What follows was originally posted by Elaine Schallock (INFJ) as a response to a question about INFJs as artists:
“Art” as it’s typically understood in colloquial terms generally refers to a fairly narrow set of talents primarily limited to expression in the “Sensing” fields (visual arts, musical arts, culinary arts), but I’m not convinced that the term “art” isn’t considerably more broad than that (ie. a skilled doctor performing surgery could be considered “an art” as could a brilliant physicist’s theorizing on laws of the universe). In other words, I’m not entirely clear where science becomes art and/or art becomes science…
But before I lose you in this type of philosophizing, let’s return more appropriately to the question at hand which is ultimately whether art (as you describe it here, which is primarily visual) is exclusively an Se process. In short, the answer is “no.” A finished object (or artpiece) fundamentally contains an idea. You cannot separate the artist’s conception (N) from the artwork itself (S). As an INFJ it can be very compelling to make into tangible reality (S) the visions we’re harvesting in our minds/imaginations (N) in order to give us the illusion of fulfilling the function stack.
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What I would be curious to know, and be honest with yourself, is whether during this process you find it easy to become perfectionistic, stressed out, anxious, and controlling? This isn’t to say that often in the initial stages of an art project there isn’t a lot of excitement and optimism, but for the INFJ, before long, the excitement that we experienced in the “conception” phase begins to wane as stress takes over when the vision fails to meet the expectations we have for its actualization. I, along with other INFJs, have been known to work and overwork a creation because we find it difficult to ever be satisfied with the end product. Then comes the imminent sense of failure, lack of control, and exhaustion (and in the worst case scenario, destruction).
On the rare occassion that the art actually manages to capture the idealism of the Ni conception, that release of psychic libido is so intoxicating that it is enough to cause us to forget the hell we endured to get there – thus starting the cycle all over again. This is analogous to what a gambling addict might experience as he suffers the agony of loss, excessive stress, debt, and anxiety; he may be close to giving up entirely, but when or if he finally wins, the thrill of it puts enough gas in the metaphorical tank to get him through another string of losses (even if, in reality, the wins are not enough to offset the sum of losses over time). So the cycle continues.
Perhaps the most troublesome (and potentially most confusing) aspect of the Ni type as Se artist is the way in which this process manages to “bastardize” Ni into Ne; in other words, rather than Ni acting in its authentic form as a function which extracts a singular theory/meaning from Se phenomena already existing or occurring in the universe, it infuses the universe with a potential idea(s) for an artpiece not yet existing and then attempts to manufacture it. Rather than interpreting what is (Ni) it proffers ideas about what COULD be (Ne). As you can see, this is extremely tricky stuff. And a lot of INFJ’s attempt to rationalize their desire to make art by arguing that their artwork IS an interpretation of what is (Ni). Whereupon I would argue that once one has reached an age where they have generally mastered language and have a good command of vocabulary (the tools of N artists) they can consider putting down the crayons and paintbrushes (the tools of S artists).
This isn’t to say that visual aids are never useful or should never necessarily be employed by INFJs. For the most part these are limited to diagrams as an enhancement to what is written/said but not as the primary channel for expression/interpretation. Again, the line is very fine between using art as an expression of idealism/beauty (Se) and art as an aid for Ni interpretation. If an INFJ can manage to harness the art (as in the example of using it on occassion as an aid or diagram to the written word) rather than let the art control him/her by demanding perfect execution, it could be considered healthy. This is like playing with fire though, and in my experience more INFJs fall into the latter camp.
To bring this full circle, I will say that I believe that producing wisdom/insight (a la Ni) IS, in fact, an artform. It’s an N art. As an N art, as stated above, it requires different tools for expression – abstract tools – tools that cater more directly to the mind than the five senses, namely words. As N dominants we need to work on seeing the CONCEPT as art. That’s our gift – the gift of insight. What ultimately happens is, when we relinquish the desire to control the Se outcome and focus on the theory production, the tension we feel that needs to be reconciled between the outside world (Se) and our interpretation of it (Ni) is slowly lifted, but this time in a sustaining and renewable way. We ultimately make peace with the imperfections of the Se world, not by singlehandedly trying to beautify it by directly adding more art to it, but indirectly – passively – through our interpretation of it.
As a side note, we (as N types) can’t in good conscience bemoan Se types who feebly attempt to give some sort of deep wisdom or insight without realizing that our comparable folly is trying to be superior Se performers (artists, athletes, etc.) It may be a difficult pill to swallow, but the long term effects of breaking the addictive pattern of indulging the inferior function outweigh the brief highs we incur on the way.
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Sarah says
I am INFJ and went to school for art until I hit a wall and couldn’t continue. “Art” since then was soured a bit for me until recently because, as you describe, I was rarely satisfied.
I won’t tell you the whole long story but the short version is I realized that part of my trouble was that I didn’t know what my inner artistic voice was looking for. What made meaning for me as an artist. Who I was as a person connecting to life and art.
