An Artist's Heart

I am not a photographer. I'm not a musician. Or a poet. I happen to be a person who takes pictures, plays instruments on occasion, and has been known to attempt poetry. Writing is my true love. Story-telling. Its the only activity that I would use as a description for me. I am a writer. I may not get money from it, but money does not make a writer. Nor does a writer make money. (*chuckles to self* See, that's funny because writers are usually poor.)

There's something about writing. Or indeed, any art at all. The creative process is where I find much of my joy in life. There's something about pouring your thoughts, heart, world-view, and opinions into something beautiful.

There's something strange about this thing called, "art." There are countless varieties of it. And it seems that few people excel at it, or even find it interesting. I think of art a little differently than most. Its creation. Pure and simple.

Most people don't seem to comprehend that. They think that the art of painting is about the science of mixing paints. Or that the art of writing is about the rules of grammar. And to be sure, those things are useful. Just as a hammer is useful when you need to put a nail through a 2 by 4.

Some realize that it goes deeper. Art is not merely the science behind it. There's, well, an art to it. There are certain guidelines. When taking pictures, find groups of three. When writing, its best not to kill the hero off half-way through the book. This too is useful. In the same way that knowing which end of the hammer is for whacking the nail.

But to say that art is merely the science behind it, or even the artistic guidelines, is to miss the point entirely. You can teach most anyone the rules of grammar. You could sit down with a beer-swigging, hairy man and explain to him why "swig" is a much stronger verb than "drink." But strong verbs and grammatically accurate sentences, do not a good story make. Nor does a 15- megapixel camera guarantee beautiful pictures. Clear ones, yes. Beautiful, not necessarily.

The difference between a picture and photography is the same as a difference between a book and a story.

The real thing that makes an artist is the urge to create. It's the pure desire. It consumes thoughts, time, and love. What ends up happening, with the best art, is a little window into the artist's heart. Art is a brief, limited glance at what one person finds beautiful. What they find attractive. What they love.

Maybe that's why artists don't care overly much about their appearance. They don't seem to mind if people see them as a slob. Not when strangers get the chance to see the deepest part of their hearts.

Maybe it's overly sappy. Maybe it doesn't make sense.

I'm willing to bet that anyone with a heart bent towards creation will get it. I have that heart. For better or worse. No matter where else my life takes me, I know it will involve writing. Everyday, I'll be chased and be chasing thoughts of stories and characters with tales to tell. It's what I love. It's me, simply and honestly.

I thank and praise my Lord Jesus Christ. He created me. And best of all, when He created me, He gave me the same love to create.