It’s easy to fall for pretty. The quick thrill of a glance, the surface shimmer that dazzles but never digs deep. Pretty is the fling — the momentary rush when we admire someone else’s artwork or the flawless, polished creation that feels safe to love from a distance.

But real artistic love? That’s beauty. Beauty isn’t just the spark — it’s the long, messy dance. It’s falling in love with your craft, your tools, your work, even when it’s hard and raw. Beauty demands sweat, frustration, and the stripping away of illusions. It asks us to stretch beyond comfort, to confront our deepest selves.

Falling for pretty is simple, easy, and fleeting. It’s the applause from the crowd, the “likes,” the external admiration. But love — true love — lives in the struggle, the patience, the commitment. It’s about nurturing the messy, imperfect parts of your creation and your soul, and letting that grow into something enduring.

So, if you want to love art, love the process, love the hard, gritty journey. Pretty is a fun fling; beauty is the real deal. And you’re worth that kind of love.