You Are An Artist (Yes, You)

You may not think of yourself as an artist. Most people don’t. However, I believe everyone is an artist. I believe you are an artist.

The question is not whether you are an artist. Rather, the question is what kind of art you do. When most people think of the word “art” they assume it means one or more of these:

• Art refers to old paintings that hang in a boring museum.
• Modern art is either weird or hard to understand. Or both.
• Art is irrelevant to my daily life.
• Art is for snobs who think they’re more cultured than everyone else.

There is a measure of truth in all of these statements. Some art does hang in museums (which, by the way, are awesome places if you have never been). Some modern art is weird and can be hard to understand. Some art is irrelevant, to be sure. And there are some snobs who like art.

But don’t let those negative impressions ruin the bigger picture for you. Art is not just for the professionals, in the same way that music isn’t just for recording artists and cooking isn’t just for chefs.

Back to my main point: You are an artist. Who is an artist? An artist is one who creates art. (I’ve always been a master at stating the obvious.) And you, my friend, can create art. It may not be the kind of art that is sung or played, or painted, or written, or danced (although it very well could be), but make no mistake, you can–and do–create art.

Art can be crafted in a recording studio, or crafted in a kitchen.

It can be painted on a canvas or painted on the side of an Indy 500 car.

Art can be played on a Stradivarius violin or played on a Little League ball diamond.

It can be designed as custom clothing or designed as HTML code.

Art can be built as a Gothic Cathedral or built as a treehouse in your back yard.

All of these are forms of art, and none is more important than any other. Each one requires creativity and effort, and each blesses the world in its own way. Even if you never have a painting in a museum or a song on the radio, you’re still making a difference in the world just by being you.

And since we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works (Ephesians 2.10), I’d say we’re in pretty good company.