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"I have spent hours looking at these paintings, trying to find traces of the 'mistakes.' Funnily enough, these are some of my favorite works. I feel that they capture my inner spirit and personality in its purest form, and they make me a little nostalgic for my youth. They might not be perfect, but neither is human life. The little twinkle in my eye might be uncapturable, but my posture, my gaze, and my soft smile are all evident."

This conveys the paradox between imperfection and perfection. Pulley recognizes that what one sees as a mistake, others see as truth. I related to this being a musician because, although we strive for perfection in technical aspects, most of the time it is not about being technical. Especially during performance. It is about one expressing themselves and being in the moment. Through painting or music, we uncover the authenticity of our being, not by perfection, but by vulnerability and just capturing the moment.

How does imperfection make us feel human or honest?

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"I came to realize that creation is in itself an expression of life. When we create something, we are revealing a part of ourselves...."

This line captures the essence of why human beings create. Humans create art for many reasons; struggle, love, being misunderstood. The act of creating is an expression and discovery of all these aspects. The Arts can be viewed as hobbies, but they are much, much more. They're a reflection our worlds and identity. Through the lens of an artist, the struggle, love, and being misunderstood are alive and tangible.

Does creation express truth or does it hide parts of who we are?

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(1)"Zoe realized that the beauty of creation is that it features a personal touch. In the scriptures, it is noted that “all things denote there is a God; yea, even the earth,
and all things that are upon the face of it, yea, and its motion, yea, and also all the
planets which move in their regular form do witness that there is a Supreme Creator. All things that have been created are evidence of Him.'

This was my favorite part of the whole article. It is amazing to see everything you do or create or are part of has a part of you. Such as it is explained in the example of nature and the creation of God has evidence of him. I believe it is something natural and beautiful to see from a person. You see the uniqueness of a person and what makes you different stands out. Its a feature that is only yours!

-What is your personal touch that makes you, you?

(2)"To me, each of these works capture the feeling of the quiet moments of my childhood. I don’t know how to describe it other than the warmth and peace of friendship."

This statement stood out to me because of the potent meaning of capturing! Capturing a moment through art is the most inspiring and so impressive. How a piece of art can say so many words, and stories, and express feelings and how she mention its indescribable yet so meaningful! I like the way she expresses about the art she see because I related to photography and I have felt those powerful feelings.

What is a feeling capture through art that you remember?

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“You are the most hidden from us and yet the most present amongst us..."

This quote caught my attention since there's a form of beauty yet pain in how we perceive one another. We can study,observe, or conduct experiments over a lifetime, yet we may never be able to grasp what makes each person uniquely themselves. Despite spending countless hours, years or friendships formed people will keep secrets to themselves and only express what they wish to. As humans we want to seek out honest and truthful answers, but we also choose to remain ignorant if it's overwhelming. It's a contradiction in wanting to know more about a person and looking to form a connection in understanding. Yet we also pull and push away when these unknown secrets and experiences are shared. I personally find this rather interesting since we instinctively crave to form bonds with each other, but willing to part when it becomes unconventional for them.Either way, everyone is capable of being open and friendly but have a right to be expressive as they please.

Do you think a person can truly understand another person?

"To be human we create, we express, and we live."

This statement is one I can connect to most because there's so much we create on a daily basis. People are always finding new ways to create whatever they feel suits their expressions. There's no set of limitations how we see another's work or why they chose such a method. By continuously building it can become a repetitive cycle yet our curiosity is peeked when discovering something new. You may walk past a building you've passed by more than you realize, but spotting something different about it draws our attention.Once we've captured this subtle difference within our minds we may question the decision but quickly move on in our life. People are constantly in motion and we become accustomed to this schedule that even the smallest changes take us by surprise.

Have you ever been affected by small changes around you?

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1. "It is an interesting phenomenon to see yourself the way someone else sees you..."

This quote is my favorite from the article. It stood out to me because it reminds me of who I am and the way I see myself at times. When someone takes a picture of me and they tell me to take a look I tend to be very critical about the way my hair is, the way I smiled, or even my posture. When the person who took the picture points out little details like how the sun looked in the background, the way my eyes looked, or even how happy I look in the picture, it makes me realize that maybe I am being too harsh on myself. In a way I somewhat see myself from a different perspective rather than my own.

2. "The humanities are an array of personalized creations that manifest the creator’s deepest sense of self."

This quote is very meaningful and it stood out to me as well because it made me realize I am the only person that can create or present something that defines who I am. People can get to know me, someone else can get an idea of who I am as a person, but I am the only one capable of expressing my own self through art.

My two questions are:

1. How might seeing yourself through someone else's eyes affect how you currently view yourself?

2. How do you express your "sense of self"?

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“When we create something, we are revealing a part of ourselves—be it our perceptions, our emotions, our ideas, our hopes, or our fears.” This quote stood out to me because it captures how powerful human expression is, every creative act is a piece of who we are.

“They might not be perfect, but neither is human life.” I love this line because it connects art and humanity, it reminds me that imperfections can still hold beauty and meaning.

