Make it Sing

I’ve been out of art school for many years, but this weekend I got an education. From the kids.

You might think that chaperoning forty six high school choir kids on retreat would be chaotic and tiring, and it was; but it was also inspiring in a way that I had not anticipated. Somehow, the director got them to understand that music is about more than notes, timing and lyrics. It’s about sharing emotion with the audience and each other, and when you get it right, it can be a magical thing.

It was a reminder that this is what every creative process is about, no less with visual than with musical. Every time a painter makes a mark on a canvas, and every time you purchase something for your home, you are adding an element to the whole. So what is it you want your home to say? Are you exuberant and outgoing, or do you prefer peace and serenity? Do you love and revere the past, or is love of nature your thing?

Being content with function alone, with simply singing the notes, is to miss all the potential for a richer, fuller composition that will enhance your experience and your life. If that sounds cliche, just look at their faces.