SA and creativity

Blueberry

Blueberry

Member
How many of you are creative (since we spend so much time inside) and like to paint, draw, sculpt, write or have interesting hobbies like collecting things etc.? I think maybe there is a positive reason for being the way we are. I wonder how many brilliant and creative people had SA and weren´t even ever aware of it. Maybe it´s a blessing in a way.....because we´re not caught up in the "rat race" we are able to do extraordinary things. I think maybe the greatest thinkers of our time probably had SA. What´s your opinion about that?
 
Kamen

Kamen

Well-known member
I write poetry and prose, compose music and sometimes draw. I want to buy a digital camera soon because of my passion for photography, which would be a great reason to left the apartment more frequently. Also interested in design. I've never been an outgoing child, never interested in the outside world, so being lost in reveries, creating, reading and learning something new are among my best friends since I remember, together with the TV and the PC.
It's not that the greatest minds in art and science had SA, but it is true that most of them are introverts. Creations and inventions arise from the inner world, they bloom like flower blooms - from inside to outside, so those who are introspective and look more frequently to their inner world get more benefit from it as artists, writers, scientists, philosophers, etc.
Of course, human personality is so complex and colorful, it would be a naive oversimplification to say that introversion and SA are THE indicators for such qualities. Instead, they seem to work as catalisers - as lens focus sunlight, so they do. But without sunlight you cannot make fire.
 
worrywort

worrywort

Well-known member
I've always been pretty creative....I've got a website here... http://worrywort.co.uk ...which is pretty much my favourite thing I've done since being alive!

I think the artist lifestyle suits me....it requires lots of solitude and introspection....it requires a sensitivity to your emotions....and it requires lots of patience, discipline and self control....the first two come naturally with SA....and the last one isn't hindered by SA, so it works out well.
 
Z

zootdroop

Well-known member
I draw and collecting old toys and things, that's been my life since I was 13 or so. I view my social problems as a good thing mostly, I never had to worry about all that crap of fitting in and social obligations, it freed me up. I didn't have to worry about being hip and cool and because of that I discovered lots of stuff normal narrow minded people wouldn't. It also gave me a different perspective on everything since I was on the outside looking in. You get to see the world differently than everyone else. Only downside is it's a pretty lonely existence and it's really hard to relate to people, not only cause of the social problems, but your point of view on everything.
 
A

aj

Well-known member
This is always something that has made me wonder, because I'm not creative, at all. In fact I think it's another thing that affects me socially - I ask someone to go out, I can't think of anything interesting to do, and when I actually end up in this thing called a 'conversation' I rarely think of new things to say. I noticed it about half way through school and it always made art, writing and designing things difficult. This was great when I ended up doing graphics for two years, but that's another story! I wish I was more creative. I wish I was creative at all!
 
Vincent

Vincent

Banned
Creative Living

Yeah I think so too. Im not sure, but I think there is a connection between social phobia and introversion. I think too that introverted people are creative in a different way than extroverts. Because they (we?) can combine introspection and emotion, then some very personal ideas can come through that perhaps helps others to see their unique take on the world and themselves.

Perhaps creative extroverts find different avenues for their talent. I think that conversation offers a great opportunity for creativity. Humour is a form of creativity also.

I really like the artistic life too. Although I fear working with others, I don't think being a solitary artist appeals greatly. Despite and beyond my SA, I want to be connected with other artists/creative people because I think they are the most fascinating people in the world. Each one is unique and not a compromised version of themselves,..not a conforming stereo type. Other than liking artistic people living a creative life (esp bohemians), I really love the creative process itself. I stress the word process, because thats what it is. Being creative makes me really happy, and the results are a bonus but not the reason for it.

I find that that making art is almost like a substitute for communication across other mediums. It is a more indirect and sometimes more meaningful way of connecting with people.

I have painted a copy of "The Scream", a work that really has a connection with me. I'd imagine that the same is true for alot of people on this site too. Other art work is inspired by political and humanitarian issues. Other stuff is personal and deals with depression and or anxiety. I'll add some of it too the photo albums.

Worrywort. I had a look at the art work on your website and its fantastic. :D

I especially like the one titled "Save the Males". Very clever and an engaging use of colour and composition. Keep up the good work.

Vincent.
 