Anything I did that was more focused on the form, I was dissatisfied with. Anything that focused on the connection, spark, detail of life, that defining thing of the person or object- that’s when I was more satisfied. I was satisfied because that’s what had meaning for me as a person and I didn’t realize that until recently, just before I turned 36. :-/
Since then, I’ve used that to be more satisfied in taking care of my boys, in creating graphics, and exploring more in my artistic expression.
Rather than avoiding art, I am now embracing it and know what I’m looking for in it, because I know who I am and what has meaning for me in art and life. :)
INTP married to INFJ says
Disclosure; I’m an INTP married to an INFJ artist (she was art major in college at least) for many years, here are my observations seeing it from the outside, and from a perspective of Ni/Ne.
Art clearly is a very difficult and desirable field for INFJ’s, both in my personal experience and internet reports here and elsewhere; it’s an activity that INFJ’s deeply want but the evidence is that they find it hard or impossible to fulfill. My observation is that it’s too easy to fall into an inferior crutch, in the form Elaine describes here and in other ways. They do this by either never starting (actually making art), or if they do start the process spirals out of control. Notice these are characteristics of an inferior domain activity.
So my observation is that INFJ’s should _not_ take up art in a serious way as a career choice or life purpose, but keep it in the hobby category. Is that harsh? Maybe, but it’s hard to argue with the evidence. Unfortunately INFJ’s have an extremely difficult time swallowing this pill, it seems more than other types they they learn they aren’t made to indulge their inferior activities as much as they would like. Like a Greek Hero, for all their amazing insight into others INFJ’s can have a lot of difficulty in understanding themselves in my estimation, and in particular with their relationship with Se.
Srinivasan says
Great article. I chose to pursue a career as a professional athlete but never really fit in with the S types. Now I know why. But through my study of Jungian psychology over the past year I understood many things about myself and that has helped me greatly in improving myself as an athlete. The most important thing I would like to say is if you are an artist or athlete infj, drop the perfectionist tendency asap. You will start to deeply enjoy it, just like I do now.
Srinivasan says
Learn to relax when you are in the S domain. It’s possible. I can do it at will now.
Subaru says
How do you think Fe factors into this? I think I’m an infj and I’m an artist…in the loosest term, I approach it more as a hobby but ..it sells.
I ask about Fe because I’ve seen art described as a good Fe exercise for INFJs to channel their emotions, out into the world. And this is how I find I use art. It’s more about emotional outpouring, than Ni visions. It’s more of a fluid, responsive state, than a perfectionistic one, I’d liken my state when indulging in art to that of punching a punching bag, and there really isn’t room for my perfectionistic tendencies in that kind of Se action. So, it seems to me, more of a Fe/Se thing, than a Ni/Se thing. And in that regard I thought it was a good way of engaging my auxiliary function, which I do tend to neglect.
All of this said, I do understand what you’re saying, and it might even be quite profound for me. I’m processing. ;)
K. says
Thanks for this very interesting article! I’ve been looking for information about INFJ artists for a while.
I agree that it’s a little harsh though. I’m an INFJ artist myself, I earn a living with my art, so I assume other people find it good enough to buy it and that it is a possible path for an INFJ.
Just a quick word about my personal journey: I’ve always drawn (mainly humain characters) and I think I was quite good at it, even as a kid (according to my classmates). Later, I studied art and I graduated as the best student in my year. Since then, I work as a freelance artist, and it goes quite well except — you guessed it — I wasn’t satisfied. At all.
A few years ago, I tried to change my style from a realistic human figure to more abstract compositions. I intended to use them as patterns for home accessories and sell them. It was a complete disaster, and it took me years to realize. I was never happy with anything, and I can only write about it now, because I know it’s behind me.
Then I understood that I failed because my attempt was to make meaningless art. Creating beautiful patterns to respond to an audience and sell as much products as I can is not art, it doesn’t have a message, it’s empty. I discovered at that time that I’m an INFJ and it helped me understand that I could never be happy with such an activity. Every good piece of art starts with a good reflexion, but I think it’s even more important for INFJs than for the other types.
So I got back to my realistic human figures, and I am working as hard as I can to make them say something about what it is being a human in the 21st century. It might be harder for me than for an Se to draw in a realistic way, but to be honest, I don’t really find it hard to make a connection to the outside world and was surprised to read that Se (Extraverted Sensing) was my (our) Inferior Function. My mother is very down to Earth and always helped me to enjoy the small things in life, such as a good meal, the wind on my face and so on, so maybe it still helps today, I don’t know.
During my spare time, I also started painting. I make abstract art, but for a reason, with a message that I’m happy to explain whenever I’m asked to.
I hope this comment will help other INFJs who feel, like me, the need to create. I think my mistake has been to let down my natural artistic preferences, it made me lose a huge amount of precious time. It might be harder for an INFJ to achieve a self-satisfying result, but with hard work it’s possible and I still think it’s worth a try. Just keep in mind to express something that really matters to you.