How do you think our personal experiences shape the kind of art or creative expression we produce?

Do you think art that comes from imperfection or “mistakes” can sometimes be more meaningful than art that aims for perfection?

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“They might not be perfect, but neither is human life.” The author means that no matter how good of a thing you can do, no matter how good of a person you are, no matter how great you are, or how great of an instructor you are, we always have our flaws, and that’s OK. None of us are perfect, and that’s what makes us human. That’s what makes us beautiful. Adding to that, if there were a perfect human, that would mean there would be more than one perfect human, and this world would be boring. I feel like what makes this world interesting is that we’re not perfect. One person could be good at sports, while another person might not be, but they could be good at education

‘’To be human we create, we express, and we live.” This quote stood out to me because what makes us human isn’t just the fact that we are human. What makes us human is the stuff that we create. We are human because we make amazing things. We are human because some of us stand out in different areas, some people stand out in sports, some in acting, and others in education. I think that’s what makes us human. Going back to that, it’s also what makes us imperfect, and that’s a good thing because it’s OK to be imperfect. It shows that we shouldn’t compare ourselves to others. Like, if someone’s good at something and I’m not, that’s fine. I think it’s OK not to be good at everything. I also chose this quote because it expresses how humans create things and how our emotions work, we create, and we live.

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1 How do we as humans create something that can  help  express who we  are?

2 Why do humans  think it’s okay for humans to be perfect, and how does that make life more tense ?

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"As Johanna pours her heart into her work, I can see real people coming to life on the canvas."

This quote resonated with me because I find it quite relatable. For me, whenever my heart is not in a task, I don't complete it to the full potential I would if I actually enjoyed the process.

Why do works with slight imperfections make more of a meaningful connection to us than absolutely perfect works?

Do you think something like art or writing can accurately depict one's emotions or feelings? If so, why or why not? And to what extent?

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"It is so incredible that we as people are able to capture our own perception of life through

creative works"

We often take our mental capacities for granted. Just to be able to feel what others feel and understand complex emotions is deeply human, which is why this quote stood out to me.

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“To be human. We create, we express, and we live.”

I liked this quote because it showed that creativity is a big part of humanity. This reminds that expressing ourselves through writing, art, or music helps us understand others and life better. I found this quote means our creativity is what makes us feel more alive and connected to others. This also makes me realize that even the little simple things acts, for example writing what you feel or drawing, is a way we show who we really are inside. This quote inspired me to express myself and not be scared or afraid to let my ideas out or share them, because I feel like I dont really share my ideas I keep everything to myself.

“When we create something, we are revealing a part of ourselves- be it our hopes, or our fears.”

This quote caught my attention because it explains how what we do shows how we are as a person. This makes me think that art isn’t just all about talent but it shows emotions, creativity, and honesty. I found interesting how it says our creations show how we really feel, even when we don’t realize it. It caught my attention how expressing out emotions though creative work can help us grow, as well as heal and understand ourselves better. I also think that what makes art and writing very powerful is that it shows our creativity from our heart that sometimes words cant.

Opened Ended Questions

In what ways does our mistakes and imperfections in our creative work still show beauty or meaning ?

How do you think creative expression, like writing or art shows an important part of being human ?

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“To be human, we create, we express, and we live.”

I feel like this is a good quote. We do create, but I feel when you create, you also express at the same time. So when you create, you also express, especially if it's something in particular you are working on. In the end, if you are expressing and creating, you are doing what you love, that’s when you are living.

How does creativity help connect with other people?

“They might not be perfect, but neither is human life.”

This could not be truer. You could also say nothing or nobody is perfect. Although just like my essays, I would love to say they are perfect, however, nothing is perfect. They are close to perfect, though. That is why, when something goes wrong, people call it a human error.

What do you think artists can teach us about accepting mistakes or imperfections in our lives?

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"To me, each of these works capture the feeling of the quiet moments of my childhood. I don’t know how to describe it other than the warmth and peace of friendship. Through her art, Harmon is able to successfully depict the bond of sisterhood in the simple in-between moments of everyday life."

"True art is made by depicting the profound. Perhaps our “mistakes” are simply attempts to express ourselves. There is something cathartic about creation that aids us in the search to understand who we are."

This was such a nice read because I love art, I love movies, I love music, I love all of these because I understand how much passion is behind any sort of project like this and how powerful the urge of expression is to a person. Sharing is important and when you are excited about something there is always a person you think about to share your thoughts with.

How would you describe a warm and peaceful feeling as a song? What would it sound like?

What do you consider to be a form of art that you think is overlooked?

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" I feel that I capture my inner spirit and personality in my puriest form, and they make me a little nolstogic for my youth"

" I came to realize that creation is in itself an expression of life. When creating something, we are reaviling a part of ourselves- be it our preceptions, our emotions, our ideas, our hopes, or our fears"

These quotes are kind of similar but different at the same time. the first quote caught my attention because we can see even how a simple paintnig can take you back to your youth or just bring back many memories for you. The second quote is different because we are able to see that they are trying to create something with the paintings, telling a story of some sort.

