We were lucky to catch up with Lucas Smith recently and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Lucas, really happy you were able to join us today and we’re looking forward to sharing your story and insights with our readers. Let’s start with the heart of it all – purpose. How did you find your purpose?
I found purpose, more particularly within art, by devoting myself to developing mastery when it comes to visual art. That being drawing, painting, printmaking, storytelling, etc. I know that I will die in pursuit of this goal, I know that I will not attain mastery in all of these subjects, so I will inevitably come short of reaching this goal.
This allows me to keep a goal for the rest of my life and will cause me to push myself forward as long as I am able. I wanted a goal that was bigger than myself, I wanted to devote my life to it, and with art, it is forever evolving, and I evolve constantly with it. So in a way, an unreachable goal provides purpose by devoting to something bigger than myself.
Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?
Originally I am from Southern California, I came to Arizona to attend ASU, where I received my bachelors degree in Electrical Engineering with a focus in Power and Energy Systems as well as a minor in Studio Art. I am currently and Electrical Engineer for a utility company here in Arizona and in my time outside of work I am trying to grow my artistic practice.
The balance that I have in my life in reguards to art and engineering, seemingly is a rather contradictory pairing, however they have both complimented each other in ways that I could not have expected. Engineering is difficult for me, where art comes more easily, engineering reminds me that art is a luxury and reminds me to appreciate it, while art gives me a release valve from the structure of engineering.
I could not do one without the other, I am an engineer because I am an artist, and I am an artist because I am an engineer.
Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
Hard work above all else, you do not need remarkable talent if you have superior work ethic.
Resilience. You need to be able to endure faliure, and never allow yourself to give up.
Patience. All good things come with time, you can’t expect to be a finished product when you decide to do something, things take time.
My best advice is to continually try your best, all of these qualities are things I’m still trying to improve on, I’m not perfect and there are days when I procastinate, there are days when I doubt if anything will come out of all of the hard work, and there are days where I feel I should be much further ahead than where I am currently.
Give yourself some grace on the days where you are working hard and you don’t feel like its enough, and hold yourself accountable on the days where you aren’t giving enough. That is the best you can do, and that’s more than enough.
What would you advise – going all in on your strengths or investing on areas where you aren’t as strong to be more well-rounded?
I believe being well rounded is one of the best things you can do for creativity and life in general. Think of some of the great artists in history, Da Vincci- an artist yes but a prolific inventor and anatomist, who’s anatomy drawings are still revered by surgeons today. Michelangelo- sculptor, painter, draftsman, but also an architect. John Singer Sargent- renowned portrait painter and draftsman, but also a musician.
These are only a few examples, but the most impactful people in history could do many different things well. Each new skill brings a another perspective to the table and allows all of these skills to resonate off of one another to create something that is truly singular to that individual.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://luc-smith.com
- Instagram: luc_smith_00
- Youtube: Codename-S.T.U.D.E.N.T
Image Credits
Personal Photo taken by Mindy Tanimoto
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