Artist: one courageous enough to look past your judgement

I've been thinking a lot about artists lately.  The one I strive to be, the man-child I am coaching and raising, and those that I admire for their well known work.  Writers, musicians, painters, poets, chefs, leaders; their craft is not nearly as important as their method and their beliefs.  Mostly their belief in themselves and their courage. 

What I've grown to love and appreciate about artists .........the only thing that separates them from the everyman, is their courage.

 An artist is courageous enough to look past your judgement and push through to produce the art. 

I've watched my son take the pain of middle school and the judgement of high school and shrink a bit to try to fit in.  And then to watch him discover the beauty of his own art and slowly, very slowly become more courageous.  Courageous enough to embrace his differences to acknowledge the art is too big and must come out.  The art is about the creating, not always about the outcome. The songs must be written, the music must be played.  And those that are shrinking to fit in and be liked are missing out on the art and the joy of creating.

Some day he may be applauded for his courage but for today he must muster deep deep from within.  Before the applause, before the external glorification of his worth, he must find it deep from within.  He must find it in the creating.

We all possess the artist inside. Those granted with the title of artist, had the courage to look past your judgement and just create.