Imagine this: you’re on the longest car ride of your life, squeezed between your complaining sibling and stressed-out parents with no space or cellular connection. But when all hope seems lost, and your short-form brain-rotted brain can’t do anything else, you pull out your sketchbook, and instantly, the car ride doesn’t feel quite as dreadful. This situation can become your reality, because my favorite hobby is art, and I will influence you to explore your creative side. Art includes many kinds of media, but mainly refers to materials, like graphite, charcoal, colored pencils, or pastels on paper, canvas, or digital apps. Art not only allows you to create anything you want, but it also comes with several benefits that very few hobbies also have. 

Individuality without Competition:

• From natural landscapes to sculptures, art is a vast realm that allows you to express yourself through your creations without judgment. There are hundreds of styles within the art world, like cubism or realism, that are all accepted as equally beautiful and important. Unlike in other hobbies, there is not one “best” way to make art, no one person is the best at it, and no one person is bad at it. For this reason, competition is inconceivable in the art world because there is no one way for art to be judged. 

Immersion into New Aspects of Life:

• Art allows you to insert yourself more deeply into all aspects of life. Art keeps you present in daily life, for you don’t need a device or a secluded place to draw. Oftentimes, art includes using inspiration from real life, and it can help you learn more about your surroundings. 

Ease and Sustainability:

• Art can be practiced anywhere and with low to no waste. Oftentimes, I find that I am busy with hundreds of things or stuck in situations with little to do. In these scenarios, it is difficult to practice various hobbies for a multitude of reasons, such as minimal space or extensive preparation. Luckily, art can be done anywhere on practically anything. Small notebooks or sheets of paper are easily accessible, and digital devices are compact and can be used without wifi. Furthermore, art is sustainable when compared to other hobbies. Art often includes upscaling old items, like thrift flips or painting old furniture, both of which contribute to less waste. DIYs are also large in the art world, and often help users contribute less to over consumption. 

Community:

• The art community is large and inclusive, with so many kind and open people within it. In person, there are art studios and classes; online, there are communities and videos. Usually, these groups are free to join, and they can help you learn more about art while also making new friends. Some of my closest friends, even at school, were made through art and art classes, and it is a great space to connect with people who have similar interests. 

Museums and Art Shows:

• Museums and art shows are both super fun places to go to or to show your art in. In Los Angeles alone, there are hundreds of museums such as the Getty and the LACMA. The entrance fee is usually pretty low, sometimes even free, and the experience is great. I like to go to museums with my friends or family and take tons of pictures, get food, and learn more about art history. Sometimes it is possible to have your art in an art show. I attended the Interlochen summer camp for advanced drawing and got to sell and display multiple of my works while I was there. Having an art show of your own work is such a great learning experience and gets you prepared for future work expenditures.