The mystery of the non-depressed men

According to the World Health Organization, over 450 million people world-wide suffer from some mental illness with anxiety and depression being the most common of these. World wide the situation is similar. In the UK one in 4 women will suffer depression compared to 1 in ten for men. The statistics are similar in other parts of the world. So why do men seem to be less affected? One of the main reasons this would appear to be the case is that men are less likely to report symptoms of depression than women. In addition to the above, depression is growing at an alarming rate and is expected to be the largest killer after coronary disease by 2020. As to how one feels after painting a loser, your egg nog will be even more effective with some brandy.

Loved this article- really interesting to see another door opened into the minds of men. That’s probably why we(women) love ya(guys)!

Or that could just be me.

Men often have women taking care of them, especially artists.

Men aren’t less depressed, their depression just looks like anger or excessive work or sometimes alcoholism or domostic violence. They don’t know they are depressed. All that other stuff you said Robert, I agree with that too. Especially the Grumann canoe, we have one and it weighs a ton, made from old WWII airplanes I think! I like the stern too because you get to be in control. I have to get two of my grandchildren in the bow to go with me to hold it down.

lol, a canoe with the heavier person in front only goes in circles.

MY DEPRESSION IS ALLEVIATED WHEN I PAINT A WORK THAT I AM PROUD OF.UNLIKE ROBERT,S COMMENT ABOUT SENSE OF COMMUNITY, WHAT WORKS HERE IS A FEELING OF ACCOMPLISHMENT BETWEEN ME AND ME.

Maybe it is because women deal in emotion, I just paint what I feel, and men are more linear, dealing in facts and information, thereby understanding the process and being able to re-produce their process time and again. Understanding has set me free. I do agree about the being social part in that I am a member of a small group of plein air painters. This social interaction has become very important to my well being as an artists and painting outdoors has accelerated the development of my process. I am off to the studio now. Hi ho, hi ho.

Thanks for this timely article, Robert. I had no idea you do battle with the “black dog” because you seem to accomplish so much – churning out paintings in addition to this terrific blog. How do you push through the despair? I ask because I suffer from depression and it’s impossible to work under its terrible weight; motivation and excitement about any visual imagery just goes out the window.

The reason more women artists are depressed is because they aren’t in the back of the boat…meaning that they aren’t in control. It’s control that makes you less stressed. Women artists have more home and family responsibilities that pull them away from their art. It’s much more frustrating to be a woman artist and have society respect what you do. A man who paints is automatically respected. His wife accommodates or even supports his passion. Society assumes he’s serious, not just playing around with his art. A woman who paints is assumed to be a crafter, a hobbyist, not serious. She’ll stop to raise children, to care for sick parents. It would be a rare husband who would clean the house, grocery shop, and cook meals so his wife with a day-job could spend time on her “hobby.” This is why women artists are depressed!

Look for non-artist stats on depression in men vs women. I think you will find that we women have a higher percentage, whether artist or not.

I realize that you are using the canoe as an analogy, however I must point out that in most circumstances weight is the practical decision making criteria in deciding positions in a canoe. Only when the woman is heavier than the man and is still in the bow do you have a reason to question the role of gender bias. Perhaps when gender bias is assumed without considering obvious practicalities it points out another more contemporary problem.

An old art professor of my acquaintance, when often asked what was the best thing he ever painted, would always say, “The last one”. Is this the ultimate cure for depression?

Maybe it is the illusion of control both in the canoe and in the studio that affects bouts of depression. I paddle in the front, but often take out a single kayak for that control fix. The lakes are presently frozen here, so rum and eggnog replaces the kayak. Cheers

This year I had a little extra money and decided to buy myself a Christmas present. I chose to purchase your book: Robert Genn The Twice-Weekly Letters. I have been trying to save the e-mails from you that have affected me the most. Although I saved them, I never went back to re-read or apply them to my own needs.

