Do you work like an artist?

Whom do we define as an artist? Is it a painter? A musician? A dance performer?

In the world we live in today, everyone is an artist if they choose to – whether they are a coder, a manager, or a blue collar worker. We do not become artists by what we do, we become artists by how we do everything.

Here’s how an artist does everything:

An artist wants to do more: You’ll never hear an artist say they want to do less of their work. Their work isn’t just their work, they come alive through their work. So every extra moment spent on that work is a blessing, which an artist would hardly prefer to let go.

An artist isn’t afraid of making mistakes: We all make mistakes. So does an artist. They  know when they are vulnerable things might not work out. They are aware that going to the uncharted territory also brings uncharted pain. However, an artist learns the lesson from the mistake and doesn’t repeat it – because a mistake made twice is a mistake wasted.

An artist doesn’t know everything: An artist is always learning from others. They are always curious to understand people and things and life because their humility keeps them aware of the fact that what they know is a fraction of what the world really is. It keeps them on their toes and also keeps them on the top of their game. Because they know they don’t know a lot, they eventually end up knowing a lot.

The artist’s work signs for them: All artists sign their work. However, a true artist is someone whose work signs for themselves. A true artist leaves such impressions and finesse in their work that anyone witnessing that work knows who has done that – their work does not need a signature.

An artist loves the process, yet detaches from the result: In Japan there is a painting technique called the Buddha board where we paint using watercolours. However, once the painting is over,  the colours fade away, leaving behind no painting no matter how good it is. So is an artist’s work going to fade away. The artist, however, still works on it because of who they have become in the process. The process of the art gives them the art of letting go, yet having all it takes.  

It’s not an easy journey to be an artist. The path is laden with more difficulties than it is for doing mediocre work. The artist, nevertheless, chooses to go through the process. Not for anyone else, rather for who they become in the journey.