Keep in mind that I'm an artist....



"....and I'm sensitive 'bout my sh*t...." -Erykah Badu








Have you ever dated an artist and have been puzzled about some of their habits or tendencies? Are you an artist and can't understand why your non-artist mate (or ex-mate likely) didn't get you? Well have no fear, Ms. Naturally Alise is here to enlighten you and sh*t. It's what I do. Wu-Tang AND Alise is for the kids Here we go:


  • Artists are "moody". Look at Tiha. Actually, I think moody is not a good word, so I think I will make one up to add to my personal lexicon. It's what I do. Let's say moodrospective... yeah, I like that. A mix of moody and introspective. A lot of times artists, particularly writers get into a zone and fixate on an idea and forget about being civil, polite, thoughtful, etc... Trust me, 87.7 %* of the time it is not personal. (that's an exact percentage, I interviewed Tiha, the E-posse, the mailman, and my cousin June Bug) Also keep in mind that a lot of artists are stuck in jobs completely opposite of what they really want to do and are therefore not happy in their current situation, that will make anyway a handfull. Look at Tiha (and me, le sigh...).


  • Artists tend to be big flirts, but usually it unconscious. Usually an artist is having to peddle their own wares, so they are CONSTANTLY having to sell themselves (not literally you gutter dwellers) and push their product. Unless of course you are a subpar rapper with big budget promotion and an legion of ass kissers entourage . The phrase starving artist is uttered for a reason. (Dang, I am hungry as a hostage) So to deal with an artist you have to check your petty insecurities and jealousies at the door with your fancy Triple Fat Goose coat. Also you may have to pick up the check sometimes... hi-yoooooooo... I am corny, I know, it is an art.


  • Artists need alone time. If you are overly needy don't date anyone until you get your self esteem together an artist. Especially when we are feeling moodrospective (see I used it already!), sometimes we just need our space, time to breathe, and be creative, like I said, "don't take it personal, take the bitter with the sweet, easy come, easy goooo... " (sorry had a Jermaine Jackson moment, that NEEEEEVVVVVER happens...).


  • Artists need their egos stroked, yet, we do not want to be patronized, we want you to mean it, or at least make it believable. Yet, the funny thing is we will never accept the compliment. Example, my significant other will tell me a poem of mine is great, and I'll say something like, "Well it's okay, you REALLY like it?" ,"What lil' ol' me?," or "Ummmm, I guess, I've done better." Even though we will treat every compliment this way, keep on giving them, we really do like to hear it.


  • Also to piggyback with the ego stroking ....... "I be stroking, that's what I be doin'". (Sorry, had a Clarence Carter moment, that happens ALL the time). Sorry, I lost my train of thought, you know I have no attention span, thanks a lot twitter. But no really, we also like you to ask about our art. Nothing makes us feel better than a genuine interest in what we have going on. Whether it is going to a show, asking about a painting, bringing up a chapter you like in our book, or humming a song we composed, it is always a plus.


That's what I've got for now, do you have any tips for dealing with artists, or if you are an artist what have you dealt with in relationships?

...discuss...

*zipping thru to add my 1.5 ¢, this also applies to friendships. if you are friends with an artist, i sure hope you are low maintenance because low is how much tolerence they have for people who take their attention away from their art... -eysqueen

7 comment(s) thus far...:

Luvvie said...

I aint no artist, but I'm still sensitive bout my sh*t.

amymay said...

Alise!! When did you meet Marc? Moodtrospective mmmhmmm, that's the word for it.

The Pretty Brown Girl said...

only tip i have is that folks need to take ALL of this shit seriously about us. it ain't a game w/our type of folks.

eysqueen said...

couldn't have been put more swell...

Ms_Slim said...

HA! Amazing how accurate this is. This comment is long. My apologies - I'm just going down the line of your bullet points:

I've been called 'moody' for the better part of my entire life lol. Fact is...I'm usually ALWAYS thinking about something and something is always weighing in on my mind. Add to that, I'm just standoffish. I wouldnt call it 'moody' for me but...standoffish definitely.

Flirt? Been called that forever...and I reeeaaallllyyy dont see it. I've been told it's in my eyes. I can't help how my eyes look lol. Only thing I don't agree with for me is the 'starving artist' thing. For me, I 'starve' for inspiration in every artistic thing I am involved with (writing, designing, music, fashion, styling, media arts, and dance), but in the literal form of starving, not me. I'm not broke and I work in my field of interest. Can I be called a 'rare gem'?

Definitely need and value my 'alone time'. So I was with you there. I am the WORST compliment taker. I'm one that's constantly approached/complimented and every time, I'm like, "blaaaahhh". I dont really have an 'unsure' "you REALLY like it?" moment but moreso along the lines of, "oh ok. thanks I guess. So........" and change the subject lol. I'm the worst.

I love it when someone has an interest in what I have going on. As for me with relationships, I've generally held relationships with men that have some kind of artistic passion, so it was always a complimentary element of some sort.

Alright I'm done bloggin on your blog LOL

She Hate Me said...

As an author, I have to say...


I agree. On ALL points. Especially the compliment line. People think I'm trying to feed my ego, when in fact, I'm thinking of ways it could've been better.

And I'm a shameless flirt. So much so, there are times when I don't know that I'm flirting. Case in point, I flirt over Twitter, and I don't know it until it's too late.

I guess it's that imagination part for me, ya know? LOL

Naturally Alise said...

@Luvvie, yu are an artist,an IG artist, but an artist nonetheless, go sat down, anyway i thought you were a "thug"

@Amy ... girl i have one just like it, so i know, you can use moodrospective, i told y'all Alise and Wu-Tang is for the kids so feel free to use at your convenience, lol...

@PBG... hey e-sis, yes i hope people take it seriously bc i meant every single word... we are a special breed, but we keep the world interesting...

@Ms Slim.... you are a rare gem and we appreciate you, bc that is where we are trying to get... a REAL artist and mature person always respects and congratulates when their fellow artists make it happen, it is inspiration and keeps us on our game...

@SheHateMe... I realized i am a twitter flirt to the nth degree, I gotta clean that p a lil bit, oh and I did notice the fact that you are a twitter flirt too.... lol...

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