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Today I am continuing my series diving more deeply into my list: The Top 17 Reasons Why the World Needs You to be an Artist 
When I was in art school, our professor would often give us an estimate of how long we should invest in certain projects. "You should invest in this drawing about 12 hours this week." "This painting will need to have about 20 hours total before critique." That meant a lot of looking at one thing. If it was a still life project you were working you would stand in the same spot, day in and day out, staring at the same arrangement of cups, cylinders, and cones; trying desperately to get the perspective drawn correctly and the values of light and dark correct so that the whole thing made sense. You train your eyes like an artist and you train your hands to synch up. Staring, working, tweaking. Noticing. Really and truly seeing. There is just something about artists...they notice stuff. Artists are the type of folks who stare out the window, who think, who ponder. Artists are at work when on a walk observing, seeing, smelling tasting. Artists take all of that back to their creative practice and synthesize it and mold it and shape it into ideas, concepts, creations, systems. Artists notice tiny details and large patterns. Artists find beauty in the overlooked. Artists bring attention to new ideas. Artists compare and contrast old ways of thinking or doing things with the new. Artists challenge the popular belief. The truth is, we all need to be noticed. We all have need. Some of us intangible needs, like connections and self-efficacy. Others have more tangible needs, like food and housing. Those world is full of need. The world needs people are skilled at noticing. The world needs you to hone your attentiveness and your noticing, because there are people who need your noticing and attentiveness. Maybe it's your kids, your spouse, your family. Maybe it's your friends or your co-workers. Maybe your community needs you to notice patterns and bring in new ideas. Noticing the roses and appreciating them, yes, that is great. Do that more. Notice others and appreciate them too. That is great. Do that more. When we notice each other and give attention, fully, with the commitment of a dedicated artist....call me crazy, but I really believe that is a step in the direction of positive change for our world. First on a personal level and then watch it grow. Yes, the world needs us to notice and see with the attentiveness of an artist. I would love to hear your thoughts on seeing with the care and attentiveness of an artist, so please leave a comment below to share. If you are digging this Art Nurture goodness, feel free to join the newsletter to receive it directly in your inbox or share this post with someone you think will love it too! As always, keep nurturing and cultivating, Court p.s. Wanna cultivate creative community? Join the Art Nurture BOOK CLUB! It's FREE to join and the journey begins January 8th! Read here for more details 
4 Comments
I think this is such a great perspective. Attention to detail is crucial as an artist, but as you say--maybe even more important in our day to day dealings with the world. We could all stand to pay that special bit of attention to those around us. I will try to keep this in mind as I go about my holiday shopping. It just might make an important difference. Thanks! Lorna, I hope your holidays went very well. I love it when we really notice. It's like learning secrets that were in front of us the whole time. Not only can you make a difference in someone else's life, but you have no idea how far that little act of noticing can spread! 12/16/2013 01:25:29 pm
"Artists bring attention to new ideas." = Gold. Love your inspiration Court! Leave a Reply. |
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