THINK Different (About Art + Creativity)
The Art Of Being Kind + The Subtle Art Of Not Giving A F*ck
When I saw this AI-generated "painting" of Vincent van Gogh with an afro, I laughed out loud. It looks like van Gogh got made over by Bob Ross and isnāt a fan of āhappy accidents.ā
While both are now considered icons of the art world, neither artistās work was truly respected or successful in their lifetime. Van Gogh famously sold only one painting while he was alive. And while Bob Rossās PBS series may have inspired millions, the art world was less than impressed with his outsider art and wet-on-wet technique.
I canāt help but wonderādid these men ever feel their work was worthless? Not just because creative types can be sensitive, but because some people overvalue their opinions and feel the need to share them. Loudly and proudly. Ugh.
MEETING CREATIVITY IRL
I didnāt meet my first artists, filmmakers, musicians, photographers, or writers until I was in high school and college. And even then, I had no clue what to say to them.
All the books I read led me to believe they were different.
And according to my mom, different wasnāt a good thing.
I was already different enough. What if I was one of them too? Oh. My. Stars.
Eventually, I became friends with several artists, musicians and storytellers. When they werenāt painting, making music, taking photos, or writing, they lived relatively normal lives. They werenāt anymore broke, crazy, or tortured anyone else I knew.
Up until then, creative types were just characters in books, movies, and TV shows to me. I didnāt realize they had real lives. I didnāt know that most didnāt have it all figured out either. āWork-in-progressā is a concept thatās taken me a long time to embrace.
Like a lot of creatives, I grew up believing creativity could be a ārealā job. In my family, art (in all its many forms) was considered a hobby, a distractionāsomething you could do, but something you should never take too seriously.
WHATāS IT WORTHā¦TO ME + YOU?
āValueā and āworthā are two words that keep popping up for me lately.
Long story short: Some like my work and think itās worth supporting. Some donāt.
Iām grateful for the former and frustrated by the latter.
Mostly because the latter is so sure I need to know their opinion.
Hereās my opinion: We all need to remember the acronym THINK more:
What if we applied this kind of THINKing to art, creativity, or even other peopleās lives? What if we thought more before deciding someone or something has no value worth? What if we just let people be?
Last time I checked, it costs nothing to be kind.
It costs nothing to let people be and/or create whatever they like.
It costs nothing to scroll on if you donāt like or value them or their work.
So before declaring someone or something as "not worth it," please THINK again.
Have a great day and weekend ahead!
Clint šāļø
P.S. I know not everyone can afford to become a paid subscriber or patron. But if you enjoy my work, please consider sharing it with your dears, nears, and queers. Thanks!
FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION
In honor of LGBT History Month in the UK, Iāve added and/or updated the following:
Herbert List (updated)
Horst P. Horst (updated)
J.C. Leyendecker (updated)
Kovert Of Hollywood (updated)
Thomas Eakins (updated)
Wilhelm von Gloeden (updated)
William Haines (updated)
More new and updated Pioneers + Pride posts are in the worksā¦stay tuned!
ON THIS DAY = FEBRUARY 7
BIRTHDAYS
1804 = John Deere = American blacksmith and businessman
1812 = Charles Dickens = English writer
1867 = Laura Ingalls Wilder = American writer
1885 = Sinclair Lewis = American writer and Nobel Prize laureate
1908 = Buster Crabbe = American swimmer and actor š
1932 = Gay Talese = American writer
1955 = Miguel Ferrer = American actor and director
1960 = James Spader = American actor and producer
1962 = Suzy Eddie Izzard = British comedian and actor š
1962 = Garth Brooks = American singer-songwriter
1965 = Chris Rock = American actor and filmmaker
1968 = Mark Tewksbury = Canadian swimmer and activist š
1977 = Dee Rees = American filmmaker š
1978 = Ashton Kutcher = American model, actor, and entrepreneur
1985 = Deborah Ann Woll = American actor
EVENTS
1940 = The second full-length animated Walt Disney film, Pinocchio, premieres.
1964 = The Beatles land in the United States for the first time, at the newly renamed John F. Kennedy International Airport.
1974 = Mel Brooks' Blazing Saddles premieres at the Pickwick Drive-In in Burbank, California, where patrons watch from horseback rather than cars.
1991 = The first lesbian kiss on US television occurs between Amanda Donohoe and Michelle Green on L.A. Law.
HOLIDAYS + OBSERVANCES
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Substack = NSFW + Pioneers + Pride + SFW
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