The new year hasn’t even started yet and I am well on my way to using your book to launch me into 2010 with new resolve. Thank you for giving me such a gift of yourself. You have made my life much more directed through the creative process in my own studio.

By having your book, I have your words at my fingertips. I am reading and contemplating what you have said. It is making a difference by putting painting in the foremost part of my mind.

I have never met you. I feel you are an extraordinary man who gives encouragement to even those you have never seen. Thank you for sharing your wealth of knowledge.

Remaining forever your student.

Maybe it’s because women think more than men. I get an idea and I go for it. My wife/business manager, thinks about it, analyzes it, dissects it, ponders about it, worries about it, examines it, scrutinizes it and generally views it from all possible angles. Sometimes it easier being simpler.

Don’t undervalue your sense of humor either! It definitely comes out in your writing.

I am neither a psychiatrist nor MD; but as a management consultant, I worked with thousands of men and women over a period of many years, and observed that almost invariably men see “the glass half-full” whereas women see it “half-empty”. That is to say men are optimistic. Women, if not pessimistic, tend to be watchful or fearful of the potential for problems to arise. (“Soon the glass shall be empty; and then what will we have to drink!”)

In the score of art workshops I have attended, women tend to be far more self-critical than males. They also tend to be humble about their artistic results; even pointing out the flaws they see. Men are more likely to hold up their painting, smile, and ask “How do you like this?” (Note, “like”, not “think about”.)

From this, I conclude: Women seek affirmation by setting a low self- judgement and wish you to reassure them that in fact their work is quite good. Men start with the expectation that in fact their work is good and you will confirm that.

I suspect there are many causes of depression. And I believe a higher percentage of women suffer from it than males. If so, I think it is because they assume or have placed upon them greater responsibilities than men. Until recently they were considered “the weaker sex”, had fewer educational and employment opportunities, carried the burden of pregnancy and child rearing, did most of the house work, and suffered the most from our growing rate of divorce. That would depress me too.

Thank goodness that so many women and men have escaped or significantly reduced their level of depression through artistic expression — painting, poetry, music, and theater. MICHAEL

PS: We all need to do more to help people who suffer from mental illness. Please.

You are onto something here, Robert. But…I like to sit at the back where I can slack and not paddle (and not listen to comments about my paddling style). Also it’s so much fun to yell commands at the guy in front!

Joking aside, I did notice that my depression always follows unhappiness about losing control. Every once in a while, from some reason, something seems very important to be in control of, and when that goes south, so does my spirit. I am lucky to be able to bounce back before it get’s too bad, but it would still be nice to somehow harness that beast. I don’t think that I have ever been depressed any other way.

I read somewhere about an experiment where two rats who have been in a fight were left to dwell where they can see each other. The losing party always died very soon. But, if they are separated so that they can’t see each other, the loser recovers. I don’t know if this is true, but I know that my health was at it’s worst when I worked for a “boss from hell”.

Why men are less depressed? They either tend to be the winner rat more often that women, or they are smarter losers and get out of sight.

Perhaps one contributing factor toward more depression among women who participate in the arts is that we women still run into gender discrimination that doesn’t touch our male colleagues. I have two artist friends, both women, whose first names are easily confused as male: Cyd and Dale. Both have had the demeaning experience of a painting of theirs judged with strong positives until the gender mistake was revealed, at which point the opinion of the art’s quality was unaccountably downgraded. Interesting. Often subtle. But very real.

Yes, men generally are at least somewhat if not a whole lot deluded vis a vis their “greatness” and maybe it is the glue that holds them together. Is it the old male ego? Does it come from women being honest with each other about their anxieties etc, feeding the feeling of inadequacy.? Hmmm. Love to hear what others say. YOUR letter picked me up!

