the creative bug

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Ben Atlas

15 years ago

I think everyone got that bug. It’s just that civilization hunts for it and kills it before you know you got any. I guess if you discover it yourself, you are dead meat anyway.

Daniel Edlen

15 years ago

Yeah, so work on not feeling queasy when you talk about your creativity, will you? Remember, we’re prophets.
Peace.

Nathan Phillips

15 years ago

I thought that bit in the newsletter was especially powerful (and true). Glad to see it on a cartoon – will be printed out and hung on my wall ASAP. Thanks Hugh!

Matt Topper

15 years ago

I’d gladly trade my Create or Die print for one of these.

nino

15 years ago

i agree, that’s def. true…

Shelley Noble

15 years ago

ugh, I didn’t say anything when this was in your newsletter. I didn’t say anything when this was in yesterday’s blog post. Today I have to say it.
This quote about the creative bug costing everything is so far off from my creative life experience and understanding I can’t let you slide with it. Too much respect, etc.
When one is creative there is no sacrifice involved. There’s no other aspect of life being given up. There is no loss, no lack, no doing without. There’s not even any sense of sacrifice, loss, lack, or doing without. Being creative is the life of someone creative.
I consider you to be genuinely creative. I don’t think you are a dilettante at it as the quote’s materialist undercurrent indicates.

Jake Edwards

15 years ago

The only grenades under my desk are real.

SimplyQua

15 years ago

That is absolute perfection. Describes the reality and the result.
I’ll be passing this on to my other artist friends.

Danny Jouwe

15 years ago

I just bought your book in Amsterdam. Great stuff, MacLeod! And right now, just after reading about Tim Burton’s advice about the creative bug I see your 18 June post about the creative bug…
One thing about your business card cartoons: this format looks ideal for the era of the iPhone! These days even in Africa a lot of people have small screen communication devices. Yep, small screens gonna get bigger and bigger.

Steve Hopkins

15 years ago

Give me my crayons back…

Lee Ann Sosa

15 years ago

When you look at hugely creative people, it seems like a large number of them have had to allow the creative bug to take everything from them: alcohol, self-destructive behavior, etc.
But not all! Think of Thoreau; ensconced in his homemade cabin at Walden Pond, surrounded by everything he needs, and writing beautiful prose. Flaubert (Madame Bovary) lived a completely bougeois life, happily married, and wrote the most scandalous book of its time; a book full of angst, deception and lust.
Wouldn’t the best of all possible worlds be to have it all (peace, health, family) and still be creative and productive? This would be a good thing to strive for.

Wogan

15 years ago

Creativity can never be satisfied. It’s not a legacy you leave behind – it’s a trail of destruction.
Of course, the rest of the world doesn’t see it that way.
~ Wogan

Clintavo

15 years ago

Interesting – creativity, art, etc as a religion. Substituate the word “God”, “Jesus”, “The Universe” for “The creative bug” in your saying and you’ll see what I mean.
FWIW – I agree with you, artists,writers,creators must give their entire lives over to their art or go home….if they want to change the world at least.

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