Are SPs more prone towards the arts?

[Kayin]

Are a majority of SPs prone to the arts, or does it not matter what you are?

I'm a Musician and I love performing and composing. I also teach Music etc.

[spirilis]

It doesn't matter of course, all types have the capability to do anything--but overall SP's are known to be drawn to the arts, at least by Keirsey's account. It's the Extraverted Sensing (Se) that usually accounts for this, as it gives the type an acute awareness and ability to work well with their immediate environment.

[rhinosaur]

I've always been drawn to the arts, myself. I play guitar, design websites, dance, and occasionally draw. In high school, when I had more time, I was into theater, dance, woodcarving, painting, bead work, and A-V stuff. My friend and I would also write stories together.

Curiously, though, a lot of the SPs here report that they don't care for poetry.

[rhinosaur]

I also teach Music etc.

I really enjoy teaching. It's a skill that I've honed over the years. It's also a performance. You can prepare for a lecture, but when you actually get in front of the chalk board, there is always an element of improvisation involved. It also feels good to share my knowledge with people, just as long as I am humble enough to say "I don't know."

I'm really excited to see more ISTPs on this forum. You sound like an interesting person.

What is your favorite instrument?

[Randomnity]

I draw/paint/etc but not much recently. I've also been involved in music (choir) but I don't like being the centre of attention so I haven't done that recently either. booo. I like crafts too but I get bored with that pretty quickly.

My ISFP bf and ESFP friend are both pretty involved in their band, and are also both going to college for artistic things (website design and related things).

My ISTP roommate plays the guitar and has an insane collection of music.

So yeah they are, in my (fairly limited) experience. but I know a lot of other types who are into the arts as well.

[alicia91]

I'm an interior designer and I also stage homes for realtors. When I had more free time I was also into landscaping, refinishing furniture, floral design, and a little sewing. But I have no real skill in terms of the traditional fine arts like drawing or painting - I do all that on the computer or with drafting equipment.

[Jeffster]

Curiously, though, a lot of the SPs here report that they don't care for poetry.

I wrote a ton of poetry when i was a teenager/early 20's, then just pretty much quit. I write something every once in awhile now, but not hardcore like I did then.

As far as reading poetry, I've never been that into it, but I love music with lyrics, so if you count that, then I'm into it, just not really what tends to be published as "poetry."

[Kayin]

I really enjoy teaching. It's a skill that I've honed over the years. It's also a performance. You can prepare for a lecture, but when you actually get in front of the chalk board, there is always an element of improvisation involved. It also feels good to share my knowledge with people, just as long as I am humble enough to say "I don't know."

I'm really excited to see more ISTPs on this forum. You sound like an interesting person.

What is your favorite instrument?

Well my main instrument is Sax, I play mostly Jazz though I do play a lot of Funk/Rock. I really agree with you about the whole teaching deal.

Sorry If my answers aren't thorough I just got back from a Rehearsal and a Jam Session so I'm kinda tired probably gonna hit the sack soon =P

[Jack Flak]

SPs are prone to virtuosity more than anyone else. They're more content to practice constantly.

[Samuel De Mazarin]

I agree with JackFlak... they've got a better ability to focus on practice and the grueling work it takes to get really good at something...

But on the other hand, as an NT, my affinity for art is extremely strong and I know tons of non-SP's who'd shrivel up and die without art... so I don't think SP's are necessarily more prone towards art, but rather more likely to succeed based on native personality traits.

[SolitaryPenguin]

I've always had an affinity with the arts, pretty much all except for writing. Started playing sax when I was a kid, moved to drums in high school, then guitar, then bass for 11 years. Also drew a lot in grade school, which moved on to painting and sculpture in college. Went to university for film (primarily cinematography) but dropped out to play in a band. Now doing web design and going back to school for interior design. Would love to be a teacher someday, high school digital media if possible. Life is too short :D

[alicia91]

One of my big regrets is not learning how to play an instrument.

[SolitaryPenguin]

There's always time!

[Kayin]

One of my big regrets is not learning how to play an instrument.

If anything, its never too late to learn an instrument. I think I've adopted the term " It's never too late" as a personal motto.

[aguanile]

Kayin, that is a beautiful idea. I am adopting it as my own.

[Kayin]

Kayin, that is a beautiful idea. I am adopting it as my own.

I think its important to live by it. I think more people should take risks.

["?"]

I don't think that art should be confused with Keirsey's term of SPs being artisans.

[Kayin]

I don't think that art should be confused with Keirsey's term of SPs being artisans.

I'm not really confusing the Two I'm just trying to understand better if a majority of SPs are drawn to the arts over other types. I know that other types are in the arts, I'm just trying to understand the tendencies of a certain type.

