Mixed Emotions 24x36
I've been thinking a lot about a word lately: Narcissism. I've always considered it to be an extremely negative term. Then, last week, it was brought to my attention that perhaps I am one... by someone who LIKES me. Ouch! So, Mr. Webster.... what do you have to say about this? (Actually - who uses a dictionary anymore?) I googled it:
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Narcissistic
egotistic: characteristic of those having an inflated idea of their own importance
wordnetweb.princeton.edu/perl/webwn
narcissist - someone in love with themselves
wordnetweb.princeton.edu/perl/webwn
narcissism - self-love: an exceptional interest in and admiration for yourself; "self-love that shut out everyone else"
wordnetweb.princeton.edu/perl/webwn
OK.... Besides the "self love that shuts out everyone else" I guess I am a bit narcissistic. Who - I ask you - who is not? - Especially artists! Look at my work. Buy my work. Don't you love this painting? Here's my blog-read my blog. Artists, actors, dancers, bloggers, public speakers, politicians (yikes) - we are all a giant pack of narcissists!
Everyone with a FaceBook page who is telling the world where they are and what thier status is....Everyone who has ever tweeted a tweet... Narcissistic!
So - is it really the negative word we think it is??? (Or is it only negative if we are talking about other people?)
This is a hard pill to swallow....but seriously isn't being an artist a little self - indulgent? Then there is all the emotion and introspection that goes into being a painter- at least for me. (Me Me Me.) I do tend to dwell a good bit on why I do what I do - why I feel the way I feel. I deal with my crazy emotions in a VERY thorough manner. So - is it narcissism? Is it necessary to be a deep thinker and a little-self absorbed to be a good artist? Truthfully, I think it is.
