Vasilii Maslov | Art is Not Born From Happiness

Vasilii Maslov, also known as Butttercut, was born and raised in Russia, but after the start of the war, has moved, and has since lived in several countries. He is a graphic designer and engraver with a deep fascination for medieval architecture and art, which has led him to the engraving style of graphics. We are delighted to welcome him for a guest spot on our blog, where he tells us how his personal experiences have impacted his output as an artist, the process behind his latest linocut release, and why he believes ‘art is not born from happiness’.

Do you think Vincent Van Gogh would have painted his outstanding canvases, Ernest Hemingway would have written dozens of great literary works, and Whitney Houston would have recorded worldwide hits if they were happy? This is a good topic for discussion, in my opinion.

It seems to me that art in its original form is a way to express emotions. All experiences, losses, problems, and suffering find a way out in art, in all its manifestations. Someone turns words into poetry, someone draws graffiti on the walls. There will always be one answer to pain.

There are undoubtedly hundreds of examples in the art world of artists, musicians, architects, and other artists who, despite their success and fame, suffered from unhappiness or internal struggles. This can be caused by a variety of factors, including depression, anxiety disorders, self-esteem issues, or even dissatisfaction with their own creativity. It becomes part of the personality and part of the art.

I am sure that a happy person, sitting down to a blank canvas, will leave it blank. On the other hand, are there people in our world who are absolutely happy?

After the start of the war in Ukraine and my departure from my homeland, I had to wander and live in different countries. And I can’t live a day without remembering what I lost. My family, my home, my animals. And I notice how my feelings come out of me. Sometimes I want to write poetry, sometimes I paint abstract paintings that only show emotions, sometimes I take paint and paint long walls on the street, and sometimes I put a lot of meaning into my prints.

I had to leave three cats that lived with me for several years. Two boy cats and a girl cat. They were all completely different, with different habits and different characters. And I decided to reflect this in my new work.

I really love medieval engravings, so I painted this portrait of my little friends in this style. Cats look and dress like people because to me they were more than just pets. They hold hands and look at me. My cats sometimes quarreled, sometimes fought, but still continued to live with us. Therefore, they hold hands as a sign of eternal friendship. And I have long wanted to draw this to remember them like this.

Art is not always born solely from happiness. While some works may be inspired by joy, contentment, and positive emotions, many other works of art may be the result of more complex feelings, experiences, and emotions, including suffering, pain, grief, anxiety, and even anger.

Art often serves as a way to express, process, and understand various aspects of the human experience, including those that may evoke painful emotions. Many great works of art were created in response to personal difficulties, social untruths, or cultural changes.

Thus, art can arise from any feeling or state of mind, and it often serves as a channel for the expression of the human emotional range.

@butttercut
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