I love the Austin Kleon newsletter because he always links to an artist I have never heard of in a medium I have never really explored. It always leads to somewhere I would have never found on my own.
This week he linked to this video of artist Ralph Steadman in his studio. I’d never heard of him, but this five minute video made me like him immediately. He’s having fun with his work. He’s enjoying his art.
At one point he says,
It’s just for the hell of it. For no good reason. It’s for that.
Ralph Steadman
It’s a thought I think gets lost when we think about not only the reasons for creativity, but for why we do anything in this life.
So often we are motivated by money or the thought of fame. We’re never encouraged to do things “just for the hell of it.” If we’re going to create art, it should be art that changes the world, or that sells, or that sells something else. I think the world would be an entirely different place if we could just sometimes think of what we would do if it was “for no good reason.””
Of course we need shelter, food, and clothing. Of course we need to provide for our needs. But wouldn’t the world be wonderful if we could do that in a way that wasn’t soul crushing? Wouldn’t it be wonderful if advertisers didn’t rule the creative process? If advertising wasn’t as prevalent in every aspect of our lives? Wouldn’t it be wonderful if art was as an acceptable career as being a telemarketer or an accountant?
I often try to justify my need to write poetry and prose, but I think I’ll accept this lesson from Ralph Steadman and remember that I don’t need a reason, I don’t need a style, and it’s perfectly ok to do what I love “for the hell of it.”