Does Mental Illness Actually Make Better Art?

It is believed that mental illness and creativity are linked. Movies and art history are full of romanticized depictions of tortured, brilliant artists. It is common in our culture to think of them in this way, but it is also criticized. We see mental health severity in visual artists like Pablo Picasso, Vincent van Gogh, and Edvard Munch. In the music industry, addiction has led to the deaths of some of history’s best musicians. It is important to note that not all artists have a mental illness and not all people with mental illnesses are artists, but studies suggest that artists are more likely to suffer from it than non-artists.

Currently, I’m reading “The Creative Act: A Way of Being” by Rick Rubin. Beautifully written, Rubin describes how creatives interact with the world and intertwines it with easily digestible philosophical discussions around creativity. He writes how artists and creatives typically are more empathetic and vulnerable. We feel things deeper. And that becomes a vital part of creating art. But does art improve when you have a mental illness or are experiencing pain? Or is happiness enough to inspire great art?

Researchers from the Yale Center for Emotional Intelligence found that mental illness and high creativity can be linked, but it depends on various factors. At most, it mentions that experiencing a struggle and/or mental illness can create diversifying experiences. These vulnerabilities offer a different perspective. Artists use their experiences and struggles as inspiration, which can fuel great art. These moments can give you insight and emotion to draw from and it can also help with processing and releasing the emotion.

However, the answer to whether it makes better art is inconclusive. It can vary depending on the severity of a person's illness and mental state, as well as how long they’ve been feeling this way. Some people can work during down periods, while others find them debilitating. I can relate to many artists who find it hard to create when they go through long periods of negative emotions or traumatic experiences. Rubin says, “An unhealthy self-image or a hardship in life can fuel great art…They can also get in the way of the artists being able to make many things over a long period of time.” Being unable to break through a negative emotion or issue can prevent artists from producing creative work. Associating mental illness with making better art can also be harmful and create unhealthy lifestyles. Because if our illness and down periods were the only reason our art was successful, we'd be reluctant to get better.

Mental Health as an Artist

When describing the creative process, a study says that “In addition to trait anxiety, in-depth interviews show that artists experience anxiety throughout their working process (Glaveanu et al., 2013), from the point of facing a blank canvas to the anxiety about missed possibilities to anxiety about presenting the finished product” (Ivcevic, Grossman, and Ranjan, 2022, p. 4). As an artist, I have felt the anxiety of starting fresh with a piece or project. Hell, even when I sit down to write a new blog post, I get anxious, which sometimes causes me to procrastinate. We become our worst critics, and the fear of it not being good enough for an audience to appreciate can hinder us. Imposter syndrome can sink in.

Artists also suffer from high unemployment rates, which is no surprise. However, a study shows artists also have higher levels of job satisfaction (varies by country). Though it doesn’t directly mention U.S. artists, I can agree with this study. Creatives are driven by a sense of purpose and a desire to grow. We can find satisfaction within our creative process that defies the conventional job experience. However, it is also true that many of us still have to find extra jobs to supplement our daily/monthly expenses. Most artists aren’t earning enough money through our art. Sometimes this can push artists to make work they aren't passionate about. We risk making and doing work that pays while leaving behind the passion that once brought us here. In an ideal world, we’d find financial and creative satisfaction together.

But not all is lost. Where we see tremendous pain that others may not notice, we also see tremendous beauty. It’s said that artists are also more likely to hold onto hope and be more resilient than non-artists. This study, consisting of various top U.S. art schools and creative workers, stemmed from scholar Frank Barren’s statement saying that creative individuals are “both more primitive and more cultured, more destructive and more constructive, occasionally crazier and yet adamantly saner than the average person.” It is interesting to see that even though artists tend to have a higher rate of mental illness, we also have a higher rate of hope and resilience. Compared to the data that often find individuals with low mental health have low hope and low resilience. This could be because art can become a way of confronting or working through emotions. Rather than bottling it up, we can express our feelings through art. I have felt anxious and depressed, but the benefits I get from creating art never falter. Our art is our purpose, so as long as we have that, we continue.

How Art Can Help

I think the reason studies say artists can hold onto hope more than the average person is because of the uplifting benefits creating gives us. It’s no secret that art can reduce stress levels, help you cope with situations, and improve your mood. Art therapy data shows that “71% [of participants experienced a] decrease in feelings of anxiety and a 73% fall in depression; 76% of participants said their wellbeing increased and 69% felt more socially included” (The Guardian).

Creating is how artists can express every emotion possible in abstract forms. You often don’t need to explain or say how you feel, but you can show it. And oftentimes, visuals convey a deeper experience than words can.

This art is usually made not only to help ourselves and process situations but to assist others who have been through similar circumstances. I see many artists working to better their community and the world, artists like Kannetha Brown. She documents the Southeast Asian-American community in Providence, Rhode Island, and reclaims their identity and personhood through an 8x10 large format view camera. I think especially Millenial and Gen Z generations have more empathy and drive to create impactful work. This work doesn’t only help us, but others too. It can initiate dialogue and help people living similar experiences. Art has the power to create a deeper connection among people since it’s an experience many can understand. It is a window into a person’s darkest thoughts that offers vulnerability.

Artist Burnout

A common side effect of mental illness and trying to do as much as you can with your practice is burnout. We are taught to chase after the grind and continuously produce work. But we forget about the biggest factor contributing to our art: LIVING. The process of creating goes far beyond making the work itself. It’s about how we interact in the world and our awareness of everything around us. When you feel burnt out or creatively blocked, there are many ways to ignite that flame again. I talked a lot about how to overcome creative block in my last article here.

Artists need to realize that creativity comes in waves. You will have periods where you feel uninspired and need rest. I find those periods an excellent time to reflect on yourself, live life to the fullest, and make art like a child (no expectations of whether it is good or bad). Rest is crucial for us mentally and for the creation of art. Mental illness is a crisis worldwide and we need to take care of ourselves. So if you’ve been feeling overwhelmed lately, this is your sign to rest. Relax your shoulders, experience life, and take care of yourself. Your art will always be there.

Mental Health/Addiction assistance:

Suicide Hotline: 988

SAMHSA (Substance Abuse) Hotline: 1-800-662-4357

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