When I was young I wanted to be a songwriter. After years of trying I finally realized that I wasn't very good at it. That's the thing about art in general. The really good artists make it look easy. They also see the world differently. A painter may paint an image that amuses or relaxes us. Whether a still-life or geometric with primary colors. We are invited and often compelled to look on it with wonder. It doesn't look hard until we try it ourselves.
A photographer can capture a moment in time and distill it down to its essence. I know many wedding photographers. They are all good and have a few stock poses for their clients. The families always enjoy looking at the photos and reliving the moment. But a couple of my friends are so artistic that even strangers want to see the wedding pictures. Images that not only capture the day, but are breathtakingly beautiful. To watch them work they don't look much different than a family friend taking snapshots. But the results are worlds apart.
When I was younger I couldn't understand why dictators always seemed to kill or imprison poets. Only as an emerging adult did I learn of Spanish and latin poets who could not only write of beauty but also injustice with equal fervor. The last thing a dictator wants is someone who can passionately motivate the masses.
An artist shows us our own world through a very special viewpoint. A good songwriter can say the things that we want to say in ways that we want to say them. They can distill the character of many into the character of one with a poignancy that resonates. Each word in each sentence is truth.
Anytime we lose an artist that we care about the loss feels personal. Who will speak for us now. Who's words can we use to express our anger, our fear, our disappointment, or our love. A stranger who can easily remind us that we aren't alone, even when we feel lonely.
A great many people around the world mourn the sudden loss of Tom Petty this week. He entertained millions for decades and for his many fans it's personal.