DAVID LYNCH: THE ART LIFE: The Beautiful Dark Dreams Of An Artist

The mind of David Lynch has shared with us dark and horrid landscapes of the mind. From the dread and despair of Hollywood fame, to the loss of loved ones, Lynch has captivated and twisted our minds into his little blue box of surrealism. It is only appropriate with the arrival of the third season of Twin Peaks that we are also given a look into the artist’s life in this documentary. Directed by Jon Nguyen, Olivia Neergaard-Holm, and Rick Barnes, David Lynch: The Art Life is a look into the younger years of the artist, and how he began his journey.

Growing Up: Sweet Dreams And Nightmares

Starting out with Lynch’s childhood, we get a look into his family life, and how his parents encouraged his artistry in different ways. Bits such as how his mother never allowed him to use coloring books, give us a unique perspective in both family life and his creativity. David Lynch narrates his various stories, at times slightly dipping the viewer into the waters of his life, or shoving them right in.

Shot primarily in Lynch’s art studio, the film balances scenes of him painting, photos and home videos of the past, along with slideshows of his various artworks. What makes The Art Life an interesting experience from the beginning is its focus on Lynch as a painter. If one walks into this picture and thinks they are going to get a behind the scenes look at Mulholland Drive, or ideas behind any of his other films, they will leave disappointed. Other than roughly the last hour where he discusses working on Eraserhead and some of his short films, The Art Life purely focuses on his love for painting.

There is one rather odd aspect to this film (or rather one element I thought was missing), and that’s that David Lynch never discusses his process. There is barely anything about how he tackles his work, no discussion into the themes or ideas that inspire him. The Art Life is a tale about his past and his love for art, but other than him sharing some select stories, there isn’t anything overly striking to give us a peek into his mind.

When he finally does share some sort of deeper story with the viewer, it pays off as captivating and eerie. Two specific moments stand out in regards to this, one major component being when Lynch talks about living in Philadelphia. While the images of the rotted out city give the viewer some context, it’s Lynch’s stories about the crazy people and violence he lived amongst that stir the stomach and get us to wonder.

Another key moment is when, as a child, he was playing outside, and witnessed a naked woman walking down the street. He describes it as a warm summer night, the woman with blood around her mouth, totally naked. In both his words and the haunting score that accompanies the story, we are given this horrifically sad, yet unnerving image. It’s in these small moments that the viewer gets to peek into the darkest parts of his mind, and we get a sense of where his ideas come from.

Abstract In Telling

There are other moments with great potential in his stories, yet they are met with a hesitancy. At one point he shares a story about his family and the neighbors next door hanging out, and the father of that family storms out in some commotion. The picture shifts from a shot of Lynch telling the story, to a shot of one of his abstract pieces, the work depicting a black stick figure in a black ominous house. This image, the distorted static score, and his voice all allude to some horrible monstrous thing happening.

But then he doesn’t give it away as to what actually happens in that story. In a sense telling it that way plays off how David Lynch tells his film stories. For as dark as Lynch’s films are, he doesn’t share much in regards to a lot of darkness in his life. Actually for a rather large chunk of the film, he really sells quite the wonderful, Norman Rockwell American childhood.

He skims over his teenage years where there were some really “serious” and “dark” times – but once again we aren’t told what that even means. Was it pure teenage rebellion? Was there violence? We as the audience don’t get any context, which unfortunately creates some distance in trying to get to know the artist.

A Love for Family and Art

Where we get close to Lynch is when he talks about his love for art. In great detail he describes what it was like to grow up and want the art life; his stories blend that of young wonder and romanticism, along with the physical effort and financial reality of things. He shares his experiences working to earn his own studio, what it was like to go to school, and what it means for him to feel free in creating art.

When we get to watch Lynch create artwork it’s quite mesmerizing to witness. That bizarre element that he captures in his films is ever-present in his painting and abstract work. There’s actually potential for him if he ever wanted to take the Bob Ross approach, for watching Lynch create stirs questions and amusement.

Towards the end of the film we also get a glimpse of David Lynch’s first relationship, and of his being a father. His youngest daughter Lulu makes a couple of appearances in the documentary, walking around or painting besides him. We are shown home videos of his first wife Peggy playing around with his first daughter Jennifer. These elements allow a means of getting closer to Lynch, getting him to open up more than when he alludes to troubling times in his past.

Concluding with the origins of Eraserhead and winning an artist grant, David Lynch: The Art Life balances on the line of entertainment, but presents an itch for more. Some of his stories are sincerely captivating, and give a strong look into his mind. But there are those stories where he skims the water, and those moments have the potential to be grand and revealing.

What The Art Life pulls off the most successfully, is in its telling of a story of a dreamer. Lynch’s work is riddled with obscure imagery and bizarre characters, all wrapped up in dreams. The Art Life in some ways, through sharing Lynch’s wonder and excitement, shows the journey of one person discovering their passions, and making their dreams become a reality.

What is your favorite David Lynch film?

David Lynch: The Art Life had a limited release on 31st March in the U.S. and will be released in cinemas in the U.K. on the 14th July. For the release dates in your country see here. The documentary is also now available on DVD in some territories.