Culture IV

First-- This is a pretty popular Ted Talk, but if you haven't seen it then I hope you enjoy what Sam has to say. Sam Berns passed away in 2014 from a disease called Progeria, and I honestly really wish I could have met him. I have watched multiple videos he has posted and read about his story a lot. This video is my favorite because of his positivity towards life and I think he was such a special person with an enormous heart. The part where he begins to talk about making a "can do" list is important because this can apply to your art and many other aspects of your life. The part about getting stuck in a paradox is also very important because this can happen in your life often if you surround yourself with people who are toxic, like he mentions, but also in relation to your artwork because often we get stuck in ruts where we don't feel like creating or being productive, and this only hurts you in the long run. Listen to what he says here because it really helps me maintain a positive outlook on things, and to accept what I cannot do or things I have done in the past and grow from them.

Second-- This is kind of silly, but if you haven't seen this video I hope you're amazed because I was the first time I watched it!! This might possibly be the best artist in the world. I think it's amazing that this was even captured on film in the first place... Also, I really wish they would make a sequel to keep us updated on how this little fishie is doing and if he found love because honestly, he is pretty awesome.

Third-- This is a movie my mom told me to watch a while ago, and most of the time I don't listen to her because we have very different taste in film.. but this one is pretty good. Its called, Big Eyes. Walter Keane was a very successful artist during the 60's, and "his" portrait paintings were known for the overly large eyes of the subjects, and I would not be a big fan of the art if I hadn't heard this story because honestly, they freak me out. However, he turned out to be a total fraud, and his wife was behind every painting. This movie probably isn't 100% truthful to facts or timelines, as are most movies based on true events, but it depicts the scandal very well and captures the emotion and anger that Margaret, his wife, must have felt. As an artist, I could never imagine what that must feel like to watch your own work be cherished and discussed by thousands of people and think that someone else created it. ((P.S. this movie is on Netflix!)) If you don't watch the movie, at least watch this interview with Margaret. You can see how joyful she is near the end to finally be able to live her life claiming the artwork that she had made for so many years!