I grew up in a super creative environment. My mother was a mixed media artist who had an art studio in our house complete with a darkroom built off to the side. I have memories of her being in there listening to 90s New Age music (hello Enya) with large black and white lithographs spread all over the floor as she created a new piece.
She’d usually bring me in to ask my opinions on what she was working on and involve me in the process, pushing me to think creatively. She would say to me things like, “think outside the box” and “open your mind”… concepts I couldn’t fully comprehend as a child but that would become ingrained in my way of perceiving the world.
I tagged along with her to art shows where I would meet her fellow artist friends and view their latest work. The subjects in the art were of all shapes, sizes, colors and ages. They didn’t look like the models I was used to seeing on magazine covers or tv. When I asked why this was, it was explained to me that the human body is beautiful in all forms and that really, the body itself is art.
I learned early on to appreciate the natural beauty in everyone and everything. She exposed me to a world that not only accepted uniqueness, but celebrated it.
When we see the world through nonjudgmental eyes, we are gifted the chance to truly experience the magic that life is waiting to show us.
Really, there is art around us all the time, if we are open to seeing it.