For days when you are feeling not-so-creative: try one of these great movies about artists. Here are your guide's picks of inspiring viewing, true and not-so-true stories about artist's lives, and visually rich cinema experiences. Some old, some new, some classic, and some a little strange.
1. The Draughtsman's Contract
Peter Greenaway's movies aren't for the faint-hearted. This one has an R rating, but if you are old enough to watch it, and not offended by sex scenes, it is a cinematic masterpiece well worth watching. Anthony Higgins is brilliant as the draughtsman whose contract to provide a noblewoman with 12 drawings of her house. Their agreement sees him become involved in a mind-bending game of intrigue to which the drawings are the key, with a violent twist.
2. Lust For Life
Kirk Douglas gives an Oscar-nominated performance in Vincente Minelli's adaptation of Irving Stone's torrid life of Vincent van Gogh. It perpetuates the romantic myth of the tortured artist (some of the best are very well-adjusted, you know!) but is an enjoyable, if not entirely accurate, portrait of a great artist. Made in 1956, some will find it dated while others will enjoy it as a classic.3. The Pillow Book
Starring Vivian Wu and Ewan McGregor, The Pillow Book examines writing, culture and sexuality in Greenaway's visually lush style. Cinematic and literary conventions, calligraphy and bare skin, language and ritual are explored to an eclectic Brian Eno score. Not for the faint-hearted, nor for under-18s, but otherwise essential viewing for artists.4. Pollock
Ed Harris directed and starred in this biopic of Jackson Pollock. Like most 'Tortured Artist' films it focuses on the antisocial and self-destructive habits of the artist, and his struggle with the cultural strip-mining which is the art market; however it does offer some insight into the process of making art and the reality of being an artist.5. Artemisia
This film has been criticised, rightly, for its historical inaccuracy and in particular the romanticising of her rape by Tassi (here a young man, in reality her father's age). However if you can put aside such qualms and enjoy a Renaissance romp focussed on the passion of a young artist for her work, you will enjoy this movie. In Italian with subtitles.6. Camille Claudel
In French with subtitles, starring the gorgeous Isabelle Adjani as the young sculptor. Perhaps the movie inflates her significance as an artist and in the life of lover Auguste Rodin (Gerard Depardieu), but it is a wonderful story. The movie itself is beautifully filmed by Bruno Nuytten (who also directed Manon du Source) and offers some insight into the aesthetics and social mores of the time.7. Sister Wendy's American Collection
For fans of everybody's favourite nun, get the complete boxed set of Sister Wendy Beckett's tour of America's great art collections. A great way to learn more about art history, Sister Wendy's amiable style informs without overwhelming with art jargon. Some don't enjoy her chattiness though, so test out opinions first if it is for a gift.