I read your letter with great interest today because I have long noticed that women artists have much less confidence than male artists. Consequently, they are more prone to doubts and depression about their work and worth. For almost 40 years I have tried to improve my paintings because I find them inadequate. I figure I don’t have enough years to live in order to make those slow improvements that usually come with time. Certainly, I am one of those female artists who lacks confidence and gets depressed. For a few years I have been teaching watercolors and spending time with more accomplished painters. I have observed the almost universal lack of confidence exhibited by beginning, intermediate and advanced female painters. At the same time, it is glaringly obvious that men don’t take classes. I have never had one male student. Most of my students seem to need much more encouragement than actual painting instruction.

In a general sense; it’s truly not a mystery why more women artist (or most women of any field) tend to struggle more with depression. The demand of the nurturing gender forces women to spread their energy around to everyone and everything except to themselves and ultimately their craft. The sense of responsibility and often feeling juxtaposed to personal commitments can affect both male and female of course but unlike the male, the female will tend to put herself last – hence, a lack of self-expression and self-fulfillment. The plight continues.

But shouldn’t all artists paddle their own canoes?

I’ve always chalked it up to the fact that mens brains start shrinking at age 40 and womens don’t. This according to a doc I worked for at one time. They continued in the “less worried” path…

I suspect the ratio of depression is higher in women artists than men because women artists (among others) are probably serving the egg nog, shopping for it, washing the glass, putting dinner on the table…..shall I go on or do you get my drift…? How about a study asking the happy artist men if they have a woman taking care of their basic needs and allowing them the freedom to pursue their art…

As a rule, boys play more sports than girls, so early in their lives they get lots of practice losing games. There’s a theory that practice and familiarity with defeat helps boys to become more emotionally resilient, willing to take risks, able to roll with whatever punches life hands them. Now that there are more opportunities for girls to get involved with sports when they’re young, female artists might be as cheerful as male artists in the future. I just paddled my kayak 115 miles down the Suwannee River with Paddle Florida with 54 other people. Cheered me right up.

In regard to the research about gender-differentiated depression in those engaged in cultural activities: Your canoe analogy is wonderful. I think the traditional marriage is that way, too, with the man in control, and the woman providing the impetus. Speaking for myself, when I was a wife, my creativity was definitely inhibited or out-and-out prevented by my sense of obligation to my wifely duties and by my husband’s attitude. I was too busy propelling our lives to direct them or to create. In a completely different relationship now, not playing the “wife” role, my creativity directs my canoe, with the motivating power often coming from my partner. We take turns in the bow, sucking in the mosquitoes! Thanks for all the wonderful food for thought, throughout the year.

Dear Robert,

Artists are always trying to have their voice heard.

While we are generally happy people, artist can have some damage and issues.

MOST artists will tell you that when they are painting, they are their absolute self.

This is where, when all else fails we are together and happening.

This is also where there is a flow of our inner self. There is nothing wrong with expressing your feelings.

It is just sometimes our feelings are sad.

I was told once that I would cry my tears in my paintings. I have painted about friends who have passed away from Aids.

And I have celebrated through painting, this thing we call life.

I find the mixing and colours and the glide of a pigment loaded brush across a canvas very soothing.

The worries of the day seem not so tangled when i am painting.

While the tears are less these days, there is always water in the well.

Maybe that is just me.

John Ferrie

Painting in the studio is like being with a good friend. It’s not considered an escape, but it sometimes is solace. I rarely finish a painting in one day, so I am in the habit of being hopeful that the painting will turn out well eventually. I have had my share of painting through tears, but there’s even a strange relief in pushing through, and concentrated work eventually shuts out sad thoughts. There is wonder in the act of creating something out of paint; and there is joy in color. I would only be truly depressed if I had no paints or brushes. But then I suppose I would find some other things to make art with. I am thankful my brain steers to the beauty side of life, and try to help others seek that way if they can. -Karen

It is so good to know that some people don’t distinguish between the normal, healthy sadness and deep disturbing depression. May it stay that way for you John and Karen, and I hope that there are many more of you blessed that way. I cheerish my sadness and I fear the black whirlpools of depression, which is an illness that takes many lives.

