Artist on Wire

I watched Man on Wire yesterday as I was painting. Before putting it on I thought, "How could a movie about someone walking a wire between the Twin Towers be enough of a plot for 1 and 1/2hrs?" But I was curious and I was multitasking anyway so I put it on. It was a great film. Besides enjoying the story and the filmography, a couple things had an impact on me. One, the score is classical music. It's gorgeous. I forgot how fantastic it is to paint to classical music. When I paint to it I feel like my art is an extension of the music. Suddenly music isn't just keeping me alert and entertained, its giving me focus and purpose. The other thing that had an impact on me was this eloquent quote from the "skywalker", "If I die, what a beautiful death. To die in the exercise of passion.” Being an artist involes risks. Granted, unlike skywalking if I paint a stroke in the wrong direction or don't sell a painting I won't plummet to my death. I can catch a bit of artist vertigo every now and again if I look down, but that can't prevent me from making every effort. The fantastic thing is that when you succeed, as it was for the skywalker and everyone who witnessed his feat on the towers, the results can be breathtaking.