People have this tendency to romanticize art, like Milo here. But he is wrong. What he is forgetting is, that Michelangelo, Da Vinci, and all the other great masters were working artists. They made art to make money and survive. They painted/sculpted many commissions and fulfilled the visions of their patrons and clients. Michelangelo didn’t look at the ceiling of the Sistine chapel and was overcome with the need to create because it was the perfect canvass. No, he was asked to do so by Pope Julius II, and so he did and what made him an artist instead of a dreamer was, that he made art and he made the very best thing he possibly could out of the existing groundwork he was given.
Art isn’t in perfection, it’s in the actual doing, and it’s the limitations that spark creativity.
There is a true story about famous pianist Keith Jarrett who was confronted with a fully booked concert in Cologne and a old, rickety piano with sticky keys, non-working pedals, jangly high notes and an unimpressive bass register. He almost cancelled, but instead he played one of the best concerts of his career because he had to work with the limitations and kick his creativity and improv skills into high gear. The recording of that night is the best-selling piano album of all time.
To all the Milos out there, you are an artist because you are making art. You aren’t an artist when all you do is dream of making art while looking for that one perfect thing to spark your creativity. That perfect thing doesn’t exist, you are putting road blocks in your own way. Use the imperfect thing instead and make something out of it. And if you do find that one perfect thing, then I pity you, because you will probably be too afraid to touch it out of fear of ruining it, and it will end up covered in dust in a closet somewhere.
danketaz Premium Member 2 months ago
He needs a Charlie Brown Christmas tree of a pumpkin.
markkahler52 2 months ago
Only the sincerest need apply…
snarkm 2 months ago
People have this tendency to romanticize art, like Milo here. But he is wrong. What he is forgetting is, that Michelangelo, Da Vinci, and all the other great masters were working artists. They made art to make money and survive. They painted/sculpted many commissions and fulfilled the visions of their patrons and clients. Michelangelo didn’t look at the ceiling of the Sistine chapel and was overcome with the need to create because it was the perfect canvass. No, he was asked to do so by Pope Julius II, and so he did and what made him an artist instead of a dreamer was, that he made art and he made the very best thing he possibly could out of the existing groundwork he was given.
Art isn’t in perfection, it’s in the actual doing, and it’s the limitations that spark creativity.
There is a true story about famous pianist Keith Jarrett who was confronted with a fully booked concert in Cologne and a old, rickety piano with sticky keys, non-working pedals, jangly high notes and an unimpressive bass register. He almost cancelled, but instead he played one of the best concerts of his career because he had to work with the limitations and kick his creativity and improv skills into high gear. The recording of that night is the best-selling piano album of all time.
To all the Milos out there, you are an artist because you are making art. You aren’t an artist when all you do is dream of making art while looking for that one perfect thing to spark your creativity. That perfect thing doesn’t exist, you are putting road blocks in your own way. Use the imperfect thing instead and make something out of it. And if you do find that one perfect thing, then I pity you, because you will probably be too afraid to touch it out of fear of ruining it, and it will end up covered in dust in a closet somewhere.
hschessman Premium Member 2 months ago
I love the mother’s wryness — “You’re taking him next time.” Milo is so lucky to have these parents — they’re kind, and also have a sense of humor.
Aladar30 Premium Member 2 months ago
Milo, Michelangelo was an extremist. Please, just carve the first pumpkin you see and be happy.
darcyandsimon 2 months ago
You can make yourself unhappy (although he doesn’t seem unhappy!) by overthinking things…
Tom Toro creator 2 months ago
“Attainable standards” is not in Milo’s lexicon ;)