I agree with the concensus that woman are more likely to get depressed (sad, frustrated, etc…) because of all their additional responsibilities. (and I do understand the difference between depression and sadness -the word is used so frequently for any unpleasant feeling)

When my children were young and I was married my art was considered a hobby to fit in whenever I wasn’t doing all my other duties. I also worked outside the home. Not being able to create made me a very frustrated person. (I imagine a man would be as frustrated as I was if they had had all those responsibilities.) Now with my children grown and no longer having a man to take care of, my art is my life and frustration is almost nonexistent…

And I am not one of those man haters, in fact, I realized that the best way to address my frustration was to ‘act like a man’. In other words, ignore housework, let the children figure it out for themselves, take time for myself and avoid emotionally draining relationships. The ‘trick’ is to not care what others think (a tough thing to do for a woman).

Hey there, I live in Ottawa, and I do not not know this Thelma….I want some cookies and coffee too…..link me up please…thanks

This study seems to speak broadly across the arts, sampling those who participate in artistic/cultural activities. The conclusion “… artistic men are less likely to be depressed than artistic women…” means that statistically more participants in all the arts who were also survey subjects tended to be females. Survey subjects were not necessarily working artists or writers just arts participants and likely not screened for depression before or after arts participation. This demonstrates absolutely no cause and effect relationship between artistic activity, gender and/or depression. Nor would the study likely be able to differentiate participants who had been prescribed artistic endeavour as an uplifting way to combat pre-existing depression (that could certainly skew results as women are more prone to join both arts and help networks than men). Hence the survey could easily be showing that more women are doing something about depression than men). The actual difference in percentage was not given (was it 51% more women or 55% ?). Now, since more men are found in sports arenas than in arts arenas … if the survey had a sports participant focus one wonders what gender bias towards depression might emerge. In any case, statistical conclusions should never be allowed to affect an individual’s personal journey, so treat it lightly everybody. I can definitely see that since serious women artists (as other Genn letters have revealed) are under represented in major galleries that might be a bit depressing as it curtails careers and deeply affects egos. However, in “art club/guild” galleries that ratio is rather the opposite but less prone to be hard on egos because generally fewer men join most clubs and, in any case, genders should always be represented proportionally in these things … anything else would be unfair. One cautionary note: do not mistake your justified feeling of disappointment at a days sub-standard work in the studio for “depression”. It may be pique, anger or the blues but it is not “depression”. Clinical depression is a specific condition not one or two days of feeling sorry for yourself or mad or disappointed. This jump to invoke the term”depression” (and medicate for it) at the drop a hat … or paint brush … is all too common in today’s interplay of societal and medical realms. {e.g. To be offered anti-depressants because you just broke your leg is stupid … of course you feel bad, you have a broken leg and it hurts and it is not going away that is not being “depressed”. This happened in our family.} We have to remind ourselves that feeling bad about being battered by circumstance or inability to perform up to your best at every outing is natural and not to be taken seriously unless it persists. No olympic high jumper in history (or herstory) has ever jumped higher with each subsequent attempt. No, they just jump high (impossibly high to us non-jumpers) sometimes clearing the bar sometimes not. Once in a while they outstrip their best often they fail but in any case, they simply prepare for the next attempt accepting that a record or a failed attempt is just part of the process, an inevitability to be expected in a lifelong endeavour. Not a bad attitude for artists. Sub-note: if you roll art sales into your equation, you may become depressed if too much is left hanging unsold. If you do not withhold your ‘faux dandies’ you may contribute to the problem and that could get … well … depressing. Better to think of the sub-standard work as a study and just get on with the ‘real’ painting tomorrow. If you are one who paints impossibly well in the eyes of hobbyists and students, the call between real and faux dandies may be more difficult, only you can say. My New Year’s resolution is to paint more. (Poorly still, but more often to seek improvement, and always, hoping like every golfer to hit a hole-in-one.) Happy New Year everyone, keep looking forward not back.

