Art, the word art means so many different things to me as an artist. Why do we as people hear the word art and run away? Why as a society do we not see art for what it is. Art to me is an artist’s way of telling you the viewer a story.

This semester in college for the first time ever I decided as an artist to take a step out of the box as a photographer and try ceramics.I Austin Mills tried to spin a bowl, design and craft slabs, and mold coils. Never in a million years would I ever see myself doing this. In the beginning, I hated it, I never wanted to go to class, I found myself saying it was too hard, how is this art? As the semester progressed I found myself shifting as an artist. Out of nowhere, I saw myself opening and taking new things into my so called “box” Even though sometimes it was hard and I had to stay late to meet the deadline, I still did it. I got the work done and now that I have completed my bowls and slabs and coils I stand back before them and look at how I Austin Mills have grown so much from one course that I thought would mean nothing to me.

So, my advice to any other artist out in the world that find themselves working in a rhythm, or find themselves constantly doing the same thing over and over. Do something that is going to throw you off. Do something that is going to challenge you to become a better artist. Doing the same thing every day can get boring so why not switch it up. Now if you are reading this and you are not an artist and you go to school for something like business, law, medicine, or anything I want you just to take a step back just like I did and look at all the art in the world. Look at your bowls and plates and silverware, look at billboards, look at the paintings in your doctor’s office, and look at your TV and appreciate art for something new.

Can you imagine life without anything of that? I sure can't so do me one last favor appreciates art for what it is and sometimes just be quite and let the artist tell his or her story.