jerry saltz response

Art. A form of self expression that can be a source of joy and pride-yet, also cause tremendous amounts of anger, confusion, and chaos. How to be an artist. Something that I have thought about and struggled to learn since I began taking visual arts classes honestly. When I think about "art" I think of the most monumental artists and movements that have rocked our world. Van Gogh, Cezanne, Warhol, Surrealism, Pop Art, the list goes on and on. But where do I belong? Recently I have been wracking my brain to try to figure out the answer to this question, especially because Tutorials 1 will be the first time I am responsible for coming up with my own artwork. Lesson 1 from "How to be an Artist" by Jerry Saltz, "Don't be embarrassed". I will be the first to admit it. Sharing my inner ideas and thoughts is terrifying. I fear judgment from what my professors, friends, family, peers will think. Will they understand? Is this weird? Hearing Jerry Saltz lessons on vulnerability and embarrassment were truly something I needed to hear. The entire section entitled "Step 2: How to Actually Begin" spoke to me because this is my number 1 problem. Sure, completing an assignment is easy. But when I have free range, it's as if my mind goes absolutely blank. I am going to incorporate these tips into my creative thinking process throughout the semester. I was familiar with some of the artists that Jerry mentioned in the article, but not all. Seeing some of these unfamiliar names left me curious and I began to research into some of these artists. There was a particular lesson in the article (11) where Jerry Saltz speaks about listening to the crazy voices in your head. He continues to speak about how he feels certain musicians inspiring and watching him as he works. This lesson heavily resonated with me because I have a extreme admiration for music. I constantly listen to music when I'm brainstorming, sketching, painting, etc. I have a connection with music and art, two separate categories that work so gracefully together in my mind. This article was informative and will be useful for not only this class, but for my entire journey as a visual arts student and beyond.