Art Is For Everyone
When I discuss my pursuit of a career in the field of Art with others, I emphasize that it's not so much a pursuit of a dream as it is the fulfillment of a fundamental need. Art has always been an integral part of my life, akin to the essential acts of eating and sleeping, persistently vying for my attention day in and day out. While I hesitate to use grandiose terms like "life force" to describe it, it actually does accurately portray the role of creative and artistic endeavors in my existence. My existence thrives on creating and immersing myself in artistic pursuits, whether it involves drawing, writing, or even infusing humor into my personality. Art isn't just something I do; it's an intrinsic part of who I am—it manifests naturally and inevitably.
Many individuals of artistic inclination will emphasize their need for self-expression. In fact, it seems that nearly everyone requires an avenue for self-expression, whether artistic or otherwise. Although I initially concurred with the idea of self-expression as a noble goal in art, I long wondered why it held such urgency. I never felt that I had profound messages to convey, so why the compulsion to express myself?
Over time, I've come to understand that self-expression is less about oneself and more about connecting with others. It serves as a means to establish connections and share experiences with people. Many of life's most significant moments are those shared with others—be it emotions, memories, or learning experiences. This holds especially true for introverted individuals like myself, as much personal growth stems from self-discovery, shaping our values, perspectives, and viewpoints independently. However, self-expression serves as a conduit for sharing what we've internalized. As we accumulate ideas, knowledge, and experiences, the energy derived from them propels our personal growth but is nearly impossible to contain within ourselves. We are compelled to convey what we've learned, felt, and integrated into our being through some form of medium.
People achieve this in diverse ways, often utilizing multiple avenues. Some teach, which is a direct method of sharing knowledge. Some impart wisdom through family and parenting, while others transmit it through acts of love and compassion (something we should all engage in). Artists, in particular, achieve this through their art—a form of self-satisfaction that reaches its zenith when someone else recognizes and connects with it. What's beautiful about this process is that the quantity of people affected is irrelevant.
This is precisely why self-expression is so vital. It puts our essence into the world, with the hope of forging connections on various levels with other individuals. However, it's not solely about creation, even for the creators themselves. It's also about receiving those connections. One reason I cherish music so deeply is that when I encounter something that resonates with me, I feel a profound connection not only with the music but also with its creator. This perpetuates the interconnected chain and passes on the spark of inspiration. We give and receive, create and absorb.
Art serves as a reminder that we are never truly alone.
When we share our creations, we tap into the Collective, which, to me, epitomizes the essence of life. Feeling a sense of kinship with it is both liberating and exhilarating.
However, this realization also draws attention to the inherent simplicity of art and the fact that we are constantly surrounded by natural and manmade art. If you look around, you can find art in everything—lines, shapes, symmetries, colors, sounds, figures, aesthetics, personalities, humor, beauty, thoughtfulness. Recognizing this makes me feel alive and part of a beautiful whole. That's all it takes to be an artist—simply seeing the beauty that surrounds you in everyday life.
In that sense, we are all artists.