How can we tell the story of a painting if its not one of our own? How can we share this story to someone who hasn't lived it, through a painting?

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The first quote that stood out to me is, “It is an interesting phenomenon to see yourself the way someone else sees you, and it’s not often that one has a chance to analyze themself in art.” I like this quote because it made me think about how we don’t usually get to see ourselves how other people see us. For example, sometimes when I look at pictures of myself or read something I wrote, I notice things I didn’t realize before, like how I fidget with my jewelry when I’m nervous or the crooked smile I make when I’m happy. Art can show things about ourselves that we might not notice on our own. It makes me realize that looking at or making art can help us understand ourselves better.

My question is, how does seeing yourself the way someone else sees you in art or writing change how you understand yourself?

The second quote that stood out is, “True art is made by depicting the profound. Perhaps our ‘mistakes’ are simply attempts to express ourselves.” I liked this quote because it shows that mistakes in art or writing aren’t always bad. For example, when I’m journaling/writing stories, sometimes I write something that doesn’t make sense at first, but later I realize it actually shows how I’m feeling. Those “mistakes” help me express my thoughts in a way I wouldn’t have if I tried to be perfect. It made me think that expressing yourself is more important than being perfect.

My question is, do mistakes in art or writing help you express yourself? Why or why not?

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I think a quote that really stood out to me the most was " When we create something, we are revealing a part of ourselves—be it our perceptions, our emotions, our ideas, our hopes, or our fears." This was honestly beautiful and so true. I wouldn't be able to have explained something so well and relatable. When we create something its made by some emotional connection, and that really resonates with me because I am the least creative person so when it comes to me doing something creative I have a good emotional connection to it.

Something that I thought had a deep meaning to me or can be taken as that is when Anna said "Sometimes,Johanna would generously gift her ‘mistakes’ to our family. I remember her explaining that she liked a specific painting of me handing her seashells, but she couldn’t quite get the twinkle of my eyes just right, and that the other canvas was just a little too large. We graciously accepted her so-called mistakes and have treasured them ever since." I know this specific quote is quite long but it really shows that sometimes we can be so hard on ourselves and we always feel so pressured for things to be perfect especially when you make something that isn't for you. We believe what we make has a mistake regardless if there's not but I guess what I am trying to say is our imperfections that we think is noticeable and bring ourselves down about is someone else's perfection. Anna did a great job explaining this that what Johanna saw was her imperfect piece of art while Anna and her family saw perfection.

Some questions that I have is When you're doing art or something creative what is revealed to you?

Another question is Have you experienced a time when you were hard on yourself especially towards something creative that someone else saw as perfect?

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“I can see real people coming to life on the canvas. It is an interesting phenomenon to see yourself the way someone else sees you, and it’s not often that one has a chance to analyze themselves in art.”

“Zoe realized that the beauty of creation is that it features a personal touch.”

These two quotes stuck out to me more because they show the raw emotion one feels when creating something. It's a more meaningful representation of a feeling that perhaps cannot be put into words, but is still acknowledged. It captures the humanity of creation. Aside from being a fun experiment or a pursuit into trying something new, it is a way of showing how we individually perceive the world and express emotions through color, and how the world is viewed differently inte eyes of others.

What ways do you think art helps us understand what it means to be human?

How do you believe art helps us grow as a society?

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"I have spent hours looking at these paintings, trying to find traces of the “mistakes.”
Funnily enough, these are some of my favorite works."

This quote really stands out to me because I feel many of us as humans always strive to make sure everything is perfect or even close to it. But when we look back and things we've created in the past that even with the mistakes in our creations that mistakes are what made it better.

2 questions I have are:

Why do we strive for perfection over small things and burn ourselves out?

Why is it that when we first create something the smallest mistake seems so monumental but then looking back at it really was nothing and may have even helped us along the way and not hinder us?

"I came to realize that creation is in itself an
expression of life."

This was another quote that stood out to me because in everything we do big or small one of the biggest things we do in general is we create things. No matter if it is books or a script or art creating things is how we express ourselves and our feelings which to me is so admirable because that is how we all get to express ourselves.

But some questions I have are why do we doubt our creations and minimize them? Another question that relates to this quote is Why when we express our lives in our creations do others feel the need to say we are doing it wrong?

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1. "To be human we create, we express, and we live."

This stood out to me because I believe we lack so much creativity these days. If we take a look at current homes being all modern houses, cars, our way of styling clothes, inside home etc. I love seeing different types of way us humans are able to express ourselves especially when it becomes art.

2. "she shared that when she looked around at what other people produced, she was amazed and felt
confused as to why her designs seemed different".

This quote stood out to me because it demonstrates how she was amazed by her work although it was "different" from others' work. In the essay it had said she was upset because she couldn't get her work to look like other people's work. To have differentiality in art actually impacts and stands out most to people.

3. Questions:

How has art been affected ever since pressure to fit social standards has occurred?

How can we reassure through art what we create doesn't have to be "perfect"?