"Water can flow or it can crash"...be water

“Be like water …”-Bruce Lee. It could explain the reason behind the water theme of edesigned.net. It is part of my ever changing mind about visual design. -No rules, just a fluid theory of artistic contemplation that got me to this point of production. I am thankful for being an artist everyday. Thankful for both the daytime work and freelance work I get to do - from good to bad. It has taught me how to blend in or stand out when necessary.

Art is change and expression wrapped around a million other contributing factors. Creation is immeasurable. It is flexible in anger, love, or sadness. It is colorful, or monotone Artists should be creating expression based on personal experience, training, and beliefs. However, today many artists ride the fine line of real work vs. work they would like to do. In the many hours it takes to complete one design, the artist may stumble upon new dimensions of his/her personality, work habits, palette, taste, and lifestyle. If it is a paid project that places “all eyes on you” it will definitely place you against the many millions of artists willing to take that dollar away from your plate as you roll your eyes at the “demand all” client.

When the artist does reach this creative enlightenment, he/she can move forward in this new path or move beyond it. Attempting new levels at this time can be dangerous as ego can set in which may hinder the learning of newer techniques and rules needed for larger paying projects. The artist may feel that now that one technique is mastered, why learn more. That artist will quickly get labeled as having only one style or technique. Is this good or bad? Well let’s see. There are many artists out there that have one dimension with a high demand for their work. They are happy and fairly wealthy. How is this fair? But it's a place you would like to be right? On the other hand there are twice as many artists getting labeled as visually predictable that struggle to get consistent work. So what is right and what is wrong? How many times will you ask yourself this question as you glare at the art of others.

If you are an artist you will have to be the judge. Ultimately if you love what you do, the work will speak for itself. But if you are new to knowing what it takes to be an artist in today’s market, little by little new revelations will present themselves to you as you struggle with short deadlines, high stress, and the frustration of knowing the electric bill is on the way.

If you are an artist that has been around for a while, don’t rest; make the push to try something new. I have not met an artist yet that has been content on one way of doing things. Sure their current technique may sell and bring in money and fans, but in the back of their minds, they would like to try something new for a minute; even if it is a big flop. At least they took the opportunity to give an idea a try. And it pushed them to reinvent the process of creativity.

Artists and their minds are endless. Expand, contract, bend, or break. It depends on who you are and the job you may want to do. Always search for the new and celebrate the long journey it took for you to get here. If you are happy in your situation, look around, stay for awhile, but when it is time to move on, take no shape, learn and flow into the river ahead..it will be ok. “Be like water my friend.”