We were lucky to catch up with Steven Schutz recently and have shared our conversation below.
Steven, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Can you tell us about a time that your work has been misunderstood? Why do you think it happened and did any interesting insights emerge from the experience?
I feel most artists are perhaps misunderstood by most who are not so creative in a multitude of ways.
Expressive and creative individuals have a creative drive that is misunderstood, and the artist’s choice of activity is misunderstood and often criticized, not only the work but the choice of line of work, for what we all do is a job, its a 24/7/365 life.
Most of us who are not independently wealthy and have financial responsibilities struggle to balance the need to express and create against the need to survive and pay high rents etc..not only living quarters but studio space.
Folks say..Get a real job.
Lazy, drug riddled and sex crazy are common misperceptions..
Artists, whatever genre(s) involved in are indeed human beings with emotions, feelings and desires as all other individuals.
Often feeling things more than others perhaps not quite so focused on the creative/expressive realm.
Being an artist is a full time job and in todays climate, even more difficult to forge an existence where one can direct an adequate amount of energy toward their calling.
Where would societies and cultures be without the artist/expressive types?
Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers
I am a transplant from elsewhere (Lincoln Nebraska) as a good portion of us are.
Expression in general interest me and creativity is highly valued in whatever form.
I began in grade school with crayons and moved up to colored pencils in the mid 70’s and onto painting and photography in the 2000’s.
Along the way I studied ancient Japanese martial arts earning several belts in Karate and Diato-Ryu Aikijujitsu (a fore runner to Aikido and Judo), traveling to Japan on 2004.
Martial Arts and Buddhism then became intertwined with the expressive/creative realms and each has complimented the other.
In the mid to late 2000’s I became involved in music, mostly drumming and have been playing with a very experienced guitar player/singer since 2019 in a duo called The Sir Mighty.
Along the way I have enjoyed photography as well as collecting and repurposing objects into art.
What can society do to ensure an environment that’s helpful to artists and creatives?
Folks perhaps should try to understand the importance and value of expression and creativity in their own lives in whatever form and the value and importance of Art in general in our societies and cultures.
How they can help is by supporting local art and music where ever one finds it.
Look for it..search for it..support it..please,,where ever you find yourself at any given time.
Do you think there is something that non-creatives might struggle to understand about your journey as a creative? Maybe you can shed some light?
Its the drive..the desire.. Technically is the same as perhaps an athlete, yoga instructor, race car driver..or a banker..a focus on achieving..
To understand investigate commonalities..like following a calling..
Contact Info:
- Facebook: Art https://www.facebook.com/Imagessurradelicabstraction Photography https://www.facebook.com/SirStevenImagery Music https://www.facebook.com/rockanroll127
Image Credits
Zushka Biros Photography