Mirror mirror on the wall…

How are you creative?

They say up close art is ugly. However, I believe art is a reflection of how one sees themselves and the world around them. Lately, I’ve delved into stoic teachings as part of a process to understand myself, to dissect different aspects, including my art.

Yet, this extends beyond art. Often, the world fails to comprehend. In today’s modern society, appreciation for art seems reserved for pieces deemed “worthwhile,” synonymous with financial success. It’s as if a message is being sent: “Your work is not worth it.” I question, not worth what?

Every creator invests time and heart into their work. Unlike other skills, creativity isn’t a straightforward transaction. It’s the evolution of one’s ability to navigate the human experience. I like to think of it as the world requiring diverse elements for survival, much like how trees and oceans sustain different life forms while serving a shared purpose and healing the Earth. In the same vein, there are humans born to create art.

As for me, while my peers engage in revelry, I find solace outside, listening to the stars, observing the wind while dancing in the moonlight, all to string together some clever lines. Up close, art may appear ugly, explains why my friends never buy what I am selling. The truth is, they couldn’t afford it if I were to put a price on it. It takes a stranger to see the value of the mess I made. After all, all valuable things seem to carry a unique form of aesthetic “ugliness.”

To be creative is to possess a God-like ability to build something out of nothing. It involves seeing what is blinding and silencing the internal screams.

To create, one must be Gifted, Anointed, Divine.