In my group studio of mostly women artists, we often quote that old saying, “Every artist needs a wife.”

I began to paint with knives this last summer… I painted almost every day and had a ball. It was almost a frenzy of painting. Not everything was a ‘keeper’ but I learned from them all in one way or another. We finished up the summer with a wonderful 3 day workshop and then… I surely lost my muse. I have had a great deal of trouble getting it going again. I even thought about putting it all away and doing something else… like quilting, which I do enjoy. But then along came Christmas and I was presented with two $100 gift cards for art supplies… sigh… so I suppose I will get busy and paint again. I even plan to sign up for the ‘Wednesday Art Club’ at the college. Who knows, maybe my muse is hiding behind my studio door. pat

I used to think I was one of the non-depressed men. Read all the above and now I think maybe I’m depressed too.

Happy New Year everyone. :)

I wonder if you had considered one reason for the differences noted between men and women is that women have so little time to devote to art, given their roles as wives and mothers. That can be depressing in itself, especially when you churn to do something but cannot manage a satisfying block of time to really devote yourself to creative expression. Our devotion to families does require most of our time for so many years. It is why I stand in genuine awe of women who have been able to manage two demanding pursuits simultaneously: family and their personal creative path.

I enjoy your letters immensely. Thank you for sharing so much with your growing community of artists and friends. When the day starts with one of your newsletters, it is inspired!

Happy New Year.

Maybe your reverse psychology you use on yourself will help us female artists. From now on when I have finished any artwork and I know how un-dandy it is I’ll call friends to let them know how great my finished masterpiece is and then see how ‘out of a funk’ I can become.

Garrison Keillor, being Norwegian, (I enjoy his Norwegian Bachelor farmers) may automatically be less depressed. He is a masterful story teller and innovative writer. He also has a very full life with many people who care about him, regardless of his commenting on his bad hair.

Coincidentally, yesterday I received an e-mail from a friend and aspiring artist living in Wisconsin, in which she wrote the following:

“In the free time that I have, I want to create and improve. I need to find the balance of being a wife, friend, artist, daughter, sister, aunt, dog owner, teacher, traveler, gardener, reader and day dreamer.”

Now in some thirty-odd years of talks, debates and correspondence with artists, all professional, the majority male, I have never heard a man say (or write) anything like this! Men might admit having trouble finding enough time to do what they want to do, but they don’t seem to be juggling to balance the various demands on their time. Is it because they don’t find life complicated (because there’s a wife to take care of things so that hubby-the-artist can do what he needs to do) or because they simply don’t think along such lines? On the other hand, the Norwegian researcher may have simply misread their data! We all know examples of fallacious research results, so why not here?

Back in the days when I was feeling my way around in painting I could explode if I came up against a brick wall; breaking a brush or two or chucking the painting from my car probably dispelled possible depression. Since then I’ve learned to not judge too quickly nor too harshly, to close the studio door behind me, have a coffee or a short hike with the dog, before taking a peek at the painting. It happens that when I think I’m “going with the flow” and the painting is rolling along nicely, I’ll discover I was in the wrong lane all the time, while on other occasions a crummy bit of fieldwork turns out to have enough going for it to continue the work. You cannot often immediately assess whether the done deed is good or bad; a little time lets you see that it might not be what you thought you’d get, but that it’s actually better! Then there’s this: if you can’t get what you want today, there’s always tomorrow!

