art/ärt/noun

the expression or application of human creative skill and imagination, typically in a visual form such as painting or sculpture, producing works to be appreciated primarily for their beauty or emotional power.

My love of art really blossomed in Japan. Being in a big city, I immersed myself in the photography, music, culture, food, architecture and design of a country so familiar- yet simultaneously so new- to me. This sparked a fascination and hunger for the arts that I had never really tapped into before. I felt a deep connection to the way art tells a story, teaches the viewer something, challenges our understanding of self and gives us the space to see the world a little more beautifully.

What began as a habit of observation, slowly turned into a desire to begin creating some art of my own. But this was a world I had no idea how to properly step into. I wanted to live a creative lifestyle, to express art in my life in some form- but I struggled with how. A big part of why I write this blog is an answer to that problem; for this blog serves as an outlet for my creative endeavors. Photography being my main expression…but more recently the creation of graphic design and drawing. But this is where I hit a wall. And that wall is…”wait, this is not good enough. I think I could make it better. How can I continue working on it so it’s perfect?” I have hit this wall many many many times. More than I even want to admit to myself. I once read somewhere that the great achilles heel of any artist is the thought that - “someone has already done this before and is better than me” along with…“I don’t think it’s good enough yet”…two phrases that will stick any creative in quicksand.

So, in order to combat the wall of “it could be better” I have decided to rephrase the thought with, “it doesn’t have to be perfect to be good” and that simple phrase has suddenly freed me from a lot of quicksand traps.

Well, here is that phrase in action. A few things I created that I feel “could be better” but I am choosing to say instead “it doesn’t have to be perfect” !!

Also, a few places of art inspiration on the great big internet that I LOVEEEE: THIS IS COLOSSAL, SPOON & TAMAGO, and BEHANCE.