IT'S ALL A BUNCH OF CRAFT

Although we intended to discuss how Ingzig plans on spreading the good word about the unadorned art of Everyday Earnest Effort this time around, we thought before we do that we oughta tell ya that from the get go we've been on the fence about the word "art." This dilemma exists for two reasons 1) we feel it's a term that's been highly overused in popular culture and thereby rendered a bit trite or trivial; a cliche if you will, and 2) in essence Everyday Earnest Effort isn't really an art form at all, it's much more akin to a craft. Yet the overwhelming feeling here at Ingzig is that an unwavering commitment to craft is in its own "unadorned" way an incredibly beautiful thing, therefore, an art.

A woman was strolling along a street in Paris when she spotted Picasso sketching at a nearby sidewalk cafe. She impulsively asked him if he would sketch her. Picasso obliged, and in just a few brief minutes there she was, an original Picasso. "And what do I owe you?" she asked. "Five thousand franc," (about 4900 bucks today) he answered. "But it only took you a few minutes, " she politely reminded him. "No," Picasso said. "It's taken me nearly all my life." So you be the judge. Where do you feel the real beauty is here? On the canvas, or in Picasso's lifelong commitment to his craft?

There's no question that the spotlight will always shine brightest on the results of our efforts rather than on our commitment to them, and so it should. Because in all fairness (and these are just a couple of examples) when you listen to an accomplished musician perform or watch a top-notch athlete compete, the level of artistry is truly a thing of beauty, and thereby fully deserves center stage.

However! The underlying beauty is that these celebrated individuals weren't always so skilled or accomplished at what they do. Nor was it talent or ability alone that made them the "artists" that they are. Like Picasso, they too had to work long and hard at their respective craft, and that is certainly something we can all do.

As one noted art historian put it, "An artist is not a special kind of person, but every person a special kind of artist."

In the end we've decided to go with our gut and stick with "the art of" Everyday Earnest Effort. Although to remain abidingly true to our core mission we will periodically refer to the word art as an acronym. Because as aspiring artists we need to "always remember that" (A.R.T.) in order to become an artist we first need to hone our craft. And in order to do that we need to develop the necessary skills. And, in order to do that, ya simply gotta put in the time and effort. Ahh, the beauty of it all. See ya next time. Till then, keeep it up.