Worrybirds,
Unacknowledged creativity can feel like torture. But it doesn’t have to be that way.
For any new subscribers, my name’s Jed and I created the Get Afraid Journal. If you want to get in touch, hit reply.
Spooky Good - Loving Vincent
“LOVING VINCENT is the world’s first fully oil painted feature film.”
I found this crazy movie streaming on Kanopy through my public library. The filmmakers hired 125 fine artists to paint 66,960 frames on canvas. It took 6 years to produce, and the results look incredible. Talk about taking a risk that might not pay off.
This particular quote from the end of the film hit me hard.
What am I in the eyes of most people - a nonentity, an eccentric, or an unpleasant person - somebody who has no position in society and will never have; in short, the lowest of the low. All right, then - even if that were absolutely true, then I should one day like to show by my work what such an eccentric, such a nobody, has in his heart.
Letter from Vincent van Gogh to Theo van Gogh
The Hague, 21 July 1882
I tend to put everything into my projects and feel terrible when nobody seems to care.
How many paintings did Vincent van Gogh sell in his lifetime?
One or two. Depending on the source.
Vincent poured his soul into art every day, but he never gained acceptance, approval, wealth or respect in his lifetime. His artwork became world-famous, but his actual life was short and full of suffering.
I still struggle to comprehend that my self-worth has nothing to do with my art or anyone’s response to it. I am not my work. I am not what I’ve produced in the past.
I encourage you to savor your creative process. Enjoy the time you spend making things. And don’t worry about recognition.
— Jed
Happy Anniversary
It’s been a year since the Get Afraid Journal came out. I’d love to hear your thoughts.
Now that fall is almost here, I’d like to get back into [painting, sketching, photography] again. What about you?
Yes, I understand the contradiction of including a survey in a newsletter that talks about how I shouldn’t care what people think. My books could always improve, but their quality has nothing to do with me personally. It’s complicated.
See you fearly soon. 🙄
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