Image Consultant and Artistic Development

THE ARTIST AND HIS IMAGEMany artists hire image consultants today. Examples
Image consultants can help artists understandinclude Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, and Jeff Koons.
themselves and other people. All artists go through aThey invariably hire the consultant during their
three-step process of development. An imagedevelopmental stage, namely the second stage of
consultant, more than a psychotherapist, canartistic development. This is because they want to
shepherd the artist through this developmentalincrease in competence and they wish more success
process.would come their way. To accomplish this, they seek
THE FIRST STAGE OF ARTISTIC DEVELOPMENTto improve their image.
The first stage of artistic development is the initiationMany artists today realize they need a self-defining
stage. This is where an individual experiences someimage. They are not content to be a banker or a
life trauma or develops a desire to express himselfbookkeeper. They don't want that nine-to-five job or
because of some life experience. Usually this is thethat nine-to-five look. An image consultant can be
result of an overbearing older sibling in the case ofconsidered a butler to an artist. The butler helps the
middle and lastborn children. In the case of firstbornsartist. The butler does not boss the artist around.
it is usually a good dose of parental conflict thatInstead, it is the artist who is in control. He hires the
pushes an individual into an artistic career.image consultant to work for him. The consultant
During the first stage, the artist's image of himself isfunctions like a slave, or a mirror. In his capacity as
shattered. Instead of developing along normal linesslave he buys clothes for the artist and shops for
and going into business or banking, an artist has hishim. In his capacity as mirror he gives objective
ego shattered by his older siblings or one or bothfeedback.
parents. This leaves him with a void. That void is filledTHE THIRD STAGE OF ARTISTIC DEVELOPMENT
up with imaginary people, who become the subjectsMastery is the third stage of artistic development.
of poems, stories, and paintings. The artist's ownDuring this stage an image consultant can help the
self-image is also shattered at this stage and heartist secure his position. Many successful artists hire
needs to rebuild it in stage two.image consultants to help them maintain their power.
There are many examples of the shattered image ofThis is akin to an alpha male gorilla letting subordinates
the artist in stage one. James Joyce's A Portrait ofgroom him. The image consultant is not a threat to
the Artist as a Young Man is an example. Stephen isthe secure artist in the third stage. The artist uses
more of a fractal than a coherent persona. Thisthe consultant to further his own goals.
reflects the angst Joyce himself experienced as aExample's of artists who have reached the third
young man after the death of his mother.stage include Truman Capote, Tom Wolfe, and
The first stage of artistic development is one ofHunter S. Thompson. They all had a distinctive look,
transition. During the first stage, the artist is nottoo. Capote wore a hat. Wolfe wears a white suit.
competent. He is in a state of destruction of his egoThompson smoked and drank to excess and carried
and he is in need of religious, psychological, ora gun and wore sunglasses. Their image is so strong
counseling services that do not materialize. His imageit is recognized by millions, even by those who do
of himself is shattered and he is unable to find peacenot read their work.
of mind except through art. This is what propels himTo develop your own artistic image, you need to
to become an artist.realize that you'll probably go through three
THE SECOND STAGE OF ARTISTIC DEVELOPMENTdevelopmental stages as an artist. The first stage is
He develops competence during the second stage.most likely over. You have decided to become an
He begins to reform his self-image. The biographiesartist. Chances are good that you're now in the
of artists from Picasso, to Rembrandt, tosecond stage or the third stage as you read this.
Shakespeare all attest to the development ofThat means you're in the perfect position to hire an
competence during an artist's life. This is the timeimage consultant to help you attain the goals you
when an image consultant could prove to behave set for yourself or to maintain the position you
invaluable.have achieved.