Where do we gain artistic optimism from? Some ideas:

  1. Ignorance: The child-like ignorance of the outside world and what other artists are doing. The ability to approach artwork from a “carte blanche” approach — that nobody else has done it before (but you!)
  2. Physiological overpower: To be physiologically hyper-healthy is key. If we are in poor or weak health, we have no optimism in life. If you’re hyper-healthy, and in peak physical shape, you feel as if you can conquer the world.
  3. Creative stimulants: I love coffee, 100% cocoa powder, and cocoa nibs to get me going. To me, these stimulants give birth to movement in my legs and muscles. This is what generally gets me going.
  4. Hyper-vanity: What is the point of pursuing artistic art-works if others have done it before you, and may have done it “better” than you ever can? Rebuttal: if you have hyper-vanity, then you don’t care whether others have done it or not. You pursue art for your own personal vanity, and to fulfill your own personal curiosity! For example, there is no “logical” reason to have a child, nor do we care whether our kids will become “as good” as children who have come before. We have children to fulfill our own ego and personal vanity– and this is good!
  5. Shaking things up once in a while: Perhaps the benefit of traveling is to simply shake things up a bit. To mix the water and oil again. To hit the thermometer a few times to get it working again. A life with too much stability is bad for art. Injecting some randomness, chaos, and chance is good for our artistic spirit.

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