Art can be found hiding in every little crevice and corner of our lives: from the architecture of our buildings to our go-to studying playlists. In our everyday lives, art can be seen as a way to express ourselves, build a sense of community, and enjoyably pass the time.
Art is not just limited to drawing or music but can be considered the overall expression of creativity and imagination. Creativity is one of those things that sometimes feels difficult because for so long, most of us have gone through an educational system that tells us there is a “right” way of doing something.
Letting go of those expectations and guidelines and just creating for myself can be liberating from this overwhelming need for perfection. Most of my self-expression emerges as some sort of drawing or painting. I put on some relaxing music, sit down with a hot cup of tea, and just paint something. It doesn’t have to be a masterpiece — it just serves the purpose of calming myself down and being present in the moment. Sometimes it’s just a mess of blobs and color; other times I can create something I’m happy with. Regardless of whether I like what I create or not, it allows me to express whatever I may be feeling at the moment.
A lot of the time, music is something that we turn to to express ourselves. Walking around campus, most people have earbuds or headphones on, no doubt listening to something that they feel personally resonates with them. I, like many others, have countless playlists for different feelings or situations, from frantic studying to relaxing and hanging out with my friends.
Music is also an art form that serves to build community. Something as small as having a similar music taste to someone else can provide the opportunity to connect with others and form social relationships. I love talking about common music interests, and it’s always a pleasant surprise to get a song recommendation from someone who listens to similar music to me.
Art is something we frequently turn to in order to pass the time. If you’re like me, maybe you choose to paint or draw something when you get the chance, and maybe have music play in the background. Literature, books, videos, and games are all rooted in art. Especially with the internet at our fingertips, we engage with art in countless ways, from something as seemingly basic as advertisement or web design choices to full-blown movie production.
Art is integrated into almost everything we do, whether we know it or not, influencing the ways in which we go about our day.
