Art

I like to write, and sometimes I like to write about writing. It’s a bit like the artist who teaches art, rather than practicing it. But I think there’s value in it, and I hope you do too. Like any creative endeavor, it’s worth taking a step back to examine the process—why you do a thing, and how you do it. Should you continue? Are you doing it well? Are you doing it for the right reasons? Are you producing the work you want to produce, or is it a half-hearted attempt at something else? Are you doing it for yourself, or for others? To make money, or to make a difference?

I think most people are artists, in one sense or another. We don’t generally do much to cultivate artists as a society, aside from the occasional optional art class in school. I like to cosplay as an artist, but I don’t think of myself as particularly talented or skilled when it comes to making art.

Tools are often cited as an example of what separates humans from most other animals. And while it’s true that other animals also use tools, humans are a bit unique in that we’ve also developed tools that make tools. My dogs (I have two, Doge and Walter) occasionally utilize tools, but due to their lack of opposable thumbs their tool usage is quite limited. My dogs’ use of tools tends to be limited to acts which involve food or play.