Thoughts… or the ramblings of a fool

Lithium is used for the treatment of manic/depressive (bipolar) and depressive disorders.

I was listening to the song from Evanescence called ‘Lithium’, and it suddenly dawns on me on what it may mean. Well, what it means to me personally.
To me, this is about the relationship between misery and artistry.

Its a cliché, I know. That to be a good artist, to be able to create such beautiful pieces of art, that it has to come from misery.

This is an excerpt from an article written by Meana Kasi of Verge Magazine titled Creativity and Depression:

Many artists suffering from depression say their creativity is fueled and fostered by emotion and angst, by isolation and solitude. The emotions and angst that may be present in the artist’s mind can help shape the work. These emotions can be conveyed creatively, allowing for the term “self-expression” to come up. When suffering from depression, many artists feel they have the opportunity to lose themselves in the work being created, thus allowing their mind to feel some relief from the strains of depression. When this happens, the artist is able to accomplish what many others struggle withæfocusing almost exclusively on the work without distraction.

[read more here.]

Vincent Van Gogh and “Starry Starry Night” comes to mind.

I know I’ve had my shares, where my most artistic is when i am most miserable. Where my heart and soul have been torn apart, is when I can unleash my best.

The lines in the song “I want to stay in love with my sorrow… don’t want to let it go” rings true somehow. Because of the fear that once I become truly happy and content with my life; if misery is gone, so will the artistry.

Batman Returns (you know, the one before Joel Schumacher ruined the franchise) was shown on local TV tonight, and I was doodling on my sketchpad when I realized I heven’t drawn the Joker since college.

I think I’m still channelling Brian Bolland’s version in “The Killing Joke”.

This was one of many sketches I was doing for my monthly wallpapers for 2007. I named her Cindy because I was looking at a picture of Cindy Kurleto when I was doing concept sketches for this piece.

This ended up in the cutting room floor, as they say.

Not that i’m saying I can mimic Jim Lee, but I came pretty close during my college years. Part of going back to basics, and because alot of people have been requesting James Howlett, here you go.