Lesson 4: “Art Is Not About Understanding. Or Mastery” and Lesson 5: “Work, Work, Work” stood out to me in particular. These sections resonated with me because they reflect the core of what it means to be an artist–working and pushing forward despite uncertainty, fear, and the need for immediate understanding. The idea that all art comes from love initially confused me, but after some thought, I came to understand that what they mean is creating art is about engaging with the world, questioning it, and pushing the boundaries of perception.

I found the discussion of imagination v. understanding to be interesting as well. In our world where people often seek clear meanings of things, the reminder that not everything needs to be understood is freeing. Art doesn’t need an explanation to be felt. This concept aligns with my poster series capstone project where glitch art and typography distort narratives to challenge conventional storytelling.

Corita Kent’s quote about working hard for one’s art reinforces something I have come to realize—creativity isn’t something that simply appears; it is something discovered through persistence. Earlier in my life, much of my art consisted of imitations of what I saw around me, which I don’t see as a problem. However, as I matured, I experienced a shift in perception. I realized that inspiration was not just in external things but within me, shaped by how I see and interact with the world. This shift has allowed me to develop my own artistic voice rather than merely replicating what already exists. Ultimately, this article reinforced the necessity of action. Uncertainty, exhaustion, and fear are all inevitable parts of the creative process, but they are temporary. Through consistent effort, these challenges pass, pushing the work forward and allowing true artistic growth.