Shared Artistry

The Shared Art Of Communication

2012-03-02T16:48:00.000-08:00

I recently spoke to a prominent art therapist who was explaining to me how she works with her clients. I wanted to speak to her because I was looking for parallels between music and art as it relates to helping people through therapy. As it turns out, there are many things in common with art therapy and music, and one thing she mentioned especially struck me as profound. As she put it, it helps to use art to communicate, because "Sometimes it's hard to find the words."

How easy and simple an explanation! We use words to explain a piece of music or a music performance, but what about the "words" we use through our music as performers? The magic really comes when the two coincide, and the feelings, emotions and the "words" are mutual.

We have all done this at one time or another in our lives, maybe through music and art, or maybe by body gestures or in our actions. It is a very powerful way to communicate, and when we're understood, it's an incredible feeling. Take time to communicate without words, you just might show the artist within you.

Private Lessons in Shared Artistry

2012-02-09T07:27:00.000-08:00

At a recent private lesson, my trumpet student told me about a kid in Jr. High who just decided to start playing trumpet because he heard him play at the High School variety show. Jamie (my student), was really excited to tell me about it, and the first thing I though of was Shared Artistry. I asked Jamie how it made him feel, to have that kind of influence on someones life, and he said "It felt great!".

I reminded him that what happened is what music is all about...really what all the arts are about. I also told him that as he studies and improves, he will touch more people with his gift of music. Certain things can trigger interest in the arts, it's different for every one of us. For me, it was a gold trumpet, a cool mouthpiece, a beautiful sound, a piece that I heard and could not get out of my head. It was the challenge of trying to keep my chair in band. It was even the way someone looked on stage or how they dressed. This all happened over a long period of time. As I became older, it was what the performers had to say.

We, as artists (which we all are), need to constantly be aware of the influence we have on everyone we meet, no matter what we're doing or where we are, and extend ourselves artistically and compassionately beyond our comfort zone. It is there that we have the greatest impact and influence
on others. Jamie now knows it works, and he's taught me well.

Perfection...the Risks and Rewards

2012-01-24T14:48:00.000-08:00

I am a perfectionist. Rarely do I succeed at deliberately creating something that is not as perfect as I can make it. I have been this way all my life, especially since I became an adult. The more I heard music played near perfection, the more I wanted to perform perfectly. The more I discovered beautiful things crafted to near perfection, I sought to copy it in my work. It has been a fun thing to challenge myself to try and attain perfection in everything I do, it's like a game.
I have spent years helping my kids be creative, making things with them, and teaching them how to make things on their own. I have, however, noticed that from time-to-time, they have been very critical of themselves when their creative work isn't quite perfect. This, I suspect, is something they've also learned from me. It really doesn't feel good to see and hear them cut themselves down.
This is the double-edge sword of perfectionism.
For us to share our artistry, we need to understand that people don't care if something is perfect, because there is no such thing in art. What matters is the thought, emotion and love that goes into everything we do. THAT is how our art is seen by others, and that is what they will buy and invest in.

Here's how perfection can work in your favor. Simply do the best possible work you can do, stop there, and share it.

2012-01-03T14:26:00.000-08:00

The Shared Artistry Of Windows

Several months ago, we had some windows replaced in our home. The man that did the work clearly took pride in his work, especially when it came to exact measurements, and knowing what to do prior to cutting the wood framing and trim, so that it came out perfectly. He saw the finished product in his head BEFORE he did the work. From his outward appearance, he did not look like a craftsman, nor an artist, but he really seemed to enjoy what he did.

During the process, I would check out what he was doing, and he easily shared what his next step would be, and he would sometimes say "Not many people think before they do this, but it has to look just like this (showing me a cut in the wood) in order to come out right."
This guy was very proud he knew so much!

When he was done, he called me over to show me the finished product, a perfectly installed and trimmed window. "Check this out...see?...this is how it should look...see how perfect this line is?" he said, and I had to agree, it looked great.

Isn't this how we, as artists, feel when we create? We pride ourselves in getting it right, seeing the big picture or finished product before we create, and take pride when we use our ability, artistry and knowlegde to create something we feel just might be appreciated by others?

He also was humble, not arrogant, but refused to believe he was an artist.

Oh well, he almost had it right!

2012-01-03T11:40:00.000-08:00

The Unknown Artist Within

I recently attended an entrepreneurial arts event where I was given the opportunity to speak about my concept of Shared Artistry. Although my time was brief, I feel people saw the connection I was making between artist and audience. During a break, I met a man who was attending, not as an arts entrepreneur, but as a financial advisor who was there to support the arts. As we talked, he said he admired the people who were there, and their conviction to start their own arts-based businesses, and not let anything stop them from their goal.

He was quick to say that he had no artistic ability at all, and that he wish he did.

This reminded me that although I believe there is an artist in all of us, some people just don't see it. We talked about the fact that he had kids, and that even though he may have not realized it, there is an art to being a loving and caring parent. Reading books to your kids, helping with homework, or even helping with art projects, is truly an art in itself. Even being sensitive to relationships your kids have with their friends requires a form of art. That night, it was my job to remind him that although his days are filled with numbers and figures, he has practiced a form of art all along.

Take every opportunity to apply Shared Artistry to everyone you meet.

Sharing What We Do

2011-12-16T10:21:00.000-08:00

A nice reflection on tenacity from Country music legend Charlie Daniels to a singer-songwriter who was opening up for him at a music festival.

"Just ask yourself one question: If you knew beyond a shadow of a doubt that you'd never make it, would you still be doing it?"

There is no doubt to many of us in the arts that we were meant to do what we are doing, no matter what happens to us, and no matter what anyone else thinks or says. The need to share what we do is critical to our growth as an artist and as a person. I personally can not think of who I would be if I was not pursuing an entrepreneurial career in music.

Shared Artistry

2011-12-15T08:09:00.000-08:00

What does "Shared Artistry" mean? I came up with this term to describe what we as artists do when we perform for others. I have been a performing artist on the trumpet for many years, but it was not until I recently formed my own classical music group TwiceOne, that I realized just what influence we have on the audiences we perform for.

We recently performed several concerts, and at each one I have noticed an incredible reaction to our music. People were closing their eyes, and truly enjoying what they heard. To me, this means much more than entertainment, it means that as a performing artist, I have the ability to make people feel what I feel when I play. This to me is the real reason for being an artist, to share your gift with others and bring out those same emotions in others.

I believe that in some way, we are all artists, and we all have the ability to reach out to people and have a profound effect on others with this hidden art we have inside. Everyone has a favorite color that emotionally makes us feel good, a favorite book we have read several times, a favorite song that when we hear it, brings back strong memories, and the list can go on. These emotions have strong ties to the fine arts, the literary arts and the performing arts, all of which we posses inside of us just waiting to be discovered. There is an art to cooking, an art to caring for someone, an art to raising kids, and an art to working. If we all can think of ourselves as artists, then we can begin to believe that we are capable of sharing that artistry we have inside with others and change lives, which is the true definition of "Shared Artistry".

I welcome your thoughts and experiences.