Awhile back I had my blog consulted with Kirsty Hall when she recommended the one book she knew of that dealt with the issue of artistic jealousy. Anything I can do YOU can do Better by Tessa Souter.
Now I know this is something we usually don't talk about, and I'm not saying that I ever experience this... actually I have "a friend" who's got a problem with this... (sound familiar?)
Anyway. Seriously. Because although it was not the best book I've ever read I'm glad that I did. I'd like to highlight the main positive points that I took away from it.
First, it reinforced that the creative people who are achieving their goals are working their butts off. (And can I please have an "amen" on that? Because I'm a little sick of the mentality that somehow there's a magic creative wand we could simply wave instead of doing the actual work).
And secondly, the book made me laugh at loud in a few places about what needy creatures artistic people truly can be. And it's good to know we're not alone.
Thirdly, chapter 8 brought up not only jealousy that creative people might experience themselves but also how to deal with the jealousy that others might display towards us. Jealousy goes in both directions people! What an important thing to give some brain space to. I like the idea of recognizing artists who might need to do a little shadow work and be ready to handle it with love and compassion.
So leave a comment below if you'd like to win my copy, complete with a pretzel bookmark in Chapter 8. I'll have a drawing in a week and send it off to you or "your friend..." if you catch my drift!
Dearest sweet Giesela, this book sounds really interesting. Thanks so much for sharing your thoughts on things with us! Have a lovely merry happy week and love to you!
Posted by: Jacqueline | May 31, 2011 at 02:54 PM
In my opinion the "working your butt off" bit is the key ingredient for any success in any profession if you really do want to be great at what you do. Reading up/taking classes/getting advice from a mentor etc then *applying* over and over again what you've learnt and what you've been taught is what all great masters have done before us and what we should try and spend our valuable time on. By spending more time on this we'll have less time to sulk and be jealous of success achieved by those who worked their butts off while we sat there thinking how much we want to be like them without actually taking any action.
Good post, definitely worth reminding ourselves of these simple facts that could help us so much in the long run, especially when the going gets tough and all we want is to just give up because it's too hard and it's taking too long to get to where we want to be.
Posted by: Veronika | May 31, 2011 at 04:22 PM
Love! I'm going to hunt this book down if I don't win it- I'm feeling all these things and more. It comes in waves for me and us shocking once I realize it- but also is delightful that I'm starting to recognize what IT is and can actually work my way through! Homemade chocolate chip cookies are always helpful, too. ;0)
Posted by: Rebecca | May 31, 2011 at 04:36 PM
I'm with Rebecca on this; If I don't win the book I'll just have to buy it. It seems like a book that could teach me a thing or three.
Enjoying your blog,
Rischa
Posted by: Rischa | May 31, 2011 at 07:50 PM
I hope there's a chapter on 'Studio Envy'. That's the killer for me. I see photos of people's studios and I can almost hear myself chanting "I need that!" over and over. Even just to have a room to hide away from the kids so that I could concentrate. With loads of shelves and display space, and great light, and a fantastically big window, and a massive desk, and places to put all the things I love and squirrel away.
Posted by: Fiona | May 31, 2011 at 08:20 PM
You've done it again TJ! Thank you for bringing up this important topic of Artist Envy!! And for bringing up the real truth that to be successful (in anything, as observed by Veronika) you really need to WORK YOUR BUTT OFF!
I love your comment on the 'magic creative wand' that does seem to be prevalent on the internet - I think that is why I've started to interview people who are either trying to make a go of their artistry or who are not and to show that both choices are okay!
I'm going to see if this book is available at my local library - I can see from your highlights that it is practically REQUIRED READING for Artists ;)
Posted by: Monica | May 31, 2011 at 09:33 PM
even I dont win the book I too will buy it, keep up the good work
Posted by: lee | June 01, 2011 at 12:07 AM
Sounds like an interesting book! I try really hard not to compare myself with other people as I read art books and art blogs, but, man, it's hard not to get envious of others' results when mine might not be quite living up to my hopes! But you are so right, if I'm not willing to "do the time" to learn the skill and craft of what I'm trying to do, then it's kind of silly for me to envy the results of the people who have! Thanks for an interesting post!
Posted by: Andria | June 01, 2011 at 02:30 AM
Wow, what an interesting topic, to be viewed from several perspectives!! I'm thinking it's a great read!! Would love to win your copy, and then will pass on to another lucky person!! Thanks for your great post, and for the great offer to share the book with another!!
Posted by: Trudy Honeycutt | June 01, 2011 at 05:48 AM
I get very sad when I find out that people are jellous of what I have, are or do - I think its such a stupid feeling that I don't want to evoke. :-(
Happy first of June TJ!
Posted by: iHanna | June 01, 2011 at 11:51 AM
would love to read it!
thanks for the chance to win!
Posted by: Laura | June 01, 2011 at 01:47 PM
Love the title :) & amen to the "working our butts off" . I´d love to read your copy or my friend do...
Posted by: Madde | June 01, 2011 at 05:06 PM
I'd love to read your copy as well!
Posted by: sonyamacdesigns | June 01, 2011 at 08:11 PM
Sounds like a great read...! :-)
I take my hat off to all you hard working artists!...You are to be admired!
What would our world be like without you/us all x
Posted by: Kristin Hyde | June 01, 2011 at 10:40 PM
This would be so much fun to read! :-) I think that the one way to deal with 'artist jealousy' is just to accept that I am not a professional artist. Just dabbling in my own corner! :-)
Posted by: Jacqueline | June 02, 2011 at 03:26 PM
I am of course entering! This looks fabulous!
Posted by: Robin | June 02, 2011 at 08:03 PM
Always food for thought to find here.
I'd be interested in checking this book out.
I might be interested in an ATC trade. :)
Jenny Lee
Posted by: Jenny Lee | June 02, 2011 at 10:17 PM
Sounds great book to read, although I am not good at reading books, I would like to hunt one. Thank you for the info. xm
Posted by: Maki | June 03, 2011 at 01:15 AM
As usual, another thought provoking post that applies to many aspects of life. I will also investigate the book, even if I don't win.
Posted by: German Gems | June 05, 2011 at 06:23 PM
OK ladies... the random number generator said "12" so it looks like Madde is the lucky winner! Thank you all so much for taking the time to leave a comment. Let's keep on creating...xxx tj
Posted by: TJ | June 07, 2011 at 08:06 PM
Wow! I just came across this while I was looking up images to use for my website re-design. THANK YOU for mentioning it. I also could not find a THING on professional jealousy when I was doing my research. It was even hard find people to fess up to it when I was asking around. It's kind of a dirty secret. But I'd like to share my post-book discovery ... if that squiggly sort of ache-y in the chest feeling hits you, try to focus on the physical feeling itself without naming it as anything. Miraculously the feeling goes away. This works for all kinds of unwelcome feelings (nerves, stage fright, anger ....), I discovered through doing a fascinating course with David Friedman. Check out his http://www.thethoughtexchange.com/ for more. As for my book, I wrote it in 2005 and ... ohmygoodnesswhatalongtimeagothatseemsnow! And still doing the two steps forward one step back dance ... but hopefully a few feet or two ahead of where I was then.
Posted by: Tessa Souter | May 20, 2012 at 02:58 AM