What is art?
I wanted to take this time to say a little bit more about myself. My introductory post is a basic understanding of me overall. However, there is definitely more to me than meets the eye. As I mentioned in my introductory statement, I am a wife and mother, and I have a passion for the arts.
I want to mention, that as an artist, I have a very vague definition of art because there are numerous variations to art. Most people think of art as a drawing or a painting. That is true, but it does go beyond that. So, what is art?
The way that I define art, is an aesthetically pleasing work that appeals to the senses, and makes one feel something about the piece as well as think about why those feelings are being engaged. An example of this will be Van Gogh’s Starry Night. When one looks at the painting, numerous things typically go through the mind.
For me, I sense the motion in the skies as the wind blows, the vibrant light of the luminous stars, and even the movement in the rolling hills. Starry Night is a perfect example of the epitome of art. However, fine arts such as drawings and painting, or even pottery and sculptures, are not the only forms of art out there.
So the next thing to ask ourselves is: what other types of art are there? What is art? What is not? It is a very broad spectrum. Other art forms include things such as writing, dancing, gymnastics, sewing, crocheting or knitting, cake decorating, scrapbooking, and even DIY projects, and home decor! The list is almost endless!
Not many people would think that going to a garage sale, buying that old table, and refurbishing it back to an aesthetic piece worthy of being displayed in the home as an art form, such as these tables.
However, think of it in this perspective. That once scuffed and browbeaten old table, has a fresh coat of paint, was sanded, and even has new hinges or hardware on it, and it looks brand new. This new-looking table now has a place of honor in the front hallway, with an elegant plant on top.
Though we may not always stop and admire it every day, there are days we stop to look at the piece with pride and joy and feel that it adds to the space it now occupies. Moreover, this table required “creative juices” to flow through the brain in order to be able to take that table most would have used for scrap lumber, and turn it into a refreshing piece to look at daily. This is what art is all about!
Think also about writing. Imagine your favorite author, whether that author is a historical romance novelist or even a non-fictional piece about the meaning of life. Regardless of the genre, and regardless of the content, a book in hand or a tablet to scroll through, as you read through that book or article, your senses are activated, and your mind is working.
A good author will instill in their readers the passion behind their thoughts through the writing in their works. It could be a topic most will find tedious, yet the passion in the writing will move the senses and create feelings for the reader.
Let’s look back at our meaning of life example. Most people are not necessarily moved to read about the meaning of life, but for those drawn into the content, these readers need to be engaged until the end, or the purpose of the writing is for naught. Let’s say the writer states “The meaning of life is to live it to the fullest,” but doesn’t elaborate on what that may mean or entail. For most people, that is actually a very vague statement, and could potentially disengage a reader and cause them to lose interest.
Yes, it may give people some room for interpretation, but there is also a lot of room for confusion, which could lead to an abandonment of the work, and therefore the point of the writing is never conveyed. Let’s take it a step further, and say the writer goes on to say, for example, “The meaning of life is to live your life to the fullest.
This doesn’t mean going skydiving or swimming with sharks, but living every day as if it may be your last. Don’t put off something until tomorrow, that you can do today. Takes things a day at a time while never forgetting the bigger picture. There is movement and motion in this second statement is more likely to draw in a reader, so that the reader can appreciate the content and the art behind the words.
There are numerous examples, and we can go on and on with the list. What are some examples of what you feel are art forms? What appeals to your senses and makes you think? In your thoughts, what is art?
