What is Art?

Art is a subjective form of expression. It truly cannot be judged for its beauty or usefulness except by those who created it or have a use for it. I understand the need for technique knowledge and style, but to what extent? To the extent that it discourages people who feel they cannot draw or cannot sing, or cannot design to stop?

I believe art is the desire to want to create something from yourself in spite of what others think. Others may consider what you make senseless, poorly done and maybe even useless, but it's those criticisms that should drive the artist to create even more work.

In this argument, there are different directions one can go. One being commercial art. Commercial art is that which is created with the intent of possibly earning the artist or client money. With this area of art it IS important to listen to critiques and technique lessons in order to make the art created more apt to being bought.

Another side of art is the created for self pleasure art. This section of art is really defined in the name itself. With this type of art, anything should be able to go. You wanna sing off key, you wanna put someone's face DEAD CENTER, you wanna color outside of the lines go right ahead.

Another side is that which is desired to be hung in galleries. This really falls in the middle of the argument. On one hand, you want to please the gallery enough with your art that they will actually want to display your work. On the other hand, you don;'t want to sell out your style and expression so much that you cease to create work from your own want.

Art is a difficult thing to define, and maybe this can scratch the scratch on the tip of the iceberg.

- C!G