ARTIST
Musician/Author/Dramatist/Actor/Artisan
The Artist archetype embodies the passion to express a dimension of life that is just beyond the five senses. The Artist psyche is animated with the energy to express it into physical forms. The nature or relative grandeur of any form of expression is irrelevant; a chef can be as much of an artist as a painter or landscaper. The signature of Artists is not in what they do but in how intense their motivation is to manifest the extraordinary. Doing what you do in such a way that you create an emotional field that inspires others also indicates the Artist energy at work, as does the emotional and psychological need to express yourself so much that your well-being is wrapped up in this energy. Some people simply engage the world through the Artist’s eye and that is as much the Artist archetype as the person who needs to actually create art. The Artist archetype experiences life as an art form, having a need to experience the art of life. Expand your definition of the Artist to a soul who needs to create and you live in that world. The Starving Artist is another dimension of the archetype, reminiscent of the many artists who gathered along the left bank of Paris, painting while at the same time starving in their shanty little studios. You can find contemporary starving artists anywhere.
The shadow Artist comprises many clichés, including an eccentric nature and the madness that often accompanies genius. The shadow of the Starving Artist represents the fear of financial ruin or the belief that fame and fortune come only after death, which often causes artists to suppress their talents. The challenge of the shadow relates to the need
to take on the fear of your own inability to create and follow your soul’s path – to find the Artist within so that you do not starve. Another aspect of the shadow is hating yourself for refusing to explore your creativity due to fear, and then having to live with regrets about what you could have accomplished if you’d had the backbone. It can also manifest as blaming other people or circumstances as an excuse for not following your creative path. Creativity is a high-risk energy because there is no guarantee of the outcome. You have no idea where your creativity can take you. The only
way to really touch your creative self is to let go. And letting go means you start to act upon your creative inspiration to see where it takes you. Remember that passion always has a purpose. In evaluating your relationship to this archetype, recognize that the need to bring art to others, such as dedicating part of the energy of your life to supporting artists, is as much an expression of the Artist archetype as actually holding a brush in your hand.
Film Reference: Gene Kelly in 'An American in Paris'
The shadow Artist comprises many clichés, including an eccentric nature and the madness that often accompanies genius. The shadow of the Starving Artist represents the fear of financial ruin or the belief that fame and fortune come only after death, which often causes artists to suppress their talents. The challenge of the shadow relates to the need
to take on the fear of your own inability to create and follow your soul’s path – to find the Artist within so that you do not starve. Another aspect of the shadow is hating yourself for refusing to explore your creativity due to fear, and then having to live with regrets about what you could have accomplished if you’d had the backbone. It can also manifest as blaming other people or circumstances as an excuse for not following your creative path. Creativity is a high-risk energy because there is no guarantee of the outcome. You have no idea where your creativity can take you. The only
way to really touch your creative self is to let go. And letting go means you start to act upon your creative inspiration to see where it takes you. Remember that passion always has a purpose. In evaluating your relationship to this archetype, recognize that the need to bring art to others, such as dedicating part of the energy of your life to supporting artists, is as much an expression of the Artist archetype as actually holding a brush in your hand.
Film Reference: Gene Kelly in 'An American in Paris'