Vonnegut on Being Artistic

Two minutes of great inspiration from the late Vonnegut:

“Go into the arts. I’m not kidding. The arts are not a way to make a living. They are a very human way of making life more bearable. Practicing an art, no matter how well or badly, is a way to make your soul grow, for heaven’s sake. Sing in the shower. Dance to the radio. Tell stories. Write a poem to a friend, even a lousy poem. Do it as well as you possibly can. You will get an enormous reward. You will have created something.”

― Kurt Vonnegut, A Man Without a Country

vonnegut risk creativity

As we create, make our work sustainable and grow into our next project, we get to enjoy the risk of being artistic.

  • We’re the gutsy ones who put our feelings, thoughts and philosophies out into a sometimes volatile space for others to adopt…or trample on.
  • We’re the rainmakers–taking the invisible and making it real. We put skin on dry bones and make them sing…and not everyone loves the song.
  • We’re the culture-shifters, seeing the future in the present…and that makes others uncomfortable.

The gift of your artistry cannot ever be separated from the risk of sharing it. (Share that on Twitter)

Thank you to all of you who teach me to take those risks.

And thank you to all of you who are about to take the leap…we need what you have to offer…and I can’t wait to see it, hear it, feel it and enjoy it.

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Author: Andrew Zahn

I'm a son, husband, dad, business owner, actor and good sleeper/eater. On this blog, I pave a highway for creative growth by providing food, water, and shelter for those wishing to live, work, and play with creative zest.

10 thoughts on “Vonnegut on Being Artistic”

  1. Excellent post, as always. Your encouragement always challenges me. Ephesians 5:1 reads- “So be imitators of God, as beloved children…” By being imitators of God we participate in creation, or, in your words, “put skin on dry bones and make them sing.” Blessings to you.

    1. That’s fantastic Ann! A friend actually shared it with me today and I just had to write and share it with others! Kind of a nice little Vonnegut pay-it-forward we’re doing!

      Thanks so much for reading and sharing!

  2. Rainmakers-taking the invisible and making it real. I love that idea and the way you expressed it. And seeing the future in the present (making people uncomfortable). All great observations. Thanks for sharing them!

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