Look...MAGIC!

OK, I lied. This isn't magic. But it's something equally as captivating...this is ART!

Or at least this for me captures the spirit of what it means when (professing) to create 'art' and 'artistry'...

'Art' for me means bearing your soul for the world - or at least your audience (who, if for that hour or two or three are your world) - to see...great art comes from great artists, and great artists are those who (dare to) feed off of their emotions and experiences, ergo (that's right - I'm that douche that uses - but sorta gets away with using - words like 'ergo'), art must be inherently 'personal' in origin...so if you are an artist then you believe in your art. So prove it! Speak loud and speak true! Directly to those who have come (and most likely paid) to see you...

It means facing your art head on, one-on-one, mano-a-mano...no studio lights, backing singers or dry ice to hide behind (which - thank Christ - immediately rules out the majority of reality TV 'artists'), and no studio manager or tour organiser to bollock if things hit a snag...just an intimate soiree between you and the world. A good example; when heckled at a reading, Allen Ginsberg calmly placed his book on the floor of the stage, stripped completely naked and with arms raised aloft declared; "The poet stands naked before the world...are you brave enough to stand naked in front of the whole world??"

Y'see, art means putting every inch of yourself into what you're creating...if you're singing, gather and strain every sinew in you to realise your idea...make every word, every note, every breath count! Likewise if you are a film maker; capture every nuance of every kiss and every embrace and every look away and every silence to bring your story to life! And writers; it is on your head to turn every phrase, syllable and space to your will to create or add meaning to this world...

After all, as the saying goes "waste not, want not..." - well don't you think this applies to the arts as well...??

But most of all, the key to art is realising that at the end of the day and all things, all art is, is an idea - anyone can have an idea, so anyone can create art! And if you think you are (or would like to be) an artist, then for Christ's sake BELIEVE in your ideas...realise that you are the only person in history who has seen the world as you do and you are the only one who thinks like you...so really, having an idea is itself a work of art!

Just a thought...