The Beauty of Art
With Father's Day just two days ago, I felt inspired to write about an area of my life that is greatly influenced by my father. As a full-time web designer and part-time singer/figure skater, it's probably obvious that I love art. My whole life is surrounded by creativity and I can't imagine it any other way. About a month ago, I wrote about a kind woman who helped my mom and how it influenced me to help others in the same way through whatever profession I pursued. (You can read about that here if you would like!) However, it was the relationship with my father that influenced me to choose a profession in a creative field. However, my love for art and creativity goes much deeper than just my chosen career field.
My father, Ed, is a blue-collar man to the core. He worked as a lineman for a telephone company and prior to that, he was raised by my grandfather who was a tough, rough-around-the-edges railroad worker. He's a man who loves to work with his hands and bases the value of a job on how much it makes a person sweat. One thing he absolutely does not see is the appeal of a job that requires a chair and a cubicle. So, with that said, it may come as a surprise to find that he is my biggest influence on my love for art.
My sister, my mom, me and my dad
You see, my father may be a tough, blue-collar worker, but he is a musician first and foremost. Both my parents love music, but my dad was the reason I grew up surrounded by it. Our bonding days were not spent tossing around a baseball or shopping at the mall, but instead, he would dissect the different chord structures of a Beatles song or explain the complexity of a key-change in Bach's music. He spent hours writing music every night and I learned the intense process it took to write a good song. He taught me to appreciate the beautiful gift that rock n' roll and Beethoven left for us. His introduction to music was the doorway that led me to develop a love for art. However, this was only the beginning.
Once I graduated from high school, I fully embraced any and every travel opportunity that came my way and through it, my view of art continued to evolve. Two cities that have impacted me the most are Barcelona, Spain and Florence, Italy.
Park Güell - Barcelona, Spain
Both cities are filled to the brim with traditional art but they influenced me in a different way than what you may think. Yes, Barcelona has some of the most beautiful architecture I have ever seen and Florence has unbelievable paintings everywhere you turn. There is definitely a reason why La Sagrada Familia gives me goose bumps and why thousands of people gather everyday in Vatican City to see Michelangelo's handy work. But I have since learned that art is more than that.
Florence, Italy
True art is anything done with passion, and when that passion is mixed with a commitment to mastering a skill, it has the ability to transcend time, languages and cultures.
Arno River - Florence, Italy
Art is not just the architecture of a building or a painting on the wall but it is a way of looking at life. A dress doesn't have to be just clothing when it has the ability to be a form of self-expression. A meal is no longer something scarfed down while writing emails but an experience that demands your full attention. A sunset is not just the end of another day but a spectacular display of nature's beauty.
The beauty of art is that it's not just about looking at a painting - it's about having a wonder for life and squeezing every bit of awesome possible from what we experience.
Everything we do and see is influenced by art, whether we notice it or not. I just find life to be more enjoyable when I embrace that fact rather than ignore it. My dad opened the gateway for a love of art by teaching me to appreciate music and for that, I will forever be grateful.
So thank you, Dad. You not only influenced my career path but you also gave me a wonderful gift that will impact me for the rest of my life.
I would love to hear your own opinions! How do you experience art in your everyday life? Tell me about 3 of your own examples down in the comments!
I can't wait to hear all about it.
With love,
- Heather
Are you interested in learning more about the art of branding and web design? I wrote a 6-page booklet called "Web Design + Branding Defined" and once you download it, you will learn:
The Ins and Outs of a Creative Brief
How to Implement a Branding Style Board
A Complete File Guide
If you've ever wondered what a favicon is or what the difference between a PNG and JPG file is, this booklet was created with you in mind.
Heather Brockell is a Web Designer and Copywriter based out of North Dakota, USA. When she isn’t designing websites or writing, she performs as a professional figure skater and singer in ice shows all around the country.
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