Must we Suffer for our Art?

There's an old notion that artists suffer for their art -- and starving artist syndrome is indeed a real problem.  Many artists do suffer from the practical and existential contradictions in being so wealthy in talent and so often unemployed, impoverished, and destitute.

Some of us suffer in other ways as well, such as from the emotional fears of not being good enough to call ourselves artistic or creative.

Creativity can require sacrifice to some degree, and there can be a kind of suffering in that.  We can be called on to sacrifice approval, time, resources, relationships in favor of pursuing our art.

Just like art or beauty itself is a perspective, a lens, a way of portraying or relating to thoughts, feelings, experience, and observations, suffering too is all in the eye of the beholder.  What is one person's crushing suffering may be another's growthful challenge.  The difference is in how we approach it, and what meaning we make out of it.

But must we suffer?  I don't think so.  Art can also come from joy, and from seeing the absurdity in what is taken too seriously.