“Art is not a thing; it is a way”
~Elbert Hubbard
This quote is a beautiful reminder that art isn’t just something we make—it’s how we live, see, and connect with the world.
Whether you’re an artist, surface designer, or photographer, it’s not just about the final piece. It’s about how you notice details, express feelings, and turn inspiration into something visual. Art isn’t a static object—it’s a process, a journey, a way of perceiving and engaging with the world.
When Hubbard says “Art is not a thing,” he challenges the idea that art is only a physical product, like a painting or sculpture. Instead, he proposes that art is a dynamic expression of creativity, emotion, and experience.
By saying “it is a way,” he suggests that art is a way of being—a mindset, a lens through which we see and interpret the world. It’s an ongoing act of self-expression, exploration, and storytelling. The essence of art lives in the journey, in the act of creating, and in the artist’s unique perspective.
For creatives like us, this is powerful. It reminds us that art is about how we live and create, not just what we produce.
As surface designers, it’s not only about the final repeat pattern—it’s about how we see colour, texture, and story in everything around us. For photographers, it’s not just capturing a beautiful image—it’s about framing emotion, chasing light, and telling stories through your lens.
For visual artists, it’s not just the canvas—it’s the curiosity, the choices, the moments of magic and frustration that shape your path.
This quote also invites us to let go of perfection and embrace the process. It’s in the sketching, the revisions, the experiments, and even the failures—that the real art lives.
So whatever your medium, let this quote serve as a gentle nudge:
Art isn’t what you make—it’s how you live.
Let your creativity guide your day.
Let your perspective shape your purpose.
Let your art be your way.
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