An Artist

By Mackenzie Baum @mackenziebwriting

Paintbrushes

A bowl of fruit, a smock splattered with color. Being an artist used to be simple, it was about beauty and pain. It told a story of the unique depiction of the world; it was a person letting us in on their perspective.

A simple strike on a canvas would tell us how they felt about the sky. An intrinsic carving of a wild animal showed us the beauty of the natural world. A polished statue of a goddess made of unforgiving marble made us question the deities that once lived. Our painters, weavers, and sculptures showed us tenacity, determination and passion.

Artistry has changed over the years. It has moved beyond the physical world to the digital. Evolved from a physical canvas to a virtual one. The new field emerged almost silently, it started slowly, but those who dreamt of being an artist found the same creativity lived within the sister division of Graphic Design.

Born for a different time designers got their start with the first website. Crafting content through coded concepts they made it possible to reach people through websites and social media.

Designers shape not only how they see the world but how we see it. They are the rulers of social media, bringing us vibrant color schemes and sharper photos. They are able to see potential in the simplest of logos. They can read the minds of the biggest companies and know the best way to appeal to their target audience.

The method of the designer may differ, but they share the passion of an artist. Whether it’s behind a canvas or a computer screen, an artist’s true talent is in their ability to tell a story and connect to their audience.

Somewhere a girl sits quietly in her room. Only illuminated by the light of her laptop. She uses only the power of her computer and the ideas in her head to merge images and alter lighting to create something new.

She is a graphic designer