I Feel Van Gogh
It is always a pleasure to read about the creative. And, there is a sense of fellowship when I find out what they say matches my thoughts and feelings. Here is a list of van Gogh’s quotes that I deeply agree with.
He said, “Sometimes I long so much to do landscapes, just as one would go for a long walk to refresh oneself, and in all of nature, in trees, for instance, I see expression and a soul.” As I get older, I appreciate nature and feel its benefits more and more. Walking my dog at the park is one of the happiest moments. Trees, flowers, skies, the river, the lake, and all other organic forms of nature are inspirational.
He said, “If you truly love nature, you will find beauty everywhere.” I think hardships and ordeals experienced in the human world can blind us or limit our perception to be short-sighted so that we tend to forget about the truth that we are part of nature where the mystical and marvelous can be found.
He said, “I have nature and art and poetry, and if that is not enough, what is enough?” I’d like to add one more to that; “I have nature and art and poetry and a dog(s)/ a cat(s), and if that is not enough, what is enough?”
He said, “If you don’t have a dog, at least one, there is not necessarily anything wrong with you, but there may be something wrong with your life.” I have been completely experiencing life with non-human beings. I love it. It has widened the horizon of my perspective towards life. The best lesson from a dog is this: Be simple and feel good in every moment of life and love blindly. Life is too short to live depressed.
He said, “ Not everything I do is a success, of course, but the work’s getting along.” Indeed, what’s important is to enjoy what I do. It is even hard to define what success is anyway, especially, in the arts.
He said, “Normality is a paved road: It’s comfortable to walk, but no flowers grow on it.” To me, normality means boredom and weakness. It may give me a feeling of comfort, but it will definitely not help me grow and experience more.
He said, “Great things are not done by impulse, but a series of small things brought together.” Sadly, it is true that nothing can be gained easily or achieved quickly. It is like you have to lift weights every day for many years in order to build your muscles and keep you in shape. It is like you have to write 1 or 2 pages every day so that you can make a 365-page book a year later.
He said, “ If you hear a voice within you say you cannot paint, then by all means paint and the voice will be silenced.” I can say it is really working when not listening to my negative voice. I remember one of the best slogans on ads is “Just do it.” Thinking unnecessarily too much does no good. No matter what others say or what my negative voice says, I just go for what I like. At least, I don’t have to regret what I didn’t do when I die.
He said, “So often, a visit to a bookshop has cheered me, and reminded me that there are good things in the world.” When I felt lost and didn’t know what to do with my life or when I got disappointed by others and felt negative about the world, books helped me tremendously. There are many good friends and teachers I can find in good books.
He said, “It is with the reading of books the same as with looking at pictures. One must admire what is beautiful.” I have to say I am content with my life now because I look for beautiful things in books and pictures I admire: inspirational stories, authentic thinking, imaginative visions, and something emotional.
He said, “Art is to console those who are broken by life.” We are sentient creatures. So, when we are emotionally in pain, the arts -music, cookery, dance, pictures, books - can help us in a therapeutic way.
Last but not least, he said, “The uglier, older, meaner, iller, poorer I get, the more I wish to take my revenge by doing brilliant color, well-arranged, resplendent.” When I paint, I don’t think about appearance, age, finance, external matters, and anything negative. Making a work of art is one of the best ways to protect oneself from negative energy.