[alicia91]

That's true. My 48 year-old neighbor is taking druming lessons so you guys are right - never too late. Not sure exactly which instrument I'd like to learn.

[Kayin]

That's true. My 48 year-old neighbor is taking druming lessons so you guys are right - never too late. Not sure exactly which instrument I'd like to learn.

Well, what do you enjoy listening to music wise? and what do you think you would enjoy playing the most? Without the enjoyment of playing it, you might as well give away the money you use to learn it to someone for free ahah.

If I were you, I would pick something you would enjoy playing and picking up when ever. You might wanna try a few instruments to get the feel if you arn't sure.

[ofugur]

the arts is a really broad term. an interest in them is, first-and-foremost, based n the individual personal, then loosely based on type. generally, i think sensing perceivers are more attracted to performance and composing arts, while NFs, NTs enjoy art that involves messages.

in my family:

my ISFP mother loves interior design. she's stated numerous times that stager or interior decorator would be her ideal careers. otherwise, she doesn't do anything else "artistic" or "creative."

my ENFP brother very fine mechanical understanding. he's an excellent (in my opinion) free hand drawer, and can strum for hours-on-end on his guitar. for a long time I thought he was an ESTP, but I think his "life in the moment" attitude comes from his enneagram type (7w8.)

i have average painting and drawing skills, but little patience for it. otherwise, i don't do anything artistic. however, i consider myself to be very sensual. i am easily overwhelmed by beautiful paintings or the photo shoots in fashion magazines. i like romantic and aesthetic period poetry, because i enjoy trying to decipher metaphors.



i have a question for SP's. do you enjoy art purely for the sensation it brings or is there something more personal about it? for example, if i see an ad in a magazine I like, aspects such as color are important, but I'd probably love the romantic possiblities behind the whole thing.

[htb]

From my experience, while SPs don't necessarily have skill, a certain gracefulness tends to inhere. Craft comes naturally to them in a way that it doesn't for the rest of us.

[Kayin]

From my experience, while SPs don't necessarily have skill, a certain gracefulness tends to inhere. Craft comes naturally to them in a way that it doesn't for the rest of us.

So are you saying that SPs have a natural ability for art related tasks?

[Kayin]

the arts is a really broad term. an interest in them is, first-and-foremost, based n the individual personal, then loosely based on type. generally, i think sensing perceivers are more attracted to performance and composing arts, while NFs, NTs enjoy art that involves messages.

Well honestly I love composing and creating things but I also love have a message and or story behind it, thats what separates the hobbiest from an actual artist


i have a question for SP's. do you enjoy art purely for the sensation it brings or is there something more personal about it? for example, if i see an ad in a magazine I like, aspects such as color are important, but I'd probably love the romantic possiblities behind the whole thing.

Personally, I love art for a number of reasons. First and foremost the very fact that art in general is fun regardless of what it is. To know you created something or achieved something and have recognition from peers, family, and friends. To know that the message you put in could have some affect on others and move them in such a way as to change the way they think or perceive a topic or just the fact that its beautiful.

Sometimes in music lets say, you try to capture the moment, you try to capture the energy....It doesn't need to have a meaning....It about the energy not the meaning. But then there is some art and music out there that has a meaning.

Very few art in this world is deep, the reason I say this is because if they are sending a message ( like in most popular music and music that used to be popular ) then they would want you to understand it, so they make it easier to understand and grasp for the general audience......The true music and art that is really deep is something that you can't fully understand, there is too much to grasp only the creator truly knows the meaning......

Some art really moves me and makes me go "wow". Also once you know how hard it is to do something I think you really learn to appreciate things more, but thats another topic. There is just such a wide range of reasons, I think a lot of my reasons may be more personal....I'm not exactly sure.

[SolitaryPenguin]

I love creating, whether it be cooking, painting, drawing, building, organizing, etc. The joy I find is in the task itself, not necessarily the completed project. I can't really go to an art gallery and get all intellectual about what the paintings mean, but I can watch a painter paint and be totally enthralled in the process.

Most of the art I have ever created I subsequently threw in the garbage when I was done. I feel no need to ponder over what I made, I just enjoy the creation itself.

I may be an exception to the rule though.

[Lithium]

I think a lot more is involved than type. Such as oppurtunities and self confidence and outside direction or encouragement. I'm sure a lot of SPs never realize that they have an advantage or end up following something on the basis of the arts not always being considered a valuable direction.

I do have an art and am involved in others but I always wanted to ride motorbikes, since I was a kid I dreamed about it and still have that desire now, but I've never had that chance.

[animenagai]

i'm gonna go against the grain here and say not, or at least not as much as people think they do. SP's yearn for physical experiences, but at the same time they are practical people. i can see them playing an instrument as a hobby or whatever, but definitely not as a profession. that would be more of an NF thing.

