We Are the Art
- Apr 3
- 3 min read
By DK Hillard
As a lifelong artist, I used to believe that my worth was tied to the things I create. For years, I identified my value by the art I produced, the tangible pieces I could hold in my hands and share with the world. But recently, it occurred to me that the true value I offer isn’t just in my work—it’s in who I am.
This realization isn’t just important for me as an artist, but for anyone in business, whether you’re crafting products or providing services. We all need to ask ourselves: What are we really offering? What are we asking others to invest in when they engage with us or our work?
I’ve come to realize that many people in creative fields overlook this idea. While my work might be unique—more often feeling like a spiritual experience anchored by my pieces—it’s something I’ve noticed in the broader world as well. As a consumer, I know that we’re often drawn to things not because of the product itself, but because of how it makes us feel.
Take, for instance, a coach I’ve worked with for years. She’s incredibly skilled, but what has kept me as a client isn’t just her expertise. It’s her ability to truly meet me where I am, to mirror exactly what I need, and her sensitivity that makes me feel seen. She’s offering herself, not just coaching sessions—and that’s why I keep coming back.
Similarly, there are a few boutiques in my town I love to visit. While I enjoy the products they carry, it’s the atmosphere that truly draws me in. It’s the way the staff interacts with me, the energy they bring into the space. I often end up buying something, but when I think about it, that’s not what I came for. It’s the experience I value most.
I purchase as a way of bringing that experience back home with me and reliving it every time I use what I bought. That purchase feels more personal because it is linked to an experience and that experience is often connected to someone else.
So, what are these businesses really selling? Are they selling products, or is it the feeling I get when I engage with them—the joy, the connection, and the sense of being appreciated? In my experience, it’s the emotional connection that encourages me to make a purchase. The product or service I buy serves as an anchor to that positive experience.
Reflecting on my own work, I’ve realized that the real value I offer is in who I am when people encounter my art. Yes, they come to see beautiful art, but they leave with something deeper: an experience, a connection, a feeling that I’ve helped cultivate. They leave uplifted and knowing that someone has truly connected with them. The artwork itself becomes a symbol, an anchor that helps them hold onto that feeling and revive it at any time.
This leads me to a key question for anyone in business: Could it be that you yourself are the product?
Perhaps you are the difference someone is seeking. What you offer might simply be the vehicle through which that transformation happens. You might be exactly what they’ve been searching for, even if they didn’t know it yet.
At the end of the day, what truly matters is not just what we make—it’s how we make others feel. It’s the impact we have, the connections we foster, and the energy we bring. The art isn’t just in the pieces we create; it’s in the experience we offer.
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