You are five feet nine. You have ragged hair. You have a parrot nose. You have a ruddy face and tired eyes along with repugnant stubble. Your garb consists of tattered apparel. You are a masterpiece.
You are a painting; and all paintings, in their own right, are masterpieces. As a painting, your tired eyes speak, for once. The rich, who scorn you in person, admire you in your penury as a piece of art. They admire the difference. Pity or respect, you evoke feeling. As a painting, you are beautiful in your entirety. You are a painting, accepted the way you are.
This is the essence of art- capturing beauty in its authenticity. It's expressing raw emotion through evolved thought. You are a painting- an emotional being who expresses his joy with an exuberant smile, a jealous being with intricate views articulated with a simple cynical look, an angry individual who gives it all away by a change in hue. Captured. Expressed. Displayed. Admired. You are a painting. I am a painting, and all paintings are beautiful.
The beauty of a painting lies in its truth- whether it is as stark and blunt as a still life or a photograph, or as impressionist and obscure as a Monet or a Picasso. But it is art and it is the truth. With art, we don't hesitate. Sometimes the best part about art is that the piece is left open to interpretation. We can look at a painting and share our mood. There are always two meanings to a painting- the artist's interpretation and the personal understanding, and for most liberal minds, this is the greatest freedom. There is always a different and new perspective with a new observer. No perception is false or ridiculous.
The most experienced of artistes will tell you the secret to their success in one word- inspiration- the igniter of art, the splendid concoction of the human brain. The ability to find sparks in used fireworks. The reasons behind it are not important. It is the epiphany that is. They say that every artist struggles and lives in anguish for his entire life, thirsty for that one moment of inspiration. We look to books, to eras, to muses, within ourselves, EVERYWHERE (it seems like a quest, doesn't it?) for the igniter of "potential glory" or what normal people call, art. We all look for the "Ah ha" moment.
The essence, the beauty and the secret of art mean nothing without one vital element without which art, in fact life, is meaningless- zeal. The notion of a passionless existence sometimes scares me. If you love something, love with a passion. If you hate something, hate with a passion. If you work for something, work with a passion. It isn't about "being able", but "wanting". If you want to be an artist, you need to have the drive to be the best artist you can be. If you want to be a politician, you must have the energy; you must have the presence. If you want to join the circus, you need to have the will and the determination to grow the longest beard and be the best-bearded lady out there! This is what art is about. No pretty pictures. No pretences. No mild messages or flattery.
When I look at life-people, places or things- as a painting, I even find beauty in tragedy. It is because of art that I appreciate truth, creativity, inspiration and zeal. Understanding these ingredients of a painting gives me a little more clarity. It gives me a broader perspective. It makes me see the bigger picture (pun unintended).
Please let me know what you think of this common app essay. Will it go well with an admissions committee? I'm quite uncertain. Thanks a bunch! Cheers =)!
I like it a lot! I hope it goes well with them, because if it does not it means that they do not understand it! When you are aware of the innate value of every person or event, just because of their sheer realness, then you can appreciate life.
This essay shows certain wisdom, the kind of wisdom that comes with being an artist.
So, the only comment for improvement comes from my "formal" analysis of your essay here. The form of the essay is like a stream (i.e. stream of consciousness). You start off by advising the reader, telling him or her that he or she is like a painting. Then, you tell about the nature and value of art... and then, you conclude by telling something about how you view the world... I wonder if you could direct every paragraph to that person you were talking to at the beginning. For example, at the beginning you can write:
He is five feet, nine inches tall. He has ragged hair. He has a parrot nose. She has a ruddy face and tired eyes along with repugnant stubble. His garb consists of tattered apparel. He is a masterpiece.
You are a painting; and all paintings, in their own right, are masterpieces.
And at the end you can write:
When he looks at life-people, places or things- as a painting, he even finds beauty in tragedy.
Just an idea...
LOL! Yea... It is a good idea to give us a good 24 hours before you need the paper; however, I would post it about a week before it is due. That will give you plenty of time to correct any issues and repost it for more input!
Want to help? Be sure to comment on other people's work. It will get your post counts up, which we look at when we are helping people. We tend to help the people who post on other people's work first. Just a suggestion!
Good luck!
