I had a most interesting conversation with someone recently. They asked me what I do for a living. I told them that I work at home writing and making art. The thing they said next made me smile. They said that there should be more art in the world, that if there was, there might be more peace. Needless to say, what they said struck me. Keep in mind that this was just some random stranger.

There does indeed need to be more art in the world, it shows us things that we otherwise wouldn’t think about. It can bring peace to the creator and to the observer. Good art affects you, it makes you feel something. It can make you think about things from a different perspective.

The thing about art is that it is subjective. I’ve seen many creations in my life that made me question whether or not I wanted to call myself an artist. Things that didn’t make me feel, didn’t make me think. Well, they made me wonder who the frell would call it art but nothing beyond that. Art should engage you, it should show you something. Not all creations can or will speak to everyone, but for every person out there, there is a piece that does connect with them. The question isn’t “Is that art?”, the real question is “what does it show me?”.

Many people over the years have uttered the soul crushing statement “That’s not art”, but I wonder how many of them have ever created something that touched part of them. Have they been able to look deep inside themselves, or at something in the world around them and shine a bright spotlight on it. Take a single moment in time or a single feeling and give it a life beyond your own imagination?

I use the words piece, creation, and art almost synonymously because for me, all creative endeavors are works of art. To me it is more about showcasing the imagination and making people feel or think. It does not matter to me what medium you choose. You can create with words, paint, pixels, clay, feathers, or even recycled garbage. With art you choose what connects with you, what you know. The medium isn’t the work, it’s only the tool you use to connect to people. Show me the beauty, the madness, the rage, the love, whatever you feel. Show me your soul one small piece at a time.

Look at a work of art and you can see into someone’s soul. They are brave to show you this, be respectful of their courage. Stand in awe of the artist, he shows you the world captured in a single moment. Be the artist, show someone a piece of your soul. Write, paint, or sculpt your vision of the universe in all it’s glory and variety.

Picture © Eric Peacock

dracoselene

I'm an artist, writer, ordained interfaith minister, veteran, spiritualist, androgyne, and piles of other labels that never seem to fit. I'm following my passion and attempting to make myself and the world a better place. I think that through compassion and understanding we can all become one unified race of human beings, and life is better when you remember to play.