Think like an Artist
I have moments sometimes when I flat out surprise myself.
A few years ago when I started acting, I hadn't the foggiest idea why I wanted to be an actor so badly. I just did. It took me a while and some coaching before I would really "wake up" the artist in me.
I just really enjoyed it. For some reason I found it fulfilling, and I couldn't quite place why. I knew that it wasn't a desire for applause or money that fueled me. I considered that perhaps I just wanted to try and be in someone else's shoes. That was certainly part of it.
The further down the rabbit hole I went, the more "Aha!" moments I would get. Acting at its core is storytelling. It's simply using yourself, your emotions, your movements, to tell a story. That is it. It is that simple. But why do it?
Well, I like to examine how I view art. To me, art is about breaking barriers, and creating. What does it mean to create? It means to bring about something new.
That is a pretty wide-open definition, don't you think? Dance is art, because the dancer will interpret the song visually in their own way, according to how they sync the music with their muscles, with their movements, and how they emotionally relate to the song will influence their movement, their expression, the speed of their movements, the sharpness, etc. Painting is an art form, because one can take what they view in reality and transform it through the filter of their mind - how they view the world, what emotions they get from it. Perhaps a painter draws straight from their mind and their work is abstract, they are pulling from themselves to create something new.
Acting is a tricky one, because it isn't as easy to define and see as dance or painting may be. Acting - you have a writer and director working with you, costumes, lights, sound, if you are acting in film you even have an editor. However, the art must still come from you. Acting is collaborative. You must use what you are given and create new from there. Your canvas is the medium in which your art can be displayed - stage, film, etc. Your paints are your emotions, your movements, your mind, your interpretation. You breathe life into the character as you see and understand them. You make them just as solid and 3-dimensional as any living, breathing person. From there, the director guides you to their vision as well, and your work becomes a fusion. You also will work back and forth with your fellow actors to blend your interpretations and understandings of the writing.
Art has power. Art can pierce the coldest heart and shine light in the darkest corners. Art can change minds, can thaw hearts, can reveal truths about ourselves or others.
When I started out, I never knew just how much that meant to me or how willing I was to fight for that. I just knew I liked to act. As time went on, the way I would talk about acting, and the way I embraced roles, the thorough devotion I had to developing this craft and the tools I gained through classes - I began to realize the passion was for using art to share my voice and my interpretation with the audience and to understand and cultivate empathy for people whose stories I may not otherwise know or consider.
As I continue in my journey, every day I seek to step outside my comfort zone, and to look at other art forms, or to find beauty in life where others may not otherwise see any.
The keys to great artistry in my opinion are - Courage, compassion, and curiosity.
Be curious enough to ask questions, instead of making assumptions.
Be courageous enough to step outside of your own understanding or worldview, and step outside your comfort zone.
Be compassionate - suffer with them, in their struggles and their joys. Truly put yourself in their shoes.
Question everything, especially yourself. Approach it all with a skeptical mind, full of the wonder and freedom of a child.
These are things that I am constantly working on myself, and the beautiful thing about these motivations is that they fuel each other. Without the passion for the art, you can easily burn out. This road is a difficult one, and if you are running on a desire for monetary gain or for applause you will wind up spending more and getting knocked down more than is worth it. Acting is for those with a fire in their hearts, to whom this is more than just a career choice. If you have that, stick it out. Fight like hell for this. Find the joy in it on a daily basis. There are no limits, except those you give yourself. So shatter those chains and soar.
A few years ago when I started acting, I hadn't the foggiest idea why I wanted to be an actor so badly. I just did. It took me a while and some coaching before I would really "wake up" the artist in me.
I just really enjoyed it. For some reason I found it fulfilling, and I couldn't quite place why. I knew that it wasn't a desire for applause or money that fueled me. I considered that perhaps I just wanted to try and be in someone else's shoes. That was certainly part of it.
The further down the rabbit hole I went, the more "Aha!" moments I would get. Acting at its core is storytelling. It's simply using yourself, your emotions, your movements, to tell a story. That is it. It is that simple. But why do it?
Well, I like to examine how I view art. To me, art is about breaking barriers, and creating. What does it mean to create? It means to bring about something new.
That is a pretty wide-open definition, don't you think? Dance is art, because the dancer will interpret the song visually in their own way, according to how they sync the music with their muscles, with their movements, and how they emotionally relate to the song will influence their movement, their expression, the speed of their movements, the sharpness, etc. Painting is an art form, because one can take what they view in reality and transform it through the filter of their mind - how they view the world, what emotions they get from it. Perhaps a painter draws straight from their mind and their work is abstract, they are pulling from themselves to create something new.
Acting is a tricky one, because it isn't as easy to define and see as dance or painting may be. Acting - you have a writer and director working with you, costumes, lights, sound, if you are acting in film you even have an editor. However, the art must still come from you. Acting is collaborative. You must use what you are given and create new from there. Your canvas is the medium in which your art can be displayed - stage, film, etc. Your paints are your emotions, your movements, your mind, your interpretation. You breathe life into the character as you see and understand them. You make them just as solid and 3-dimensional as any living, breathing person. From there, the director guides you to their vision as well, and your work becomes a fusion. You also will work back and forth with your fellow actors to blend your interpretations and understandings of the writing.
Art has power. Art can pierce the coldest heart and shine light in the darkest corners. Art can change minds, can thaw hearts, can reveal truths about ourselves or others.
When I started out, I never knew just how much that meant to me or how willing I was to fight for that. I just knew I liked to act. As time went on, the way I would talk about acting, and the way I embraced roles, the thorough devotion I had to developing this craft and the tools I gained through classes - I began to realize the passion was for using art to share my voice and my interpretation with the audience and to understand and cultivate empathy for people whose stories I may not otherwise know or consider.
As I continue in my journey, every day I seek to step outside my comfort zone, and to look at other art forms, or to find beauty in life where others may not otherwise see any.
The keys to great artistry in my opinion are - Courage, compassion, and curiosity.
Be curious enough to ask questions, instead of making assumptions.
Be courageous enough to step outside of your own understanding or worldview, and step outside your comfort zone.
Be compassionate - suffer with them, in their struggles and their joys. Truly put yourself in their shoes.
Question everything, especially yourself. Approach it all with a skeptical mind, full of the wonder and freedom of a child.
These are things that I am constantly working on myself, and the beautiful thing about these motivations is that they fuel each other. Without the passion for the art, you can easily burn out. This road is a difficult one, and if you are running on a desire for monetary gain or for applause you will wind up spending more and getting knocked down more than is worth it. Acting is for those with a fire in their hearts, to whom this is more than just a career choice. If you have that, stick it out. Fight like hell for this. Find the joy in it on a daily basis. There are no limits, except those you give yourself. So shatter those chains and soar.
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