What's Your Art?

I was just thinking that we each have our art. Of course, our art varies greatly. Some of us write. Some of us grow flowers or vegetables. Some of us take photographs. Others cook, draw, paint, fix stuff, build ice castles or fences, landscape, or sew. Whatever you create because you enjoy it, is your art.

What makes it our art is that we love it and continually desire to improve it. We learn by doing, creating, and studying. And because we keep at it, our art keeps getting better.

Some of us combine our talents with others, such as in the creation of a children’s picture book or publishing a magazine. Others use their many talents combined into one art. Some are multi-talented and create a variety of art.

Our art always gives something - pleasure, comfort, calm, completeness, reverence, wonder, peacefulness, color, satisfaction. Sometimes it is a combination of these. Our art gives us joy when it gives someone else joy - because we sold it, gave it away, or we simply allow others to notice it.

Art also often releases something - worry, fear, anxiety, tension - whether it is in our creating it or our observing it.

Creating our art is not necessarily easy. Art takes time, dedication, study, and practice. It can be hard, meticulous work. But there is always personal gain in our art. We feel a sense of accomplishment and a satisfaction that comes from getting lost in the process of making it.

Some art lasts hundreds of years - statues, paintings, cathedrals - and some only weeks, days, or even hours - fresh flower arrangements, sidewalk art, ice sculptures, a snowman.

God’s art surrounds us and is unfathomable - clouds, flowers, trees, landscapes, a newborn baby, our hearts and brains, an atom, our solar system, and more than could ever be written down.

My art is writing and publishing children’s books. Hiruni and I work together to create a unique work of art where the text and illustrations blend together in a beautiful children’s book to be enjoyed by families.

My art is also cleaning cemetery headstones and helping to repair a cemetery. It is rewarding to work with others of like mind and to see the fruits of our labors in a restored stone and a beautiful cemetery.

My art is also building flower beds in my yard and growing a small vegetable garden. Sometimes my art is taking pictures or planning a presentation.

What’s your art? What do you create? How do you share it with others? What does it give you? Is your art about flowers, plants, gardening, baking breads or desserts, cooking, painting, sketching, photography, woodworking, writing, speaking, singing, dancing, building, or something else? I’d love to hear all about it! Just reply to this email and share your thoughts.