What It Takes to Be an Artist: Passion
If skills are the tools you use to make art, passion is the fuel you burn while using them. Creating without passion merely becomes a job—a task to mark off—and can quickly lead to burnout. Of course, becoming a professional artist includes a certain amount of menial work, as with any job. But retaining and fostering a sense of curiosity is necessary to drive forward sustainably. While there maybe be instances when an artist makes work without passion, that should never define one’s practice.
For some, passion seems intrinsic to their DNA. For others it may feel like an elusive secret that you're grinding away to unlock. In the case of the latter, frustration can abound, leading us to give up before we even get started. Often, the question becomes “How do I find the passion to actually make something I care about?” It’s a valid question, but not as hard as it may seem.
Because passion is inherently personal, it is difficult to be taught, but it can be caught! Allow me to explain. There is no guaranteed, formulaic way to accumulate passion. There’s no equation to unlock feelings of motivation, nor is there a magic elixir you can drink to be filled with emotional energy (although coffee makes a decent argument). However, there are ways to catch passion if you’re willing to chase it down. I’ve found the following helpful in that pursuit:
Become immersed in inspiration. If your well of creativity is running dry, it's time to take a step back and fill up. What is it that inspires you? That fills you up? That you enjoy learning about? For me, it might be looking at other artists (if I'm feeling strong to not compare myself against them), hiking through nature, or recording a wild dream I had last night. Set aside time to enjoy your interests, apart from the expectation of having to produce something from them.
Be a passion parasite. Okay, maybe that came out wrong; try not to suck the life out of other people if you can. Rather, I mean that passion can be drawn from others. If you’re feeling drained, spend time around those who are walking in a season of passion. Talk with those who are doing the things you want to be doing. Ask them questions, and in return, answer their questions about what you do. When you have to explain to someone else what you make, it causes you to remember why you found it interesting in the first place.
If all else fails, just take a break. I've found it essential to have creative outlets besides art. I often turn to playing guitar, video games, or getting in the kitchen. There’s no shame in giving yourself some space, and it can allow you to return with fresher perspectives. The key is that you must return! Take a break, but make plans to come back.
Passion can be nebulous and hard to hold onto, but I hope these tips spur you on. Of course, there are times when you may need to push through making without passion, and we'll talk more on beating “art block” another time. But for now, see what inspires you, talk about it with others, and don’t beat yourself up as passion comes in waves~