[Jeffster]

i'm gonna go against the grain here and say not, or at least not as much as people think they do. SP's yearn for physical experiences, but at the same time they are practical people. i can see them playing an instrument as a hobby or whatever, but definitely not as a profession. that would be more of an NF thing.

Lots of SPs play an instrument as a profession!

Certainly lots don't too though. ;)

[millerm277]

I'd say a majority of SPs have the ABILITY to be good at the arts naturally if they're interested in it.

For me, I have zero interest in doing most "artistic" things. The exception is that I'm starting to get into airbrushing things a bit.

[HomeSlice]

I think a lot more is involved than type. Such as oppurtunities and self confidence and outside direction or encouragement. I'm sure a lot of SPs never realize that they have an advantage or end up following something on the basis of the arts not always being considered a valuable direction.

I totally agree with this, without encouragement and constant prodding, the SP will be generally too lazy to get up and work their artistic magic (I am referring to myself; maybe others as well :P) unless they are simply amazing at it and love what they do.

To add some statistical content to this, me and my 3 sisters who are all SPs have always been ahead of the gang when it came to the visual arts, winning awards and all that crap :yes:

[rhinosaur]

I'd say a majority of SPs have the ABILITY to be good at the arts naturally if they're interested in it.

For me, I have zero interest in doing most "artistic" things. The exception is that I'm starting to get into airbrushing things a bit.

Bingo

Just like I've no doubt I would have the ability to be good at fixing automobiles, if I had any interest in them. (currently I don't, but I might get into biodiesel stuff on my next vehicle.)

[Kayin]

Lots of SPs play an instrument as a profession!

Certainly lots don't too though. ;)

Like me :D

[Kleinheiko]

I've got a lot of natural talent when it comes to music and some other arts, but I can't stand practicing. I dislike busy work.

[mcmartinez84]

Practicing and homework and studying for tests fall in the same awful super boring category. I hate doing them all.

I'm not artistic, although I used to be in a drawing class for a few years back when I was 10-16-ish. I got pretty good, but then my teacher moved away and I never picked it up again. My skills have appropriately deteriorated since then :P

I really want to start playing drums. Back in high school I had to learn drum stuff that the marching band did, and while memorizing the stuff was horrible, I wasn't all bad at it.

I'm completely uncreative 99.99999999% of the time. There's the random ocassion that I can come up with something, but it's certainly rare.

[Jeffster]

I want to learn the drums too. I've always had a good sense of rhythm. Drums or harmonica. I've always thought it was awesome just how much different sounds you can get out of such a simple seeming instrument as a harmonica.

[Kayin]

I've got a lot of natural talent when it comes to music and some other arts, but I can't stand practicing. I dislike busy work.

Well no one truly likes practicing etc. No one in there right mind does but if you truly want to be great at something you I hate practicing but I think of it as a job and try to give myself self motivation to do the tasks, you need to be very disciplined.....

["?"]

From his book PUM II, Keirsey says that, "Art is much more than so-called "fine arts" - music, literature, dance, sculptor, drawing, painting- and must include the theatrical arts, martial arts, industrial arts, athletic arts, medical arts indeed any activity in which successive actions are free vaiables rather than fixed constants."

It's best to consider the term "Artisan" by comparing it to Keirsey's label for NTs "Rationals". Both as Keirsey says are fitters with Artisans having a practical and technique orientation and Rationals having a pragmatic and technology orientation. So again, "art" is merely a root word when it comes to describing SPs, but when Keirsey coined the title for this group he was actually referencing to Plato's greek word 'eikonike', which when roughly translated means artifactor, icon-maker or image-maker.

One of the reasons that Linda V. Berens and Dario Nardi provide their explanation in changing titles of the temperament groups in saying:Having been a student of David W. Keirsey, I began using the names he gave them in 1987. However, we found that these names presented some problems when facilitators helped people figure out their best-fit temperament pattern. Participants in our workshops would often reject the temperament pattern we were calling “Artisan” because they didn’t see themselves as artistic, when being artistic is not the essence of the pattern. At the other end of the spectrum, certain names such as “Rational,” resonated with participants—who wouldn’t want to be called “rational” since its opposite is “irrational.” And in the business world, being an “Idealist” is not highly valued since we have to deal with the “real” world. The names themselves also were contributing to some biases that we wanted to avoid. It is impossible to name a pattern with any one word that has no flaws and works for everyone in all cultures, so as we set out to find new names, we developed criteria for selecting names based on the depth of our experience. The criteria consisted of three core ideas: each word had to be active, had to describe a contribution to organizations, and had to get at the talents as well as the core values of the temperament pattern it identifies.Thus the titles were changed to:Improviser - (a.k.a. Artisan/SP/Orange)

