I know what a true artist looks like.

The first time I saw a true artist pop open a can of paint was when I was borrowing a room for an installation the freshman year of my college experience at UNC Chapel Hill.

We were both stooping by cans of paint in the hallway. He was introducing me to the materials at hand.

A simple can of grey paint. Just the palpable excitement (his hands shook as he grabbed open the can of paint) and the anticipation behind that act of about to have said paint, taught me something:

That I define a true artist/craftsman to be someone like him.

I can imagine the same feeling for a dancer putting on their shoes before a mundane day of practice.

Or the mathematician opening up a textbook to a new chapter.

Or the filmmaker laying their hands on a camera.

There are all sorts of simple acts of love and labor which I admire and hope to find in my craft, whatever that is, where ever that might be.

More recently, I was in a figure drawing class when my instructor came over to correct some dimensions of the nude model that I was working on.

Again, palpable excitement in taking the pencil from my hand and laying down line after line on my drawing paper.

I also realized that this is where I want life for me reside: inside the joys and anticipation of the acts of life’s loves.

I think this feeling of joy should be a worthwhile pursuit.

❤