Be an Artist.

I remember back in school as a graphic design major, one of my awesomely talented professors Trever Hoehne would always tell us to "be artists." Be an artist. I am an artist... but it's so easy to forget, isn't it?

I really loved when he would tell us that. It would remind me who I am, why I do what I do and why I love it. AND it helped me create better work.

So, why am I going back to good 'ol college this morning? Because it's something that I've been thinking about lately... How easy it is to forget to be an artist at times. Let's be honest, when you're in the business of doing graphic design, not all your projects feel like "art" (to say the least). But some have the potential to - and I'd really love to get back to the core of why I got into design in the first place and be an artist again. Or at least be aware of it.

When thinking about great art I can't help but think of one of my all time favorite artists, Andy Goldsworthy. You guys - he is SO inspiring. If you haven't seen this documentary - WATCH IT. I mean, seriously. You can get it here and watch the full documentary online here. Andy Goldsworthy uses only nature to create. Leaves, sticks, even ice are just a few of his chosen mediums. Watching the documentary I'm amazed by his patience, his attention to detail, his connection with nature - and of course, the final piece. Once finished, the pieces are photographed, and then left to erode away with nature. He strives to connect, to be in the present, to be aware of all of his surroundings, and with this connection he creates.

"For me looking, touching, material, place and form are all inseparable from the resulting work. It is difficult to say where one stops and another begins. Place is found by walking, direction determined by weather and season. I take the opportunity each day offers: if it is snowing, I work in snow, at leaf-fall it will be leaves; a blown over tree becomes a source of twigs and branches." -Andy Goldsworthy

Be an artist today. Be creative. Think for yourself. Be different.
My words of inspiration today for myself and you :)

Happy Thursday!

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