Monthly Archives: August 2014

Wrestling the Crocodile

Posted on August 31, 2014 by tropicaltheartist

I’ve often thought that engaging in artistic projects feels like wrestling a crocodile.  Initially, you don’t suspect a thing, then suddenly, it takes hold of you with a vice-like grip, it won’t let you go and it won’t let you … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Prescribed Process versus Personal Commitment

Posted on August 27, 2014 by tropicaltheartist

There’s no easy way to say this.  Most Western companies that make things make trash.  It’s not up to standard.  Much of it is breakable, worthless, prematurely-obsolescent junk.  Don’t believe me?  As a trivial example, compare and contrast the glossy, … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

The Story of Lost Arts

Posted on August 24, 2014 by tropicaltheartist

I last came here when my son was a very young, wriggly, distracted, bored, little boy, who wanted to run off and explore.  We stood for a while, watching the artisans ply their craft.  There were marvels being produced.  The … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 8 Comments

Artist or Performing Monkey?

Posted on August 24, 2014 by tropicaltheartist

There was something on the television this morning about people that, as young children or teenagers, are thrust onto the stage to perform.  The piece was about the emotional and psychological damage that can result, when a young person is … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Psychopathy and Aesthetic Sensitivity

Posted on August 20, 2014 by tropicaltheartist

If artists hold out some hope of freeing the world from the deleterious effects of the presence of powerful psychopaths, especially the psychopaths in charge, are we sure that psychopaths aren’t among the artists?  Will it be possible for psychopathic … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Corporate Influence is Violence in Disguise

Posted on August 19, 2014 by tropicaltheartist

We live in a more or less permanent reality distortion field, where the truth is hard to discern.  Every day, we are subject to messages, via advertising, social media, the mainstream media and through government public relations that tell us … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

The Zen of Mastery

Posted on August 19, 2014 by tropicaltheartist

Here are some ideas that will serve you well, as an artist (or any other sort of creator): Simplicity – If you over complicate what you’re trying to achieve or make, you will run a much higher risk of not … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Taking It to the People

Posted on August 17, 2014 by tropicaltheartist

You’ve starved for long enough.  You’ve created a body of work.  Your paintings are there, you have thousands of words written, you’ve developed a new product, or your music is mixed and mastered.  What are you waiting for? If you’re … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Here Is the Reason I Make Music

Posted on August 14, 2014 by tropicaltheartist

The reason I make music turns out to be deceptively simple.  I only just realised it.  It probably applies to all of my creative endeavours, if truth be told. The thing about life is that you can fool yourself into … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

The Future of Live Music

Posted on August 10, 2014 by tropicaltheartist

There are some demographic trends that are worth paying attention to, because they are likely to have an impact on the opportunities for musicians to play their music to live audiences. The first trend is that young people are eschewing … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment