An Interior View: It’s Not What You Do But How You Do It

  |  December 3, 2014
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I can’t tell you how many times I’ve heard people say they aren’t artistic or creative. “I don’t have a creative bone in my body.” … “I tried to learn the guitar but I just don’t have the ear for it.” There are endless ways to express who you are. I truly believe that being an artist isn’t what you do, but how you live your life. Creativity doesn’t have to take the form of a painting, a poem, or a song. I think you can work on Wall Street or be a barista and be creative. It’s not what you do, but how you do it. For me being an artist has been a direct conduit to my feelings. To create means I’m constantly facing my emotions; sadness, passion, fear, and anger are my companions in my journey to interface with this ever more complex world. It’s the connection with who we are that makes us artists. It’s this connection with ourselves that is always there in our daily lives.

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Most people, regardless of who they are, find refuge in their homes; it’s a safe place to express who we are and to find our inner artist. The 70’s black-light poster or favorite beer cozy… it’s a personal touch that you relate to and it tells the world something about who you are. It’s a declaration — however small — that puts you in touch with your feelings; you like it and it makes you feel something. Maybe you don’t see it as design (and the design professionals would poo poo you because it’s not a vintage Eileen Gray or Verner Panton and it wasn’t designed by the Rockwell group) but it is a reflection of you and just as valid.

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It’s no coincidence that nature appears over and over in the world of art. Nature was our first inspiration.

Design is drawn from necessity: I needed a place to sit, so I found a log. It’s no coincidence that nature appears over and over in the world of art. Nature was our first inspiration. On a walk through the city or a drive down the street we can share in the designs of artists, architects and designers famous and forgotten. Design isn’t just what is in the museum, it is the museum.

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Everything that could be done already has been. The artist just draws from everyday life and puts it in their own particular frame. It’s the frame that the world recognizes as unique, it’s the spin that defines creativity, and that creativity exists in all of us. So sit back in your Lazy-boy and appreciate your sense of style; art is everywhere and you are a master at what you do.

About Steve Morris

Steve Morris is an architectural metalworker, artist and craftsman. For over 20 years, Steve has been creating custom staircases, railings, gates, furniture, lighting and interiors for clients in and around New York City, as well as the mid-Hudson Valley. SteveMorrisDesigns.com.

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