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The Death of the Tortured Artist

One thing I’ve noticed is the decline of the “tortured artist” archetype. I’m still contemplating whether this is entirely a good thing. On one hand, you have vibrant artists like Teoni and Slawn, whose whimsical use of color creates work that feels uplifting and full of life. Then there are artists like Danielle McKinney, one of my personal favorites, whose paintings evoke a deep, almost transcendent sense of yearning you don’t just see the emotions in her work, you feel them.

As I write this, I’m realizing that both approaches should be allowed to coexist. Art does not need to be born from suffering to be meaningful. The rise of artists who aren’t tortured is important because it challenges the long-standing belief that pain is a prerequisite for depth. It also reassures aspiring artists that it’s okay to create from a place of joy, contentment, or even neutrality. Art born from happiness can be just as powerful.

What I do take issue with is the idea that pain should be deliberately cultivated for the sake of making art that “feels” something. There’s already enough struggle in life naturally; artists don’t need to manufacture suffering just to be taken seriously. If anything, this shift allows for a broader, richer spectrum of artistic expression. It makes space for different voices, emotions, and perspectives, proving that creativity isn’t limited to anguish. it thrives in all aspects of the human experience.

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sometimes there's no support system. its just you, god, and the vision only you can see.

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It literally is

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Accra Ghana

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I care deeply for you but I feel like anytime I show it, it just pushes you further away.

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The Dr. Seuss-like topiaries of San Francisco (2017) photog: Kelsey McClellan, location: California, USA

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Eric Fiol

Indian ink on canvas

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lauryn hill

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New Energy on the way. 

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