There's a lot said about artists drawing from their humiliations, misfortunes, and failures, "a treasure chest of raw material, as clay, to shape one's art."
This seems a bit depressing to me. And limited in scope. It kind of suggests our treasure chests are missing the jewels of everyday delights, amazements, and astonishments. All of which, in my opinion, would lead to some more exciting "clay" from which to shape our art. And possibly better art at that.
"Unhappiness is one of the many tools given to the artist, as well as nightmares..."
While this may be true, happiness is also a tool given to the artist, as well as dreams.
You get more of what you focus on. So here's a challenge I gave my 5th grade class:
Be a Goodfinder. Go out with your camera, or camera phone, and look for the good stuff around your home and community. Capture it in a photograph and write about it.
The goal: To find and document the good, the clean, the pure, and the powerful. Snap it. Catch it like lightning bugs in a jar, and share the glow with us.
The rules: Have fun. Search for the good stuff like a detective. Stuff that moves you. Get amazed. Get wowed. Get awed by something. Anything. From a bug to a private jet. From a puddle to a Lake. From dew on a blade of grass to a gushing storm. And be so kind that wherever you stand becomes the good part of town.
Why this exercise is important: The more of a Goodfinder you become, the greater the triumph of the spirit. The world as you know it will grow less cynical and more astonishing. And that's the real treasure, isn't it?
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Hello! I’m Michael Kennedy, Olympic Valley, CA resident. I’m a teacher, freelance writer, and photographer. Thanks for reading. If you enjoyed it, please share with others. I value your attention, it means a lot to me and it helps others see the story. If you're interested in any photos in this post, or in my gallery: click here, let me know what size you want, and I'll send a quote. My email: michael.kennedy999@gmail.com.
Nicely done. Love it!