We do not create art from nothing but the will to do so; we tap into currents larger than ourselves and channel them individually. The currents are available to everyone; the endless road to becoming an artist is about learning to recognize these currents in contrast to mere ambition, and to be sincere and succinct in our expression of them.
But in what way? As artists, we can express ourselves through any medium: music, words, paint, clay, film, theater... Certainly some mediums are more native to some people than others – we call that talent – but sometimes a medium that is less native produces great results: it forces us into unknown territory, challenging us to be articulate without the comfort of our private clichés. It’s scary – and enriching.
My advice to myself today? Engage the muse at every turn: music, cooking, lawn mowing (yes, there is a muse of lawn mowing – Snippograsse, I think.) After all, art ain’t just things, it’s a way of living a life well lived!
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