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This week, we\'re discussing what it means to be an artist. Renowned music producer Rick Rubin has written a book in which he argues that the artist is a conduit for creativity comes from source energy. Therefore, he says, the artist\\u2019s job is to open themselves up as much as possible to receive whatever wants to come through them. His book is "The Creative Act: A Way of Being" and it really is about life as well as about art. In this episode, we pull out four key ideas and offer our own perspectives - but we should stress that the book really needs to be read in it\'s entirety. We recommend that you do that and then think about your own reaction to his words. 

Here are the quotes we discussed:
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\\nNumber One
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\\n\\u201cThe goal is not to fit in. If anything it is to amplify the differences, what doesn\\u2019t fit, the special characteristics unique to how you see the world.
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\\nAs soon as a convention is established, the most interesting work would likely be the one that doesn\\u2019t follow it. The reason to make art is to innovate, to self-express, to show something new, share what\\u2019s inside, and communicate your singular perspective.\\u201d
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\\nNumber Two

"If you have just one seed - a very specific vision you want to carry out - that\\u2019s fine. There is no right way. You might consider the possibility however that it could end up being a limitation because you are no longer taking advantage of all that you have in you. Being open to possibility gets you to a place that you want to go that you may not know you wanted to get to.

If you know what you want to do and you do it, that is the work of a craftsman. If you begin with a question and use it to guide an adventure of discovery, that\\u2019s the work of an artist. The surprises along the way can expand your work and even the art form itself.\\u201d

Number Three

"You may sometimes wonder \\u2018why am I doing this? What is it for?... in the end those questions are of little importance. There doesn\\u2019t need to be a purpose guiding what we choose to make. When examined more closely we might find this grandiose idea useless. It implies we know more than we can know."

Number Four

\\u201cArt made by accident has no more or less weight than art created through sweat and struggle. Whether it took months or minutes does not matter. Quality isn\\u2019t based on the amount of time invested. So long as what emerges is pleasing to us, the work has fulfilled it\\u2019s purpose\\u2026.. If you like a result, accept it graciously, whether it arrives in a sudden flash or after long bouts of difficult labour.\\u201d

Mentioned
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\\nRick Rubin\'s book is called "The Creative Act: A Way of Being"

Here is the Johnny Cash video Louise mentioned (tissues required) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8AHCfZTRGiI

Rick Rubin interview:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H_szemxPcTI
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\\nSee Alice Sheridan at:

www.alicesheridan.com

@alicesheridanstudio

Find more about Louise Fletcher:

www.louisefletcherart.com

@louisefletcher_art

Credits: "Monkeys Spinning Monkeys" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License