I recently came upon a statement by Raphael Soyer that wonderfully conveys the nature and the power of the drive to create. Born into bitter poverty in a Jewish family in Russia in the time of the pogroms, Soyer (1899-1987) became one of America’s great realist painters, best-known for his haunting depictions of the faces of the Depression. Here’s what he said about his life as an artist, towards the end of his life:
I’ve painted for a very long time, but I don’t get tired or bored by it. I love to do it. If I don’t paint one day, I don’t feel well physically or mentally. My eyes bother me when I don’t paint.But when I paint a full day, I feel satisfied and everything seems to be OK. I would never stop, never retire. I can’t see how people can retire; I can’t understand that.
The same drive seems to have run in the family.
My brother Moses died while he was painting. He was actually working on a painting, and the last words he said were to the model, “Phoebe, don’t frown.” Then he died. He worked to the very last minute.
I feel the same way about writing. If I let a day go by without writing, I don’t feel so good, physically or mentally. When I do write – especially if I get something on its way to publication – I feel as if I have had the best possible physical workout, as if I have swum a couple of miles.
I’m with Raphael Soyer on the subject of retirement. Do what you love, and you’ll never want to retire.
Source: Elaine King (ed) Artists Observed (New York: Harry N. Abrams, 1986) p.16
In the Studio by Raphael Soyer (1943) via Forum Gallery
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