4 Ways To Claim the Title ‘Artist’ in Everyday Life

In the hustle and bustle of modern life, we often overlook the artistic essence that dwells within each of us. We are conditioned to perceive the world as photographs, meticulously captured and processed, thanks to Descartes -and even Plato.

Since the Age of Enlightenment, scientists have documented how we see, explaining how rays of light filter into our eyes to create life-like images. We were told the world we see shows up reversed on the inner lining of the eyeball and the brain reverses it. The brain returns the image to its upright status, along with many other changes, to give us a view of the world as reality.

I’m here to challenge these assumptions. Not to say these mechanisms aren’t true physiologically, but that there may be more to how we see than ascribing our vision solely to the mechanics of the brain.

1. Beyond the Snapshot Mentality

Our vision isn’t simply about mechanically recorded images, no matter how in motion and “alive” they may appear. What we think we see in front of us is an orchestrated symphony of neurons and other preset brain cells creating a view that is clear and flawless. Our iphones record photos that appear visually detailed and real, but this is not how the world truly is. While our eyes may capture the world like a photograph, it’s the brain that flips it right-side up and fills in the gaps, creating a seamless, coherent reality. Yet, to assume we experience reality this way, and only this way, is narrowing our view of the world.

2. The Living Canvas of Perception

Consider this: When you’re in the presence of another person, your perception extends far beyond mere appearances. You’re absorbing their essence, their gestures, and their unspoken body language. It’s a multi-dimensional experience that extends into territory that is not limited to the static image. Yet, we often translate this multidimensional sensorial presence into a two-dimensional static image.

3. Artistry in Everyday Actions

My assertion is simple: every single one of us is an artist.

It’s not just about painters, sculptors, or formal artwork. It’s about the artistry we bring to our daily existence. It’s about questioning what we have assumed to be true, what science has led us to believe.

That the brain is responsible for everything we take to be true in our lives is an over-simplification. Envision each day as a blank canvas, waiting for you to paint your life in a way that celebrates who you are. This is not a mere platitude. My assertion is that we should not assume our visual worlds are photographic.

4. Embracing the Art of Living

Art isn’t confined to museums or gallery walls; it’s an integral part of our lives. Yet, too often we fail to see this. We fail to see the artistry in our daily routines. The act of cooking, the way we arrange our living spaces, the conversations we engage in — these are all forms of art, reflections of our unique selves.

Reclaim the Artist Within You!

In the quest to find art, we needn’t look beyond our everyday lives. The mundane is hardly mundane!

Allow yourself to drop what you know and see your life through an artist’s lens.

Claim the title of “artist”, not in the traditional sense, but as creators of your beautiful artful narratives.

To be an artist is much like being a discoverer or a researcher. An explorer never assumes what lies ahead of them is something they know or have ever seen before. They forge ahead into uncharted waters.

Like an adventurer, drop your ideas about “what life is” and open to the wide unknown space you live in.