By Blake Hofley
“A person is a fluid process, not a fixed and static entity; a flowing river of change, not a block of solid material, a continually changing constellation of potentialities, not a fixed quantity of traits.” — Carl Rogers
“Every artist dips their brush into their own soul, and paints their own Nature into their Pictures,”. This quote said by Henry Ward Beecher perfectly describes the essence of art, which is the expression of one’s own thoughts and feelings. No artistry is the same, each maker having their own style that is a so called “trademark”; such as Picasso and his modern cubism, contrasting with Van Gogh’s thick brushstrokes and vibrant colors versus Mary Cassatt, who used quick, seemingly messy mediums to capture live moments. Yet each of these artists today are deemed as the best of the best, regardless of their style, a parallel to their minds and souls, giving them the opportunity to express each unique feeling.
Giving the ability to transport viewers through time, art has been used for reasons such as expression, funerary commemorations, and even sacrifices. Even though art’s direct definition is any craft or field of creative activity applying aesthetic principles, skill, and technique, the core aspect of art is that each person is their own creator, making and morphing definitions to what they determine. Whether the art is traced, from the imagination, or based on reference, no art work is the same, with every line and stroke altering the smallest details that often go unnoticed. This copying and replicating of art is something that has existed for years, whether it be the Ancient Romans laying the foundation of their culture with Greek styles, or the idea that America is a melting pot of countless cultures and traditions. Influenced by each maker’s art, each piece contributes to the traditions we follow today, yesterday and tomorrow.
Yet I believe the most beautiful thing about art is the fact that it is not just made for the viewer’s approval, rather it gives the makers the ability to freely express themselves and find a place to root their identities without feeling conformed by the worldly standards around them. One artist in particular, Christopher Samuel, has CMT (Charcot-Marie-tooth disease), which affects the peripheral nerves and which carry signals between the brain, spinal cord and rest of the body. Samuel was not diagnosed until his 20’s because of how difficult a case it was for the doctors. In an interview with the British Disability Unit, C. Samuel describes how after drawing for the first time in years his “whole perception of art and my sense of worth and purpose changed, something I’d been searching for, for years,”. Looking at artists like Samuel and countless others presents such a beautiful truth and idea that no person goes unnoticed even when they are “unsure where I fit in in the world”, because art allows each individual to create their own free existence.
Time will pass, friends will come and go and unavoidable tragedies and joys will take place in your life. The reality of life is it is ever changing and rarely constant for a long period of time. Some might see this as a burden and some might see this as a gift. In truth it is both. As time passes and the fluidity of one’s identity as Carl Rogers describes continues to change, art is a reflection of it all, constantly changing and evolving alongside you. People often measure themselves by who they wish to become rather than looking at who they are, and I believe the creation and idea of art captures the beauty of human identity. The idea that imperfections are really just different mediums, styles and brush strokes throughout a person’s life.
