11/12/2013 11:38Charles Bukowski on the Ideal Conditions and Myths of Creativity, Illustrated | Brain Pickings

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Charles Bukowski on the IdealConditions and Myths of Creativity,Illustratedby Maria Popova

“Air and light and time and space have nothing to dowith it and don’t create anything except maybe a longerlife to find new excuses for.”

Charles Bukowski — man of outrageous daily

routine, curious creature of proud cynicism and

self-conscious sensitivity, occasional pessimist

with a heartening view of the meaning of life —

had a singular way of conveying immutable

wisdom in his seemingly simple, often crude,

but invariably expressive verses. His 1992 poem

“air and light and time and space,” found in

the altogether fantastic anthology The Last Night

of the Earth Poems, is a poignant and soulful

reminder that “inspiration is for amateurs” and

grit is the real key to creativity — or, as

Tchaikovsky famously put it, “a self-respecting artist must not fold his hands on the

pretext that he is not in the mood..”

AIR AND LIGHT AND TIME AND SPACE

”– you know, I’ve either had a family, a job,something has always been in thewaybut nowI’ve sold my house, I’ve found thisplace, a large studio, you should see the space andthe light.for the first time in my life I’m going to havea place and the time tocreate.”

no baby, if you’re going to createyou’re going to create whether you work16 hours a day in a coal mineoryou’re going to create in a small room with 3 childrenwhile you’re on

11/12/2013 11:38Charles Bukowski on the Ideal Conditions and Myths of Creativity, Illustrated | Brain Pickings

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labors of love welfare,you’re going to create with part of your mind and your bodyblownaway,you’re going to create blindcrippleddemented,you’re going to create with a cat crawling up yourback whilethe whole city trembles in earthquake, bombardment,flood and fire.

baby, air and light and time and spacehave nothing to do with itand don’t create anythingexcept maybe a longer life to findnew excusesfor.

Now, the fine folks of Zen Pencils — who have previously illustrated such

cultural treasures as Bill Watterson’s timeless commencement address on

creative integrity have adapted Buk’s beautiful poem into one of their signature

comics:

11/12/2013 11:38Charles Bukowski on the Ideal Conditions and Myths of Creativity, Illustrated | Brain Pickings

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must-reads

11/12/2013 11:38Charles Bukowski on the Ideal Conditions and Myths of Creativity, Illustrated | Brain Pickings

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HOW TO FIND YOUR PURPOSE AND DO

WHAT YOU LOVE

FAIL SAFE: COURAGE AND THE CREATIVE

LIFE

FAMOUS WRITERS ON WRITING

HOW TO STAY SANE

CULTURAL ICONS ON THE MEANING OF LIFE

11/12/2013 11:38Charles Bukowski on the Ideal Conditions and Myths of Creativity, Illustrated | Brain Pickings

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ALBERT EINSTEIN ON THE SECRET TOLEARNING ANYTHING

THE BEST BOOKS OF 2012

THE DAILY ROUTINES OF FAMOUS

WRITERS

5 ESSENTIAL BOOKS ON FEAR AND THE

CREATIVE PROCESS

10 TIPS ON WRITING FROM DAVID OGILVY

Complement with Buk illustrated by the great R. Crumb.

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11/12/2013 11:38Charles Bukowski on the Ideal Conditions and Myths of Creativity, Illustrated | Brain Pickings

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9 BOOKS TO HELP YOU READ MORE AND

WRITE BETTER

JOHN CLEESE ON THE 5 FACTORS TOMAKE YOUR LIFE MORE CREATIVE

JOAN DIDION ON KEEPING A NOTEBOOK

100 IDEAS THAT CHANGED GRAPHIC

DESIGN

7 MUST-READ BOOKS ON THE ART &SCIENCE OF HAPPINESS

72188

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11/12/2013 11:38Charles Bukowski on the Ideal Conditions and Myths of Creativity, Illustrated | Brain Pickings

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11/12/2013 11:38Charles Bukowski on the Ideal Conditions and Myths of Creativity, Illustrated | Brain Pickings

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