Once again I am reminded that we are all artists.

Yesterday after picking up vegetables at the Hopkins Farmers’ Market I grabbed my camera and went for a walk at French Regional Park.

There were lots of folks out enjoying the beautiful day and many of them were quite talkative. I had conversations with several people about my photography and camera. Apparently my gear made people think I must be a “professional” photographer and they were curious about what I did.

I still have occasional difficulty claiming that I am a photographer even though I’ve been selling my work for 5 years. Like many artists I share a preconception that if one does not make a living by making art, that they are not real artists. I also sometimes get caught up in thinking that my work isn’t good enough for me to consider myself a “real” photographer.

Yesterday I am proud to say, I claimed my vocation as a photographer when people asked me if a was a professional photographer even though I had a little trouble with the word “professional.”

What is a professional?

When people ask you if you are a professional does that give you more credibility than if you are not a professional? Is it like asking are you a professional artist? Or are you a professional athlete? I think they mean, “Do you get paid for doing this?”

What a small view of the world if being paid for doing something is the measure of being thought of as a “real” artist.

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again.

We are all artists.

As human beings we are makers, movers, thinkers, doers. Creativity is a part of who and what we are. If more of us spent time creating and making art I think the world would be a better place. Too often we do what we think we “have” to do instead of what we want to do.

I am aware that we all need food and shelter and that sometimes we take jobs that don’t necessarily feed our souls in order to pay for that food and shelter. But wouldn’t it be great if everyone had a little bit of free time to play at making art. What would it be like if everyone explored and created playfully without judgment or critique?

There are many traditional cultures that make dance, music, weaving, and creating a part of their lives. Art is not meant to be separate from life. It is a part of life and of who we are as human beings.

When was the last time you took time out to create something or to play and explore?

May you walk in beauty.

Photos in today’s post are from my Saturday morning walk at French Regional Park