Blueberry

Blueberry

Member
I wrote before in my introduction that I felt ashamed to have SA but I´ve changed my perspective after reading your replies. I don´t feel ashamed to be in the company of such intelligent, creative and talented people. I think we are the extraordinary ones! Why do we think we are not "normal"? Maybe we have it all wrong in our thinking and it´s actually everyone else out there running around like chickens with their heads cut off who aren´t normal.
 
worrywort

worrywort

Well-known member
thanks Kamen!

I really like your track! I love that kind of music! I'm so into film soundtracks and that kind of thing. I could listen to loads more of this kind of thing! definitely!

My suggestion of how you could possibly improve on it, would be to add some sort of imagery or background story to the music. I.e. if the music was on a webpage, and that webpage was designed with images and a story of somekind to breathe extra life into the track, I think that could really add to it. Something to bring out the emotion more and focus the listeners attention on a specific emotion....but that's just my opinion!

but it's a very nice track! keep them coming!
 
proudmummy

proudmummy

Well-known member
How strange, i've always been an artist, doing cartoony drawings for as long as I remember!! I've been doing it since so young though so unless social phobia some kind of gene I don't think it can be to do with that. When I was five I they used my drawing as my school's logo, i'm 20 now and they still use it (and it wasnt a competition, someone just saw it and randomly wanted it lol)

People have even bought pics off me lol.

I never made it further than college though, my SA got worse and worse. My art teachers are all really angry with me that I let myself down.

Still do art though, I painted in the canvas in my flat and plan to do other decorative things.

xxxx
 
Kamen

Kamen

Well-known member
worrywort: Thank you for listening and I am glad you like the track! I think the same way about combining it with images - it would definitely enhance the effect. This track actually came after I was imagining a magical sunrise at an island, and this is how I translated it into sound. :)
 
Vincent

Vincent

Banned
SilentClaude said:
Definitely, although I think many introverts can be humorous as well. I, for example, am very much introverted and try to be funny at every opportunity I get.
Click to expand...

I once read somewhere that the psychological mechanics behind humour is that it is the mind changing direction rapidly. That is, a new idea or perspective being brought to the audience's mind. For example, a joke or comment that is expected is hardly likely to be funny. Someone might laugh though because they thought of the same thing, and that person doesn't think it that funny, but laughs to justify their self image of being funny. Or else, someone might laugh in order to make the person making the joke or craic feel more comfortable or else because they want to impress upon them. Eg. a date might well be the guy trying to be funny, and the girl trying to make him think that he is funny because they are both attracted to one another....either that or she is being polite!

Being an introvert can mean being more true to yourself and having a more unique point of view. Therefore, as humour is about lateral and orginal thinking, there is a good chance that introverts (and socially phobic people) are funny,...either that or weird. Its a fine line to tread the difference between funny and weird. I think perhaps people don't want to deviate too far into what they aren't familiar with, and people may have a predefined limit for new ideas or perspectives. So they can shrug things off as weird or whatever because they are narrow minded and don't want to acknowledge that.

But by being true to yourself, we risk being labelled as "weird", I know I certainly have. I suppose I dread more than anything being "normal", as I equate it with mediocracy, stereotypes and conformity. But I think that trying to be normal in the short term provides a level of popularity, acceptance and so forth. But I (and we?) believe: "be yourself at whatever the cost."

Worrywort, all of your artwork is wonderful. You use colours very well, and I like the gothic kind of style to your lines and figures. The ideas are very clever, they certainly communicate the ideas behind them far better than words could ever do. My artwork is on my Facebook account. I'd need your email to add you etc. So, Im going to put some work up on Deviantart soon. Then it will be much easier to share. Thanks for the encouragement.

Vincent.
 
Vincent

Vincent

Banned
Um, just a tag on to qualify what I just wrote now.

Thinking about it, it seems quite conceited and arrogant to make gross generalizations like that, and the only way one can do so is by acknowledging that are only my opinion and a theory that I have.

So all of the above is: IMHO (in my humble opinion)
:)

~ V
 
D

dyingtolive

Well-known member
i am new to this site andn to the online world of social anxiety. i am amultidisciplinary art student. your site worrywort is inspiring. i would love to do more art but im always obsessing ovre if it is aesthetically correct, or what others may say. another thing is that anytime i Do have the energy to do something creative, my first priority is to exercise. i have exercise bulemia, as a result of social anxiety.
 
Sacrament

Sacrament

Well-known member
I write, do photography and make music, and no, it's not the "lol my lyf suxx" kind of poetry that 13-year olds write but literature that I spend my time on, polishing and so forth. Same goes for my music and photography. I am quite the perfeccionist.
 
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