Psychoanalysis and visual art: a female painter and her dilemma

Since ancient times, creativity, genius, or special artistic accomplishments have been a topic of curiosity. The case presentation that follows describes a painters resistance to success. The patient's developmental history associated with issues of maternal deprivation and paternal abuse had an effect in her artistic creation. Furthermore, her difficulties with achievement and acknowledgment of audience attention were defenses to sabotage her creativity. Her economic struggle was another ingredient used defensively for fear of success. As suggested by Ambers and Burke (2000), artistically inclined individuals have greater fluidity of self-other boundaries, more preoccupation with early separation-individuation issues and are more vulnerable to self-fragmentations anxiety. The patient presented manifests some of these symptoms. However, needing to work full-time to support herself, and painting only in spare time, added to her resistances. V's frustrations, anxieties, and guilt related to her creation are explored.