The Walk of Artists

The Walk of Artists

By: Nicole Norrevik

Nicole Norrevik

The way I see it, life itself is a masterpiece. That’s why in my writing, time and time again, I choose to write about the beauty of what it means to be human and what it means to live. I cherish the small details of our lives that confect the loveliness of being alive, as they are something I consider myself lucky to be able to see every day. So, I hope at least a small fraction of that priceless beauty comes across in my writing so that whoever reads it may see it too.

In between brush strokes during my senior year art class, I would often idly glance around the room to see what my classmates were doing. A thoughtless gesture born out of boredom and a need to stare at something else than my in-progress painting. More often than not, as my eyes slid across the room, I would notice at least one person standing a few steps away from their painting, simply gazing at their work. As I watched, I knew exactly what they were seeing, what we all see, a new perspective, and within it, everything that was missed before. Somehow, these couple steps change what is seen entirely, perhaps permitting an artist to temporarily costume themselves as a viewer or simply allow the details to combine to create something bigger. These two steps are taught regularly in various art classrooms around the globe. Teachers remind their students to stand farther away from their painting now and then to take in the picture as a whole, as it is entirely too easy for a painter to lose themselves in the details. Yet, funnily enough, many artists find themselves taking this walk without being told so by any teacher. It’s almost like an instinct that pulses within every artist. 

So I take this short walk, just two or three steps, alongside thousands of others. Two mindless, habitual steps create a connection between those artists who tread upon my same path, those who have ever walked upon it, and those who will after me. It is a connection unbounded by time that spans thousands of years. Those before me took these exact steps long before I was born, long before I could even grow the feet needed to take this walk. Something so simple, so overlooked, weaves the spider web that connects us all. I find comfort in the company of the ghosts of walkers past that once flowed through these same motions. It characterizes ourselves as artists, confirming that those footprints we all make are in the shape of a true artist. We all mirror each other, moving in unison with each step. Back, stop and look, back again, stop again, then forward and begin anew, almost like a dance. A painter and their creation, performing the steps of their nameless dance. 

That’s the beauty of this walk, or dance, of two steps. It lives within every artist, telling them to see differently, to take a few seconds to truly look. Then, when we look around and notice others doing the same, it teaches us that we are all connected through the unison of our footsteps. Those synchronized steps represent how the human experience is often shared and repeated, creating unbreakable bonds and inseparable communities. Ultimately, it reminds us that even the slightest change in position can change an entire perspective, inside and outside the art world. Extending farther than just paintings and drawings, this wisdom belongs within the fundamental ordinances of our daily lives. Art and its subtle lessons pulsate within the human experience, tirelessly cultivating truths, new perspectives, and communities.