Welcome
to the beginning of a deeply personal and transformative journey—a journey into the psyche, where art, identity, and mythology intersect. This blog will serve as a behind-the-scenes look at my evolution as an artist, confronting and ultimately transforming a powerful shadow archetype: the Starving Artist. To begin, let’s explore the foundational ideas that will guide this journey.
What Is a Shadow?
The concept of the “shadow” originates from Carl Jung, a Swiss psychologist who believed that each of us carries a part of the unconscious mind that holds the traits, emotions, and desires we’d rather not face. These hidden aspects of ourselves—our shadows—can influence our lives in ways we don’t realize.
Far from being “bad,” the shadow often contains suppressed truths, hidden strengths, and untapped creativity. However, when ignored or misunderstood, it can manifest as self-sabotage, fear, or inner conflict. By engaging with the shadow, we can integrate its lessons, transforming it from an adversary into an ally.
What Are Archetypes?
Jung also introduced the idea of archetypes—universal symbols, patterns, and characters that reside within the collective unconscious of humanity. These archetypes shape how we see the world and ourselves. They appear in myths, stories, and art across cultures, embodying timeless human experiences.
Examples of archetypes include the Hero, the Trickster, the Caregiver, and the Rebel. Each archetype carries its own energy, wisdom, and challenges. They influence our behaviors and beliefs, often without us realizing it.
Being Possessed by an Archetype
Archetypes are powerful forces, and sometimes, we can become “possessed” by one. This happens when we over-identify with an archetype, allowing it to dominate our thoughts and actions. Instead of consciously engaging with its energy, we lose ourselves in its narrative.
Being possessed by an archetype feels like being caught in a story you didn’t consciously choose—living out patterns and conflicts that seem inevitable. But by bringing awareness to the archetype, we can step out of its grip and start to shape the story ourselves.
The Starving Artist Archetype
The Starving Artist is one of the most iconic and romanticized archetypes in the creative world. This archetype represents the belief that true art requires suffering, isolation, and rejection of material success. It’s a figure who sacrifices comfort, stability, and even health in the pursuit of authenticity and integrity.
While the Starving Artist can inspire noble ideals—such as prioritizing passion over profit and resisting consumerism—it also carries shadows of its own:
- Self-Sabotage: Rejecting opportunities for fear of “selling out.”
- Bitterness: Resentment toward those who achieve success without “suffering enough.”
- Isolation: Believing that struggle is the only path to true creativity, leading to loneliness and burnout.
The Starving Artist archetype asks essential questions about the value of art, the role of authenticity, and the relationship between creativity and capitalism. But it also risks trapping us in a narrative of unnecessary deprivation and martyrdom.
My Journey with the Starving Artist
For years, I’ve felt the pull of the Starving Artist archetype—its ideals, its struggles, its contradictions. At times, I’ve been inspired by its defiance of consumerism and its commitment to authenticity. At other times, I’ve felt weighed down by its demands for sacrifice and its disdain for success.
Through active imagination (a process of dialoguing with inner figures and archetypes), I’ve begun to confront the Starving Artist directly. What does it want? What does it fear? What lessons does it offer, and where does it hold me back?
This blog will document that journey—not just my inner conversations, but the tangible ways this archetype shapes my art, my decisions, and my life.
Why Share This Journey?
Art isn’t just about creating objects; it’s about telling stories, questioning norms, and exploring what it means to be human. By sharing my exploration of the Starving Artist archetype, I hope to:
- Demystify the Creative Process: Show the messy, complex, and deeply human side of making art.
- Inspire Reflection: Encourage others to examine their own shadows and archetypes.
- Challenge Norms: Question the systems and beliefs that shape how we value art and artists.
Once Upon a Time there was an Artist Named Garry Sanipass… 
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