Groningen, Netherlands

I always enjoy reading your letters and save many of them to read a second and third time. This time I can’t resist adding something: I am a woman artist living with a man artist (my husband, Enzo). OK, going with your ideas on “he’s a legend in his own mind” just for fun here are quotes from my husband upon MY getting up one morning and stripping the sheets off the bed to wash them: ” what…they were just getting broken in, you mean we have to change them every week….” or about leaves piled up outside the front door so that you cannot walk in without crunching through them….”I didn’t notice”…..or when I walk in the door after working in town all day(he’s retired from teaching and is still a full time artist)….”whats for dinner?” innocently of course. Now, we women love these artist men and admire not only their energy and determination to get that piece done or have that show in that coveted space, gallery, museum or whatever but behind the scenes there are many long hours spent cleaning and organizing life so that the creativity has room to occur. Culturally speaking, it doesn’t matter how much skill in the arts a woman has, our western (and eastern)culture still manipulates her into the “keeper of the hearth”

and we watch our personal opportunities slip away as we clean the kitchen after cooking dinner (metaphorically speaking of course). all women know the rest of the story though the specifics may vary: if you try to stick up for your self, ie, ask for personal time or space, you’re selfish, if you are firm, you’re a bitch, what men and children want and demand is “be nice,” pay attention to me…..

Perhaps you can ask your readers to weigh in here? Is it only my artist women friends here that notice this? Or are there others?

This message is to Gayle… you hit the nail on the head. I do not like the looks I get when I announce that ‘I’m painting today’… it as if I said I was leaving town. So I usually back down… get frustrated and fret… vicious cycle. pat

Gayle — I understand you 100 per cent. Robert I was surprised that the ‘wife role’ didn’t pop into your mind. I do know men who are aware of Gayle’s (and others) point of view. Not many. And not many men who are aware of how needy they are and how much of our energy is expected to go toward nurturing of every description. I am a woman artist married to a male artist. I’m not whining– I guess it will be taken as that — but I’m pretty tired of the fight for time while at the same time, taking care not to damage the male artist’s self esteem. )Nobody likes to know they are so reliant on another.) And the compliments about how hard HE works on his art! I’m not giving up but just yesterday I determined to fight for my minutes!

If women artists had wives, I doubt they would be as depressed.

I’m have a wife, and I’m depressed

I am so glad to hear of someone who appreciates Garrison Keillor! There was a time when he had a radio program here in the States and I agree with you, he lifted my spirits many a time after listening to his stories.

Alas, I can no longer find him and do miss his repartee and wisdom.

My two cents on the depression of women goes like this. Most (men) artists are a classic example of ignorance is bliss. Men are born and ingrained with the knowledge that they are going to experience hard knocks in life and are trained from an early age that rejection is part of the game, so buck up and shut up.

Being less verbal by nature, this is a perfect attribute and allows us to move forward knowing full well we will fail at many of the things we attempt and that failure is part and parcel of what it means to be a man. Along with this is also the knowledge that we keep getting up and trying again and again.

Women on the other hand don’t take failure and rejection well due to the unfortunate misguided teaching of parents who told them every day of their young lives that they are sugar and spice and everything nice and underneath little is expected of them. They are the apple of daddy’s and mommy’s eye and Oh! aren’t they the prettiest thing you’ve ever seen in that pink dress. When the fairy tale ends women find themselves on a precarious perch without a safety net. Real life is not what they were told life to be.

I don’t know if this has changed much and we do expect different things from boys than from girls. Some one somewhere will have to break the mold and we will have to rethink what we teach our young men and women. Until that happens, depression may remain primarily with women more than men

As with all sensitive subjects discussed here there is little time or space to cover everything well if at all. This is a situation of our own making.

The fact is women are nurturers by nature as was intended. Men were fashioned to be the protectors and hunters. I think this fact is very obvious if we take the time to look our physicality.

I know this concept has been torn asunder and reality today has things turned upside down and sideways with women taking a more dominant role.

If we are to continue to exist as a species, women still need to be the nurturers and keep the home in all that that may mean while men try and find a way to support the family women by nature must have.

I know in some “modern” households men stay home and women now hunt and gather. But this is a relatively new concept of the world we now find ourselves. If you listen to the modern women there is little reason for a man except to plant a seed and nothing more. This is a dangerous chauvinist attitude held by some feminists that demeans a man’s role as husband, father, companion and supporter. Because women have more exposure doesn’t mean men need to disappear from sight.

