By: Kate Lamothe
As both a varsity athlete and an artist, it is far too common to overlook the similarities between the two. In my world, volleyball is a cornerstone, an area in which I can excel and push myself physically every day. Not only does it reward me with tangible results, it also feeds my motivation, schedule, and gives me an outlet. When I faced an injury that removed me from practice and games for several months, I turned to art. Similarly, these characteristics are found through my journey with art. There are many misconceptions that you have to be naturally “talented” or “artistic” in order to be an artist, I have found that you simply need a good day and good inspiration.
Art has always been a huge part of my life. I have found that through my years, I have been able to teach myself and practice as an outlet for stress. It became a daily activity for me; sometimes to concentrate when doing another task, and other times working on a specific project that made hours upon hours fly by. Naturally, when I received a compliment, it was my instinct to point out, “well it’s not that good”, or, “well I messed up the nose so it’s not that good”. The meticulousness in art is something that I strive toward, because it makes me better and allows me to not settle for something that I know I can do better. I don’t view perfectionism as a negative thing, because in both art and volleyball, there is endless opportunity for growth, and countless things I can improve upon. I never want to be “perfect” because then there’s nothing to work toward.
In my first year of university (as a Psychology major), I took a drawing class, as it had always been a dream. The experience and long nights completing projects gave me a bigger insight on the importance of keeping art in my life. I love trying new things, like pottery and painting. My first experience with pottery involved a small quantity of clay, and an hour and a half in a small wheel room. There was something about your idea slowly forming that got me hooked. Opposed to many other artistic endeavors, making something 3D, being able to restart from the beginning if need be, and the feel of tactically forming something was such an awesome experience. Furthermore, I learned that pottery has been shown to have similar neurobiological results as physical exercise, which emphasizes the importance of art and/or athletics. According to an article by the International Association of Societies in Design Research, (2019), “Clay products are multi-dimensional objects that have the qualities of weight, depth, and texture which convey a sense of reality and substance.”
Volleyball is evidently more physical than art, and is a stricter time and focus outlet. While the discipline comes from you, like art, there are more constraints and rules that must be followed. When I was introduced to competitive volleyball at age 14, I was immediately captivated. It gave my slightly awkward, uncoordinated, and quiet self a way to express my inner competitor, make friends with like-minded individuals, and find a sport that I took to with ease.
Centering on the wheel brings you to the same experience… Always focused on the clay which can also be slightly awkward and uncoordinated, you can find balance, also called “finding your stillpoint” in ceramics; similar to getting to a certain level of focus in volleyball.