The Being Creative and Artistic Cliche

[chesya]

I'm not sure where my illness begins and creative artwork ends and vice versa.

I post artwork around in various places: mainstream gallery sites and fetish sites as my work falls into these two categories, although I think the latter is art too.

But apart from it's general aesthetic qualities, it contains something of the super sensitivity of my mania and insights into the structure of my illness or wellness or whatever it is.

Are there sites where bipolar people can share work and insights in this way?

I note that the cocktail of Xepraxia and Depakote I was once on virtually ended by ability to draw and cured me of my infatuations and my 'fetish' (the latter has deep spiritual as well as sexual significance to me). The price was too high to take this stuff.

 

[herbie]

Is there a connection between bipolar and artistic ability? I can't say I've ever been artistic, I can't draw anything better than stick men. I like to think I'm a pretty good creative writer though.

 

[Lozzi_1004]

i cant draw for toffee but i'm pretty good at creative writing, poetry and short stories.

 

[chesya]

@ lozzi and herbie

Do you share your work anywhere?

Don't worry if you would like to know me a bit better before doing so, I'll understand.

 

[herbie]

I haven't got anything I can show (yet) but I am working on a novel. Well... supposed to be. Haven't touched it in a while though. If I'm feeling ok in November I might tackle NaNoWriMo this year (have tried twice before and failed due to depression and lack of motivation).

 

[Dollit]

I write - have done for a long time, short stories mostly (someone on here has read a couple) but there is a novel. I have also had some newspaper articles printed but no byline unfortunately.

I also paint and do photo montage.

And I'm bipolar.

But I don't think it's being bipolar that makes me creative just that it give me enough bravado and confidence to stretch myself and be daring.

 

[lucid scream]

i had a random thought once, many years ago, that art is something deep inside that wants to be freed from its creator, so stifling one's talents leads to manifestations of mental illness.

don't know, though. it was just one of those thoughts.

 

[Apotheosis]

Art is the Rabbit in a field of flowers on a Sunny day; it is the sound of your lover breathing while they sleep at night; it is the sound of the rain on the window pain, & it is the moment which touches the heart...

 

[herbie]

I have a suspicion that art is inherited. All of the people I know who are artistically talented, had at least one parent who was also an artist.

 

[chesya]

Art is the Rabbit in a field of flowers on a Sunny day; it is the sound of your lover breathing while they sleep at night; it is the sound of the rain on the window pain, & it is the moment which touches the heart...

That's beautiful and reminds me of the intense sensuality of various states of BD as well as the ecstasy of beholding and creating Art.

 

[chesya]

I picked up the link for www.theicarusproject.net here, but I've forgotten where and from whom. I would like to thank whoever put it up

It provides an interesting place to post art and poetry and, among many other things, discuss the links between art and 'madness'

 

[jamesdean]

I'm not at all atistic quite the opposite of others on this forum n yet I blame my mental state because my mind is a blank canvess, though interestly a woman once said to me there was a contection between me n other artist friends, I would love to have the capability to write a novel though I do find that a lot of people write novels about whot they know to me a novel is totally made up the further fom your mind but within your imagination. My mum once suggested that I write childrens stories, Though I do think its who you are not whot you know, I mean maddonna writes the sex book n then in contrast writes childrens books. My psycoligists did say to me once that i should write a book of my experiences but all that seems to sell the best these days is biographies of celebrities, I find that all a bit perverse, just because they are celsbrities dosent me they have had interesting lifes!Its proberly all made up, most of these celebs forget "where they come from" or is it just me thats sad?

 

[Rambuie Perspecador]

Hi chesya
I have been knocking together a site for people to work with their creativity, post photos. or write drafts and when they are happy with their work, to post them for everyone to see. Though its early days, I feel sure that after you have browsed our site you will be more atuned to the possibility that your sparks of inspiration are very worth-while, and part of the creative gift that often accompanies MH eccentricities. My one regret is that we are not limiting ourselves to any specifics regarding medical diagnoses, so we are all in the same boat with our artistic endeavours and my support is non-specialised and limited to help with spelling, grammar, etc. and creative appreciation.

Anyway, if you would like to browse, you can find us at:-

http://memphasis.ning.com

Feel free to sign up, if this is for you!

 

[chesya]

Thank you for your intitiative and the link.

I will try to add something to the centre of gravity of the project.

 

[IL_Artist]

I think creativity is largely a matter of insight and perspective. Any kind of mental illness is going to give a person a different way of looking at the world and thinking about it, and thus information is going to connect differently than it would for most people.
I'm glad that my medication hasn't robbed me of my creative abilities, but it has robbed me of my energy so I get less work done. I feel better, but I don't have the same devotion to my work that I once had. I guess theres always a drawback to these things.

I don't know about any sites where bipolar people can share artwork. Personally, I would be hesitant to post work to such a site in case the Orphaned Work bill passes, but if you have any work to show I would be happy to critique it.