The Risk of Art and Living

“We have to take risks with art. If we don’t, it all becomes a bit boring.” – Julie Walters

I found this quote today and it made me think about how true it is that art is in and of itself, a risk.

For me, art is excitement and fire, heart and soul. When I think of creating works of art, I think of worlds built from nothing but words and characters weaved from life and experiences, studies and analyzing. On the flip side, I think of putting together a mess of paint and telling a story without any words at all. And even further, the creation of something that will help someone, somehow.

Creation is always risky if you put any part of yourself into it, which, for me, is hard to avoid. Art has such broad terms and definitions. Baking is art, moving the furniture around can be art, one could say art is in everything if you look close enough.

Just like you take a risk by posting that blog, or submitting that story, or doing that mural, it’s a risk to live life in a way that challenges yourself.

Right now, I’m reading a book called The War of Art, by Steven Pressfield, and it’s further backing up how much art can define your whole life. Even the choice not to do art impacts your life in ways you may not even recognize.

I’m not saying you have to be an artist to live, I’m saying to live is to be an artist naturally, whether you call yourself one or not.

I’m aware that this is a rather romanticized way to look at things, and I’m okay with that. The world is a complicated place, I’m a small cog in its machinery, and that’s okay too.

Romanticizing the mundane is not a new practice, and it’s one of the reasons why I love Studio Ghibli films so dearly. If you’ve ever seen their movies, you’ll understand exactly what I mean. Some of those films can take a walk through the city and make it feel like an adventure full of wonder.

To make art is to take risks, and to take risks is to live.

I’ve written two other blog posts today that flopped, flailed, and died. This is the one that wants out the most, so I will let it roam free, and stop being so precious.

Remember to treasure life as if it’s the grandest project of all, because it is.

Thank you for reading my excited ramble about the art of life.

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