To Be An Artist Is The Long Lost Art

Do you believe in associated purpose or is everything connected by invisible lines of undetermined destination? Fate versus Cause and Effect...right? An unexpected swift turn at a sun beaten South Carolina traffic light put me in a parking lot overshadowed by a Michael's Art Store. Believer's would say "Fate" put me on an unknowing "Artist's" palate. Cause leading to effect paints the shape of an unsuspecting "Artist" teacher sitting in front of a canvas while inside Michaels. The "Cause" was created by the stores invitation to reach out to creative minds. The "Effect" evolved into "Artist's" knowing only what "Artist's" feel. Therefore through understanding all levels of "Art" everything challenged and or injured in the process of being an "Artist" is safely delivered like that of a religious minister. Each time I use the word "Artist" think not of what an "Artist" is but rather what being an "Artist" is. It's a relationship between a creative soul inside the body chosen to create expression. Often times I've called "Art" a legal addiction. Your body creates endorphins. Interestingly enough, science has proven it's the same endorphins used while having sex. The rush makes you high. You want more. You'll sacrifice your job and family time to feed an addiction to being creative. Drug abusers, alcoholics, shop-a-holics, gamblers all speak of the day after. When you create it's extremely easy to get weighed down with an "Artist" hangover. Let's back up! An "Artist" isn't just a painter, cupcake maker, musician or a really weird fashion driven pick of the crowd. Car salespeople are brilliant in the "Art" of conversation. Banker's, Doctors and Morning Managers at McDonalds share the "Art" of why one should invest in preparedness. "Art" is all around us! We don't recognize it because of a personal need to expose "Passion." "Wow! Johnny's got passion! This company would be in the toilet if it wasn't for Reid's ambition to passionately set things aside. You can smell Chef Mike's passion in that plate of authentic spaghetti." Stop! Stop! Stop! I can't use the word "Passion" any more. Within the depths of the first pages of The Artist's Way Julia Cameron finds the strength to expose how society continues to treat people with passion. Artist's! People are horrified of calling themselves an "Artist." The fine folks at Michael's Art Store must have gotten the message because their "Cause" is leading to an "Effect." Fate may invite creative minds into the same circle. But what is "Fate?" Fate has been associated with too many colors. I hear couples explain to me how fate brought them together. Radio DJ's never stop talking about how fate put them in anywhere America because it eventually led to this single moment in time. The most horrid economic conditions of our time continue does that mean fate is connecting us to unwritten chapters of victory? In Native American Spirituality we're taught: Fate happens when you don't put energy in everything available to make a difference. Fate should be labeled the new "F" word! Third grade students should be racing to their principals screaming, "Jamie just said a cuss word! She said fate." The "Cause" is overzealous bosses who've chosen to stop believing in the "Art" of their employees. The "Effect" is why your bank account sucks. Big Business, grocery stores and tennis shoe makers continue to raise their prices. Insurance companies, hospitals and veterinarians have no interest in how much you love a pet. Money is money and everybody needs it no matter how unfaithful you've been to fate. Julia Cameron doesn't fade when having to explain the average person is horrified of admitting they have passion to create knowing that "Artists" are usually in the GLEE club. That's like walking up to an African American man and saying, "What do you mean Dave Matthews is your favorite artist of all time?" Being creative is the expression that not only hurts when it's been invaded or someone has stolen. It costs money to feed it. And very rarely except on occasion do you rub shoulders with someone that speaks the language of what it's like when a tube of acrylic paint has dried just enough to add clumps of junk onto what's supposed to be a sunrise chasing the horizon's midnight. Even if you don't put paint on a blizzard white canvas...always take the time to visit an "Artist" who has gained the required confidence to publically expose what a lot of people have chosen to hide in their closets, garages, unused bedrooms and attics: it's the ability to believe in yourself then sharing what you see with a world that was born to enjoy your art. arroe@arroe.net