suffering is a hindrance, rather than a facilitator to an artist’s focus on his or her work.
3) Many artists are alcoholics, drug addicts, and frivolous people who have no traditional family values.
If we think of Modigliani, an alcoholic and a miserable loner, this is true. However, it does not mean that all artists were and are this way. Human beings are just designed to remember events and facts that are out of the ordinary.
4) Most artists, especial geniuses, suffer from mental illness.
It is easy to figure out who was the first to carry this tune:  thanks to the theory of Cesare Lombroso this idea became well-established in our society.
5) Anyone can be an artist and paint like some of the painters. Waving brushes around is easy.
Hmm… There is not much to say . Pick up a brush and wave it around as much as you want. Artists and experts will see what you came up with.
6) An artist can be recognized only after his or her death. Paintings will also be sold and have a high price tag only after death. So in the meantime, you – the artist, should suffer and carry the heavy cross you decided to bear.
7) Artists are lazy. It is easy to paint, but they want good money for it… Well, excuse me...
8) Traditional art is dying out because new technologies are emerging.
New technologies that enable us to create non-traditional art are just a tool. The nature of art, with its ideas and goals, remains traditional. There are still many who paint with a brush and paint, just as artists did centuries ago. Is it not a fascinating task to create something with one’s own hands?
These are just a few of the myths whose influence I have experienced personally. A few years ago, someone told me that if I want to become a real artist, I need to become a drug addict, alcoholic, prostitute, homeless.  Ugh...

Life as Distorted Line, oil painting, 2016

Why is depression inhibiting an ability to make art ?

People suffering of depression, are concentrated on subject of their sadness.  This prevents to think about creation. This is regarding healthy people. People with clinical depression have chemical disbalance and depend of biochemical processes of their brain.  All creative people know, that creation needs concenration and work for an embodiment of ideas. Depression is  brain disorder characterized by persistently depressed mood or loss of interest in activities, causing significant impairment in daily life. All creative people know, that creation needs a concentation and precise and persistent work for an embodiment of ideas

Everything about Art: Escape to Another Reality

Everything about Art: Escape to Another Reality: I can not imagine my life without art. For me art is the door from a dark gloomy room into the bright world of unexpected events. This is ...

Escape to Another Reality

I can not imagine my life without art. For me art is the door from a dark gloomy room into the bright world of unexpected events. This is the escape of mind and soul in a different reality from the gray boring routine and predictable events which fill out with the sadness all the space around. Art is the Escape for an artist who creates his own world different from reality. I feel like a refugee whenever I take the brushes and start doing my paintings. The creative process allows me to escape from the real world into another world, a world of fantasy and a completely different condition of meditation. I feel the freedom that I do not have in the real world.