Work/Love

I believe more and more that to work for the sake of the work is the principle of all great artists: not to be discouraged even though almost starving, and though one feels one has to say farewell to all material comfort.” Vincent van Gogh

Vincent van Gogh did life really tough. I am amazed when I hear of paintings being sold for millions. The real irony is that many of the people who painted these struggled to feed themselves during thier lifetime. Van Gogh was no exception. He was considered weird and needed to get a 'proper job'. Yet he didn't. He struggled through, doing what he loved, ignoring the remarks, the hunger and discomfort.

I admire that on two levels; firstly, he knew clearly what it was that he loved, where his passions lay, and secondly, in knowing this, he went for it with everything he had, and risked failure and hardship to do so.

I think I am still coming to grips with working out the first part, my love. It is important to realise that the second part may influence the clarity of the first. If you know and dwell on the hardships and risks that go with pursuing a love, do you then taint your viewpoint on what it is you do love? Do you go straight to the 'I don't love it THAT much!' frame of mind too soon?

'To work for the sake of the work'. To love what it is you do, no matter what.