Why The Term Temperamental Artist?

Why The Term Temperamental Artist?

 by Teresa Sullivan, Agent

Everyone has heard the term temperamental artist. This assumes that there is something wrong with the artist in the way they deal with others. Art is a very personal and unique talent and the artists themselves do not see things the way that the masses do. An artist is not just for those who paint. They can be sculptors, photographers, writers, poets, musicians, architects, interior designers or even inventors. Artists are big on truth and not their truth but universal truth. They are interested in making a stand for causes and are not afraid of public ridicule.

There once was a playwright by the name of Bill. He was not considered seriously by the people who worked with him, or the people who viewed his plays. At the time, women were not legally able to become actors on stage. He decided to write a play about a truth about life and took a chance in including a woman in the play. The play was about two people who loved each other so much that they were willing to die for each other and that is the way it ended. The audience was shocked and the actors were ready for impending public scorn. Then it was revealed that a woman acted in the play which could result in imprisonment. The Queen of England was so impressed with Bill, that she invited him to discuss the depth of what his play was about. He was then respected throughout the land. That man who stood up for womens rights was William Shakespeare.

Artists who do not make a stand for some dimension in life, are not ridiculed or publicly scorned or ridiculed, are really not artists. Many times people who say about an artist's work "I would not have done it that way" are part of the masses.  The next time you say this about an artist, check the artist out and see what the people who have collected his / her artwork say about it. If they are royalty, the aristocracy, heads of state or religious leaders, maybe you should think twice. Paul Gaugin challenged the Catholic Church for judging natives in the South Pacific for their hedonist ways. Mark Twain's work challenged society in showing youth not influenced to be a racist by associating with a black man known in his writings as Jim.  True artists enjoy helping others artists develop their artwork.  It is their way in giving back. Richard Avedon gave to Marc Gagnon by mentoring him in the 80s. You could say that America had an artist as President, Thomas Jefferson.

The term a Termperamental Artist is attributed to an occasional outburst resulting from narrow thinking. The artist though is not moved to change. They are driven to continue. It is this that I support Monsieur Gagnon, Artist and Friend.  A friend of Gagnon's by the name of Jacques Wiesel is a writer and many would consider him at times as temperamental. He is passionate about life and does so through his writings.

Below is a collage done by Gagnon and the piece is about one of the greatest artists of all time, Davinci. Also below is a painting of Jacques Wiesel and Marc Gagnon painted by Carol Morris.