There were very valid reasons men dominated the work place in the past. When women were pregnant someone had to provide. When children needed suckling, men had to provide. Until nature decides men can have uteri, women will have to carry the staff on child bearing and nurturing.

Now that men have given women the liberty and freedom to be all they can be in life and the workplace, men get kicked in the teeth and are told we are codependent misfits who only want our laundry done and dinner on the table. There are and have been many men who produced art without a women by their side. Those who chose to become artist and mother pay a price. But it is by choice. Men are not given that choice. Come hell or high water, we have to provide and hunt in the best way we can.

So while women mother artists are kicking their husbands remember they provide you the luxury of being able to paint at all in a home that still needs to be paid for. This may not be the case in some homes but it is in many still today.

As I said at the outset there isn’t enough room in this blog to expound but I had to say this to feel good about myself.

My first comment was lost because I forgot to add up those numbers at the bottom. So here goes again:

Oh Richard, oh lordy lordy lordy. We are talking here about ARTISTS and why women artists just might be a bit depressed. We all know how we evolved from hunter gatherers and why roles were divided as they were. Anyway we THINK we know. I haven’t seen anything like a wild rant here, just a few women have tried to describe the difficulties specific to our gender. So, in your view, a woman who does this is a crybaby who isn’t grateful enough for the bread on her plate? And saying this makes you feel good about yourself? Oh lordy lordy.

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again- Thank God I’m gay!

I do have a male roommate- but I don’t have to take care of him! And he doesn’t have to take care of me- either. We are both quite capable of taking care of ourselves- and we both clean and cook and do our own laundry- as well as work and everything else- and while we may both be living in the same house- there are no romantics involved. Some things we do together- many we don’t. And there are no wives and no children. Thank God!

The whines of hetero men who think ‘wives’ exist to nurture and take care of them and their children- please… spare me. Grow up. Some of those responsibilities are yours.

The whines of hetero women about how they are expected by everyone on the face of the planet to take care of everybody- really- if you want to change this paradigm- then change it. You are so totally bought into it yourselves you think it is what is. It isn’t. Get over it and make up your own damn rules for your existence.

If you all want to have children then do so- but assume total responsibility for that decision and negotiate a better sharing of responsibilities. And if you don’t want to have children- then don’t- but stop with the hormone defense. It’s way childish. And you hate it when your men try to use the same defense about their sexuality that you tend to have less and less interest in over time.

And for you women- many of whom work- I can guarantee that I can find you somebody’s ‘wife’ somewhere that thinks it is her God-given right to marry a rich man who WILL take care of her. This archaic belief structure is still being propagandized into little girls every day of our current 2010 lives.

I’m a nurturer and a caregiver- and a male- and I’ve been suicidally depressed over succeeding financially as an artist. In this day and age everybody gets depressed form time to time by unmet expectations. It’s time for it all to change. So change it. I did.

Thank you for featuring talented portrait artist Adrian Gottlieb’s work in your blog. I am the model who posed for this painting about 3 yrs ago. I have worked as a fine art figure and costume model in Los Angeles the last 10 yrs. I have worked with some of the most revered painters around such as Mian Situ, Jeremy Lipking, Morgan Weistling, Ryan Wurmser, Steven Assael, David Leffel, etc. Each journey with an artist is a collaborative experience of soul, passion, and spirit. I had the blessed experience of working with Mr. Gottlieb on three consecutive paintings (this painting “The Parisian” owned by private collector’s Jon and Kristin Barren in Los Angeles, CA was the 2nd). Mr. Gottlieb allowed me to share the experience with him and was atune to my abilities and artistry as the model. He shared my view that the model is vital to the creative process and allowed my personality to become part of the tapastry of his talented brushwork. The result was the stunning imagrey you see before you. I would have to say this painting and the 3rd we collaborated on “Nimbus” are the closest works I have posed for that represent me as a person. It is an honor to see you all share my praise of his talent and even more of an honor to be able to work with the artist himself.

Regards,

TC