5 Important Things Making Art Has Taught Me

I was on a 12-hour road trip on the way to a place in my hometown where culture and heritage thrived while thinking about the concept of Art. I had with me a book illustrated by Chip Kidd entitled Neil Geiman’s ‘Make Good Art’ speech. Reading the speech took me back to memories of my first year in college where I thought that anything and everything was possible. I still believe that it is and I try my hardest to make good art whatever the circumstance. Yes, I consider myself an artist and a doubtful one if I may add. I say doubtful because I’m not so sure anymore of what I’m doing in school and generally, in life. I just don’t know if any of this—the art—is worth it.

So it got me thinking, why wouldn’t it be worth it in the first place? Art has opened many worlds for me. Worlds I never knew existed and worlds that I even invented myself. Art has taught me so much about others and most importantly about myself. Here are the lessons:

1. Mistakes are inevitable. Make it a part of your work.

It’s true what they say that nothing is perfect. and that something so perfect is utterly boring. Instead of dwelling on mistakes, make these mistakes a part of something bigger. You can be surprised to what mistakes lead to.

2. Don’t be pretentious. Work with what you know.

One thing you should try not to do to yourself is to make yourself look like a know-it-all. It’s okay to not know. Everyday is a learning experience. Geniuses don’t start out bragging that they know everything. Ask questions. Be curious. Grow. And most importantly, your own ideas are important. Work on them.

3. Don’t make art solely for the pleasure of somebody.

Artworks are extensions of who you are. They are made by your hands and thought of by your brain—yours only. Put yourself first. Let yourself be known. Create your signature and don’t give in to opinions of majority. YOU are the majority of what you create.

4. Be honest.

There is beauty in being raw in this world full of artificial wants. Live by the truth of what you believe and show it in your work.

5. Love what you do.

Always. Stop when it feels like a requirement and stop when it doesn’t make you happy anymore. Build new interest. Go on a limb and do one thing that scares you. Never settle. We live in a world full of choices and choosing to do what you love is one of the crucial choices you will ever make.