Today, I want to discuss the experiences I have had throughout my life with the arts, why I feel each one is an art form, and where it has taken me. Each of these experiences has shaped who I am today as an artist and writer. I have my favorites, but each of these has held a special place in my heart. I will touch on all of these, but some I will go into in more detail in a separate article, as it would make for too long a read all at once. I will refer back to this original post in each subsequent article.

The first and most obvious is the visual arts. I have always enjoyed drawing, even as a child. This is, unfortunately, a topic that will require a separate post. The passion behind the visual arts will be very clear within an article alone. Nevertheless, I will mention that the love for creating anything aesthetically appealing started in this form. Some of the examples even include creating Starbucks advertising signs with liquid chalk markers on a chalkboard.

The next topic is performing arts. In high school, I did three years of dance, including ballet, jazz, and modern. I progressed through the ranks from beginner to intermediate I and finally to intermediate II. I enjoyed this. Not only was I physically fit, but I also got to use myself as an art medium. Some of my visual artwork pieces are inspired by the time I danced. For example, the image here for “Dancers” is based on a photograph of a performance I was in. I am the one in the middle. I need to try to locate the photo this was based on, but it will probably take a lot of digging through old sentimental totes full of things from over the years. Regardless, this mixed-media piece is just one of many examples of how dancing influenced my art, not just as a subject for paintings and drawings, but also as an art form in its own right. Though I was far from being advanced or a professional, it was still an art form I cherished greatly. After high school, I stopped dancing. I, unfortunately, could never return to dancing now due to so many injuries. This is an art form that will remain a cherished memory.

In college, I pursued digital and graphic arts, particularly Web design. I have an associate’s degree in Internet Specialist – Web Design and Development. Unfortunately, I graduated from college in 2009, and the web design industry was rapidly changing. I had a couple of gigs with web design after college, and I have even designed logos on a freelance basis. I have dabbled in other forms of digital art, such as using Photoshop or similar software to paint with a drawing tablet, or even using an actual tablet with a specialized pen optimized for older models. Though my experience in the graphic arts is limited, I am very confident in the abilities I do have.

Somewhere after college and web design, I was working in retail, particularly in a bakery. It was there that I learned not only a love for baking, but also another art form: cake decorating. This was another art form I adored, and still adore to this day. Though numerous injuries prevent me from baking and cake decorating the way I once could. I have decorated wedding cakes for both the bride and the groom. I made my own wedding cake and grooms cake for my husband and I. There are numerous instances of this art form that I have done. Though I cannot really do it anymore without a significant amount of help, it is still something I try to enjoy from time to time.

Photography is another limited experience art I have only touched on. I enjoy taking photos, and even with a mobile device, in particular my cellphone, I have taken remarkable pictures. One example is the Jellyfish photo. This photo was taken with a simple cell phone. Moreover, the photo was also taken from outside an aquarium tank. I know and recognize that the photo is not perfect by any means, but when one looks at it, it is not necessarily immediately obvious that it was not taken from inside the ocean itself. There are a couple of minor things that are apparent on closer inspection, such as a small glare. However, even the glare can be brushed off as small animal particles floating alongside the jellyfish. This is an art form I would like to get more experience in.

Crafts are the next art form. This is a very broad spectrum, but is overall typically categorized as ‘art with a function,’ and it is hard to make a comprehensive list, but I will provide some examples of the types of works I have done. One example included creating a painting on a piece of furniture, clay mosaics, jewelry creation, crochet work, and more. Though I enjoy crafts and DIY projects, it is not my favorite art form.

The last art form I have dabbled in is writing. Writing is something I have also always enjoyed. Though I have never had anything published, my work includes short stories, poetry, fan fiction, and essays. Writing is another art form I have minimal experience in, but would like to delve further into.