My Route To Happiness

     Today, I'd like to share with you the part of me which I cherish most. I am an artist, by definition, by appearance, and by mindset. Everything I do is in the name of art, and my life has been heavily influenced by it. I have no problem saying that I would be nothing without art, just like some of you would be nothing without your passions as well.
     I can't explain how it feels to be an artist, but I can show you.

     I drew this in seventh grade- I remember working six hours on it, and being so proud. A few weeks ago, I decided to recreate it in color, just to see how much I've grown. This is the result:

 

     I am truly baffled, still, that I even drew this. To me, this represents not only artistic growth, but emotional growth as well. I can look at the first piece and remember where I was in my life- who my friends were, and even how I thought about everything. It was as if my life was black and white, just like the piece. When I look at the bottom picture, I can't predict anything about me because I am so much different. I am living and breathing in color. I am alive- more alive then I've ever felt, and whenever I see this, I remember how much better it is from the first one and I smile, because it feels as if I'm marking the beginning of a new chapter with a piece of art. I have a few more pieces I want to show you as well. I used to use a lot of human body parts as metaphors; I pulled these from my earlier books: 



 

     To you, they seem abstract I bet, which is why I will not tell you much about these. I want you to see what you see, because that is what art does. It shows people what they need to see. To me, these have very different meanings, each of them. To you, they might be relatable or irrelevant, and I don't want to change that.

     Each of these expresses my feelings in a healthy, beautiful way. I also paint as well. I paint my furniture when I'm bored, and I'm in love with how therapeutic it is. Art is the love of my life, some days I'm set that my future is going to consist of me in a little apartment just creating all day and all night. It's my backbone, my safe haven, and I wish that it wasn't taken as lightly as it is. I feel like if art has changed my life, imagine what it could do for the world.

     Art is a powerful tool. Whether it be a coloring book or a canvas, even an instrument, I encourage you to create. One of my favorite quotes explains what I'm trying to: "Last year I abstained, this year I devoured- without guilt, which is also an art." Art is all around us, in the trees, in the sky, and in our blood. Before I go on forever, I'll end this post saying one more thing, which is cling to your passions. They can give you wings.