There is a fine line between doing something right and just doing something. The bright line between those two efforts is defined by: The intention to add Art to the job.

Though we may not always realize it, everyday Artists everywhere surround us.

The Artist — a sandwich maker, landlord, sewer worker, customer service representative or someone else — brings a refined skill to the job that includes the creation of making the task lighter while making the customer’s life brighter. I am always on the lookout for hidden Artistry and when I recognize the creation, I celebrate the art.

I tell my local baker his cookies are Art that crumbles in your mouth. I thank my Super for the excellent Artistic job in not just replacing the lock on my door but also adjusting the door itself to be more welcoming to the new locking mechanism.

I thank my bank teller for her practiced Artistry in processing my deposit so I can leave the line quicker. The intention of Artistry in everyday life is a value few of us properly acknowledge, let alone cherish.

There is Art in recognizing the Artist — pausing to salute the talented hones the Artistry both ways to form a perfect circle of intention.

14 Comments

  2. Chris!
    Gah! Now I feel like my article was fishing for compliments!
    Hmm…
    Ah!
    Chris: Thank you for your articles Artistry and your comments Art!
    :mrgreen:

  3. One needs passion to incorporate ‘art’ in a daily, routined job to make it artistic! 😀

  5. Thank you !!
    I’ve been saying this for years. I’m a software developer (various business systems) and have long maintained that what I and others (at least the competant ones) do is an art form, not just staightforward technical analysis and implementation.
    Of course database design and coding is never really going to win any prizes (maybe the Turner if we can get a dead cow in there somewhere) but done correctly I believe it’s as valid as any other form of art.

  6. Right, Mike!
    Software designers are absolutely Artists.
    I like it that the motto of WordPress is “Code is Poetry.” I think that is a powerful and unique statement when it comes to finding Art in places many fear to look.
    I think a keen and unique database design and implementation does deserve recognition in MOMA:
    http://www.moma.org/
    Art is ever-changing and fluid — we must all be on the lookout for its regeneration!

  7. Interesting site, thanks for that – I’ll browse it later at my leisure …
    I’m glad somebody agrees with me though, most regard us as just geeks 😉
    I saw recently an article about a “coding” music contest where the contestants created the music using command line interaction and specially designed coding suites. All the code was displayed on big screens for the audience. It looked quite spectacular and I’d have loved to see it.
    Now if only I could have found that article to link to … I’ll have another look later when dinner’s not almost ready 😉

  8. Hi Mike!
    I think we need to begin to encourage the idea that Artists do not always practice in the traditional “Fine Arts” vein. There’s no reason why a piece of code can’t be just as majestic and important as a Mozart sonata. Code can soothe an inspire people in the same way a melody moves the spirit.

  9. You said “everyone is an artist” and I was disagreeing with your blanket statement with precise examples arguing why what you said is not true.
    If you choose to self-identify as an “artist” that presumption is yours alone — but it isn’t a very interesting presumption because, as you claim, “everyone is an artist” so why bother identifying yourself as one?

  10. I knew I’d seen something …
    http://www.wired.com/news/technology/0,71248-0.html
    As for the question of “does one become an artist merely by proclaiming it?” I’d say that it’s a good start, and there are probably a lot of geniuses that go unnoticed.
    There are also a lot of “artists” that maybe don’t deserve the title.
    So self-proclamation is a good way to begin but you “know” you’re an artist when others acknowledge you as such.

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