The Myth of the Reclusive Artist

We’ve all seen the movie version of an artist’s life. It’s usually depicted as a moody genius in a paint-splattered turtleneck, staring intensely at a canvas in a dimly lit studio while a single candle flickers. They don’t talk to people. They commune with the Muse.

That’s not at all what we do. Don’t get me wrong, we ARE hermits, but sometimes we do go out and “people”. Especially when it is important.

This week, my “communing” has mostly involved a calendar that looks like a game of Tetris.

If you think being an artist is just playing with paint and feelings, then you might be missing an important component. It’s actually 50% painting and 50% convincing the world that art is the secret sauce that makes a community worth living in and the world better. Here is a look at what “out of the studio” actually looks like for us.

Tonight, we are hauling gear and hanging dreams at The Exchange for the Emergent Petals show. The opening is next Wednesday, which in “Artist Time” means I have approximately six minutes to make sure nothing falls off the wall. We help curate this show and give our local artists more exposure. I think it is vital for artists and local businesses to work together… It’s a win win.

Meanwhile, I’ve traded my fine brushes for power tools this week. I’m currently building new walls for our first outdoor show in years for the First Friday event on May 1st. Because apparently, I didn’t have enough on my plate, I decided building a new show set up would be a cinch. It’s not, but I’m not going to tell myself that.

We love the studio. The studio is safe. But this week? The community called, and we answered:

• Monday: We hit a 6:00 PM community meeting to talk Revitalization of our area. It turns out, when you ask a community what they want, they don’t just want pretty pictures, they want a soul. Artists need a voice at these tables because if we aren’t there, the “revitalization” might just be more grey parking lots. Don’t get me wrong, parking is important, but we also need color and intrigue in our lives.
• Yesterday: We met with Ashley (who is AMAZING) at the Transit building. That place is a massive, gorgeous resource, full of artists, and we’re brainstorming ways to make it a hub where the community and artists can actually collide. We also discussed affordable rental of spaces for pop up art shows and fun artist lead events.
  • Arma Fest Meeting: September is coming, and so is the second year of a giant event in our town. We want to help make the artist section something epic and wonderous to behold. It’s going to be legendary.
  • Public Art Board: BIG NEWS! We secured the grant for the Mural Fest, which means Mural Fest is officially a GO!
  • Tomorrow: Meeting with the Makerspace. We have funding, we have momentum, and we’re about to get that sucker moving to full epicness.
• Friday: We’re headed to City Hall. Klee and I are using our technical know-how to help City Council set up live streaming. Why? Because transparency is awesome. We are also going to discuss Mural Fest and get approvals. Then, we’re off to Pollen Nation in Franklin to talk art initiatives, art workshops, and whatever other fun art events we could think of.

In the middle of all this civic duty, I’m designing a new series of art for the 24 Minis show coming up this year at the Manos Gallery. I’m calling them “Cute Cryptids.” Think Mothman, but make him adorable enough to grab a coffee with. We also have the usual commissions and orders to fulfill, so we are in the studio every minute we can be.

Of course, because it’s spring, we are also in Spring Cleaning Mode. As I type this, I am literally barricaded in by filming gear, microphones, and random art equipment because I am clearing out the media studio. It’s less “curated aesthetic” and more “hoarder-chic,” but we’re making progress!

Why Leave the Creative Cave?

I’m not suggesting you book this many meetings or go to that many public things. Honestly, this schedule is a little bit ridiculous and not the usual. We usually draw a hard line and limit our out of studio community time to two a week. But sometimes, there are things we don’t want to miss. Here is some food for thought:

“It’s not just about the artwork you put on a wall, it’s about who you are in the rooms where decisions are made.”

As artists, it’s easy to hide in our studios. But making an impact can mean getting out there and meeting the local business owners, the city council, and the neighbors. Whether you’re in a big city or a specific neighborhood, showing up to represent you matters.

After a week of being “Professional Community People,” we get to end it with our favorite part: hanging out with our awesome Rogues on Patreon for our live stream podcast recording on Sunday. It’s the perfect reminder of why we do all this, the connection.

Don’t just paint your community, help build it. Even if it means wearing “real clothes” five days in a row.

Stay creative!