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Saturday, February 26, 2011

Look free, do something.


Michelangelo's father, Ludovico Buonarrati, was as rich as he was ignorant of his son's greatness. He couldn't fathom his son's need to express himself, so he would beat Michelangelo. He couldn't see his child making a living by using his hands like a peasant. This taught Michelangelo to use his hands sparingly.

Years later, a prince ambled into Michelangelo's studio and found him staring at a single 18 foot block of marble. Then he knew that the rumors were true -- that Michelangelo had come in everyday for the last four months, stared at the marble, and gone home for his supper. The prince couldn't help but ask, 'What are you doing?'

Michelangelo turned around, looked at him, and whispered, 'sto lavorando' ..... I'm working.

Three years later, that block of marble was the statue of David.

Moral of the story: The artist is the alpha reader, viewer, and admirer. An artist's mind is at work even when the hands are at rest. 


So it is ok to look free if your mind is at work.