Creativity and Epilepsy

[jemsister]

There are a lot of creative people in history who are known or suspected to have had epilepsy. Do any of you have a creative streak? I like to draw, write, and crochet. How about you guys?

 

[Nakamova]

You might be interested in this thread...

http://www.coping-with-epilepsy.com/forums/f23/epilepsy-linked-creative-ability-3734/

 

[jemsister]

Thank you! I was trying to search a thread on this, and apparently wasn't using the right key words.

 

[Janus]

Hi, I make art all the time. Mostly welded sculpture at home but found objects assemblage everywhere I go. and like to practice drawing all the time in cafes and such. I struggle with depression though and have times where I simply can not make a thing for stretches. Can't even write about depression. Art also turns me on in a big way. I was reading about DADA art today and got so stimulated that I HAD to make stuff, collage etc. I am visiting a friend in Wisconsin for a few weeks and it is cold. COLD!.

 

[jemsister]

Forced drawing never works for me. I have to be inspired. When I'm inspired, I have so much fun, and can't do anything else for hours at a time. It's like someone flicked a switch and bam. But just as quickly, the switch goes off, and when I try to draw during those times, it all comes out a dud.

 

[MuayThaiFighter]

Painting is really something I would get really into at times. Even after seizures, id have a huge desire to just paint. It would be a struggle but I would always be surprised at how things turned out. I seem to be using better shading, more unique techniques. I guess I step out the of box when i'm in these moods. I know what you mean by having fun for hours. When I found my muse I couldn't will myself to stop painting!

 

[PFunk]

I love to draw. It's usually abstracts in pen or marker with bold contrast and biomorphic forms. I find it very relaxing to have my pen weave with the curves. I'll get on a drawing kick for a few days then take a few off until the urge comes back. I also love to write but it takes much more concentration and is not something I want to do after a long day.

The connection between creativity and epilepsy is the only pro of having it... and in some sense is encouraging.

 

[jemsister]

I generally keep my drawings grayscale, but I sometimes add color. I'm not very good with color, though, so generally I just keep things gray. My favorite thing to do when I'm drawing is gestures. I find it so relaxing.

I agree, writing is lots of fun, but for me it requires me mental energy, so I usually have to wait until I have a big chunk of alone time with nothing else to do. Doesn't happen too often. I have a big story that I chisel away at off and on, and have for years (yeah, I won't be published because I'll never be done! LOL!). I used to write a lot of poetry, but haven't done that in years. I even wrote a poem about seizures, LOL! I'd have to find my poetry binder to remember how it goes... Who knows where the heck that thing is. LOL!

 

[C0nn0rCh0sen]

I write my own music, i produce my own beats and i rap/sing
My best therapy/outlet for emotions is my music.
I have almost completed my first full album if anyone is interested in hearing it?

 

[quiggy2512]

i painted trucks while taking seizures lol for 4 years because i was scared i`d lose my job, fit in paint booth only painter no one allowed in easy to cover up , even now i rebuild classic cars and paint them. i actually won a resortation ribbon at a gathering for the best respray on an mgb gt. i used to play in a band for 13 years but gave that up due to seizures man

 

[quiggy2512]

BTW £16.50 an hour for 130 hours a week was the reason i lived with it with no medication at all just incase you were wondering lol