#art, ART IS THE SEARCH…

Why do I say that? I mean, why do I say that art is the search. The search for what? And ultimately, what is art? If you study art history you discover that centuries ago it was quite easy to define what art was. As a matter of fact, many of the famous Renaissance artists that we think of as the Masters these days did not even call themselves artists. They considered themselves as artisans. It wasn’t until artists started choosing and deciding what they were going to paint or sculpt that the idea, the concept of being an artist was developed. Before that, artists like Michelangelo and Bernini did not choose what they were going to paint, it was commissioned to the. They painted what the Church or what a rich noble wanted, or what the King or Queen desired.

So, when artists were free to choose their subject matter, art evolved rather quickly and that is when art became the search. As an artist you must possess certain qualities, and these are: Education, Preparation, skill, insight and good taste. Without any one of these you may not succeed as an artist. (Unless you get yourself someone with lots and lots of money to sponsor you, promote your work and place you at the pinnacle of the art world. It is being done with many no-talent artists doing no good art).

In any event, that is why I say that art is the search. In the search you filter out the mundane, the ordinary, the uglier aspects of life and you keep that which can transmit a message, enhance someone’s life and enrich your own creative spirit. As an artist you must have the spirit of the times, live in the moment and search through history to conclude with a work that reflects the times and speaks to the future.

CHEERS