A Relationship With Art

A Relationship with Art

Creating art is usually regarded as a 'way of life' rather than an occupation by the artist, and is often referred to as a 'love affair'. In my case I learned to draw before I could read or write, and so from an early age it became my primary form of communication, developing over a period of years into a close relationship that I now regard as a close trustworthy friend.

If an artist is having a love affair with being creative, it therefore follows they are in love with their own imagination. This is potentially problematic, particularly as the artists 'real' partner could be justified in perceiving they're in a three-way relationship. Many artists reconcile such a dilemma by including their partner into their artwork, Picasso is famous for doing this (Jacqueline With Flowers 1954), though several of his partners disclosed feelings of coming second to his love of, and devotion to, art.