Is there such a thing as "not an artist"? Before joining this organization, I would have believed that to be true. My days involve analytical thinking, problem-solving, entrepreneurial pursuits, and managing other humans. Yet, I find myself drawn to art, a world seemingly distant from my professional life. I have never painted a masterpiece, my hands are unfamiliar with working with clay, and my piano playing has suffered due to inactivity.
Artists now surround me, and I wonder what separates them from the rest. Are they born with a talent lying in wait? Is there a specific test, standard, or criteria that results in the title of "artist"? When I wanted to become a teacher, I pursued the necessary courses, paid the required tuition, and attended lectures to earn the title. Then, I ventured into real estate and followed a similar process. This pattern continues in my life - I take the required steps when I desire to be something. What steps are necessary to become an artist?
Admittedly, I am attracted to art. It draws me in like the pull of the sand beneath the tide. I remember the first time emotion overpowered me in a crowded museum. I was paralyzed with understanding and felt every cell absorb what my eyes had found. The artist had painted a memory I had tucked quietly in the dark corner of my mind. It was as if the artist had given me permission to feel without constraint.
Art has often found me, either by tugging my hand or whispering in my ear. Artists often communicate through the unspoken, and somehow, I understand. I have heard instrumental music that articulated to me with audible eloquence. Sculptures have turned minutes into hours without my knowledge of passing time. I know art when I feel it.
Is the path of an artist more than just a career? Is their need to tell a story, connect with others, or communicate beyond the limitations of speech as essential as the air they breathe? Could it be that the only difference between the artist and the observer is the timing of the art?
Are the steps necessary to becoming an artist as subjective as the art? Is it feasible that 'not an artist' is a phrase that begs to be 'not an artist yet?'
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