The first image is Van Gogh’s, “Wheat Field, with Cypresses.” It’s one of the most famous and expensive paintings (over $100 million adjusted for inflation) of all time.
The second is a stock photo I found when googling “wheat fields with cypress trees.” It sells for $19.99.
Both are beautiful. Both have value. Both engage our senses.
But it’s Van Gogh’s that truly captures our imagination. Weaves a spell. Makes us feel something and want to know more.
That’s the power of art.
Go make it.
“‘The Only True Wisdom Consists In Knowing That You Know Nothing.’” “That’s Us, Dude!”
“The Best Time To Be Is Now, And All’s We Can Say Is…Let’s Rock!”
“All We Are Is Dust In The Wind, Dude.”
“Be Excellent To Each Other.”
“San Dimas High School Football Rules!“
“The Art Of Fielding” by Chad Harbach is one of my favorite novels of the last decade. It’s about a college baseball star, Henry Skrimshander, whose life is upended when he makes one bad throw. Henry spends the majority of the novel wrestling with his own self doubt and trying to recapture the person and star he once was. Give it a read.
I’ve been reflecting on this specific passage which details the philosophy of his young baseball coach and mentor, Schwartz:
He already knew he could coach. All you had to do was look at each of your players and ask yourself: What story does this guy wish someone would tell him about himself? And then you told the guy that story. You told it with a hint of doom. You included his flaws. You emphasized his obstacles that could prevent him from succeeding. That was what made the story epic: the player, the hero, had to suffer mightily en route to his final triumph. Schwartz knew that people loved to suffer, as long as the suffering made sense. Everybody suffered. The key was to choose the form of your suffering. Most people couldn’t do this alone, they needed a coach. A good coach made you suffer in a way that suited you.
When making art or striving to achieve any goal, we all want to be pushed to our limits. Even if we don’t know it. Or admit it.
A good coach, teacher, family member, friend, etc…helps us get there. Seek them out. When you find one, be grateful for their honesty and their relentless pursuit of your excellence. It’s a real gift.
And while you’re at it, maybe you can be that coach for someone else.
How would you complete the sentence?
…A Game.
…A Test.
…Fun.
…Meaningless.
…Precious.
…Hard. And Then You Die.
…Suffering.
…Magical.
…A Constant Chance To Help Others.
…Short. Might As Well Make The Most Of It.
…A Box Of Chocolates. You Never Know What You Get.
…Whatever You Make Of It.
As Viktor Frankl advises, our ability to make meaning, to choose, no matter the circumstances, is what makes us uniquely human.
Once we make that choice, it determines how we think and what we do.
Choose wisely.
I once had a conversation with a successful independent film director…He was always curious about the theater and had flirted on and off with writing and directing a play. I asked him why he hadn’t done it yet. He said he just couldn’t justify all that time and effort going into an ephemeral art form. For him “film was forever.”
That ephemerality is exactly why I love theater. The moments, the experiences, the artistic solidarity…will live with me forever.
We all walk around with a story in our heads. Sonder helps us remember that.
We all want to hear and tell stories. It’s in our DNA. Art enables us to do that and have empathy for others.
Culture is the collective story we’ve all consciously and unconsciously agreed to.
To change the culture, we need to start telling different stories. To ourselves and each other.
And make great art out of those new stories.
There’s an exchange towards the end of “Top Gun” where Stinger, played by one of my all-time favorite 80’s character actors, James Tolkan, asks how long until he can launch another fighter with Willard and Simkin aboard. They’re needed to assist Maverick and Iceman (Gotta love those pilot names!) who are engaged in a dogfight against multiple Russian MIG’s. Stinger asks “How long?” The response, “Ten Minutes.” Then Stinger, in full Tolkan fury unleashes, “Bullshit, ten minutes. This thing’ll be over in two minutes. Get on it!”
Parkinson’s Law is an old adage that “work expands so as to fill the time available for its completion.”
There are a million tasks to complete when manifesting your passion project. Sometimes, to get things done, you have to forcibly shrink the time you have to complete said task. Trust Stinger and Parkinson that you’ll get it done and you’ll get it done well.
Two Minutes. Get on it!
“You are the average of the five people you hang around the most.” -Jim Rohn
Think of the 1920’s and Paris. Or The Harlem Renaissance. Or the 1950’s and The Beats.
Go way back to Ancient Greece. Or the Italian Renaissance.
Incredible art was created during these periods. Why? A main reason has to be the flourishing scene. You had all these artists gathered together in one place creating, inspiring, helping, critiquing, competing and motivating one other. It was a staggering output of beautiful, timeless work.
Today, all across the world exist tons of micro scenes. And with technology, it’s never been easier to connect to them. Whatever you’re trying to accomplish, whatever art you wish to manifest, surround yourself with others who have similar goals and interests.
Better yet, start your own scene. Find and lead the others.
Who knows? Maybe you’ll be part of another incredible artistic period that we’ll read about someday.
The first “book” or chapter of Meditations is entitled “Debts And Lessons.” Marcus Aurelius devotes it entirely to thanking those people who’ve helped him throughout his life. He also names the specific qualities that each person imparted on him.
Examples…
“My Grandfather Verus….Character and self control.”
“My Mother…Her reverence for the divine, her generosity, her inability not only to do wrong but even to conceive of doing it…”
“Maximus…Optimism in adversity–especially illness…”
Two observations.
One, it takes a village. Behind every great person throughout history are tons of people who’ve been instrumental in that person’s development. No one does it alone. The same holds true for manifesting our passion project. Even the solitary painter or novelist has collaborators, influencers and friends who assist that artist along the way.
Two, we’d be wise to stop looking for a unicorn, someone who does everything amazingly well. Instead, we should observe and learn from many different people in all areas of life. We can then select the specific qualities each person excels at and apply them to the areas we want to focus on. In the process, we’ll become more complete, well-rounded individuals.
And while you’re at it, think back on all the people who’ve helped you get to this point. Write them a thank you note expressing your gratitude for the lessons they taught you. You’ll be glad you did and you’ll have made someone’s day.
Supposedly…
…Sylvester Stallone wrote the screenplay for “Rocky” in three and a half days.
…Karl Malantes wrote the Vietnam novel, “Matterhorn”, over a period of thirty years.
…Bob Dylan wrote “Blowin’ In The Wind” in ten minutes.
…Leonard Cohen wrote “Allelujah” in two years.
Does it really matter how long it took someone else to make their art?
All that should matter is your own standard of excellence. When you feel your art is ready.
How long will that be?
Who knows? Just keep telling yourself and others who ask you…
“It takes what it takes.”
The Vs. Studio Blog