To improvise is to vary your actions to get a result using whatever is at hand. In an ever-changing environment, improvising is greatly needed. It is the ultimate expression of the freedom to respond to the needs of the moment. It is also the means to create pleasant aesthetic experiences.Theorist -(a.k.a. Rational/NT/Green)
Understanding and developing theories provides the basis for mastery and competence. It is fundamental to success in business as well as in school. Businesses are built on scientific discoveries and innovations. Theory is the means to understanding an objective truth on which to build a path to achievement.Catalyst -(a.k.a. Idealist/NF/Blue)
To catalyze is to engage with others in a way that promotes their identity without losing one’s own identity. Catalyzing is natural to those who need to have a meaning and purpose to their lives. It is the means to self-actualization.Stabilizer - (a.k.a. Guardian/SJ/Gold)
Stabilizing prevents groups and institutions from falling apart. It is fundamental to creating an environment where one can be secure in a sense of belonging. It provides the means to economic security and behaving in a responsible way.

[Jeffster]

"any activity in which successive actions are free variables rather than fixed constants."


That's my favorite line in that whole book. I've never read a better description of that. The next action is a free variable. That is what I live for right there.

["?"]

That's my favorite line in that whole book. I've never read a better description of that. The next action is a free variable. That is what I live for right there.Agreed wholeheartedly.

[mcmartinez84]

Well no one truly likes practicing etc. No one in there right mind does but if you truly want to be great at something you I hate practicing but I think of it as a job and try to give myself self motivation to do the tasks, you need to be very disciplined.....

One of my cousins LOVES stuff like homework and projects. She's a total nerd. Competitive people like practicing until they're better than everyone else...

[sarah]

Are a majority of SPs prone to the arts, or does it not matter what you are?

I'm a Musician and I love performing and composing. I also teach Music etc.


I don't know about the majority of SPs, but I'm an ISFP and I have always loved art. I majored in fine art in college, and I have a job which involves planning, promoting and presenting art programs for kids in a library.

When I was younger, I was a "typical" ISFP in that I gravitated to the fine arts when I was in school.

Sarah

[yugyug]

I have a job which involves planning, promoting and presenting art programs for kids in a library.

Sounds like a spectacular job.

As a kid and for quite some time into adulthood, I didn't think of myself as the artist/artisan of the family. My father was "the carpenter." My sister was "the artist." One brother was "the mechanic." Another brother was "the musician." I merely "dabbled" and "had fun." I'd watch my sister obsess and sweat over details in her drawings and think to myself, "It looks like she's torturing herself. Must be what it is to be an artist. Not for me." I'd shake my head then go off to ride my bike, always trying to go faster and jump higher. I'd go make animals and little elves out of mud then houses for them out of bark and leaves. I'd run around the yard, banging on my "drums" (tree stumps, pipes, buckets) with sticks.

Now, I enjoy playing music: drums, piano (by ear and when I write music; I have a hard time reading music), and I'm learning to play a didgeridoo I made.
I consider physical activity to be an artform because I can work to perfect skills and the beauty of the movement itself. The activities I enjoy include: yoga, tai chi, dance of all forms, dirt-biking, mountain biking, and golf.
Visual arts: I am primarily a sculptor but also enjoy painting; also, I'm into digital art and photography.
Although I haven't done a lot of it yet, I love building things.
Crafts I enjoy: leather tooling, nature art (like Andy Goldsworthy), 3D beadwork, jewelry making (just starting), etc.
I am also a writer. I want to try interior design, being an architectural designer, carpentry, and clock-making.

I run the risk of making hubby sick of my favorite shows: "Look What I Did!," "Design on a Dime," and "Color Splash" on HGTV as well as the "Woodwright's Shop." Woe to him if we ever get the DIY channel. :)

[INTJMom]

Are a majority of SPs prone to the arts, or does it not matter what you are?

I'm a Musician and I love performing and composing. I also teach Music etc.
I've read that SPs are supposedly the artisans, but I don't really see that in my own experience.
I think an N is a lot more likely to be an artist, but I'm not an expert.
I guess it depends on the medium being used.

["?"]

I've read that SPs are supposedly the artisans, but I don't really see that in my own experience.
I think an N is a lot more likely to be an artist, but I'm not an expert.
I guess it depends on the medium being used.Be careful not to confuse Artisan which again Keirsey meant as any activity in which successive actions are free vaiables rather than fixed constants, with the term art especially fine art. Also as I stated earlier Keirsey says SPs and NTs are both "fitters" with Artisans having a practical and technique orientation and Rationals having a pragmatic and technology orientation. This is why I think that many STPs can easily become confused on whether they're being pragmatic or practical or using technique as opposed to being technology oriented. Pragmatism is related to the past, practical is usually based on the here and now, and technique can be developed in lieu of whether technology is being used.