What is ART? Consider......

-Does art spark a dialogue? Is it a conversation piece?
-Is it a memory of a place? A person?
-Is it a reproduction of a photograph - detailed down to the last leaf on that tree?
-Is it color on your wall -- something to hang over your couch?
-Is it something unusual to look at?
-Is the artwork beautiful? Intricate? Skillfully executed?
-Is it loose in expression -- evoke a childlike execution (beauty in itself)?
-Does the art leave an impression?
-Does it create emotion in you, the viewer?
-Is it just the intrinsic result of artistic expression left to be *out there*?

We all have our own tastes as to what we want to look at visually.
I've decided - art is whatever YOU like. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.
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I never was very serious. My art professor said "Well how will you ever be able to discuss art seriously?" and trying not to be impertinent, I told him "I won't ever talk about it, I'll just do it."

I had four years of art history, training, techniques, experiments in pottery, oils, and acrylics, and occasionally not getting enough ventilation in that silk screen room. A lot of laughter came out of that room let me tell you. And I WAS paying attention in art history during those 8 a.m. slide shows, when the lights went off and most students were going back to sleep in that dark room. If someone would whisper "I can't keep my eyes open", Mr. Godfrey would say "you have something to add?" and Hank, the class clown would reply for all "Let's move on to Sensual Botticelli."

So, the opening page of my web site shows me some 30 years ago, doing portraitures for my senior seminar. I graduated B.A.Cum Laude in Art and headed into the job market, fell into the computer field, and eventually received my multimedia and business certification, contracting and working for companies doing graphic design. I had also worked on the technical end, doing drawings a gas saving device for an auto company. There was not much imagination or creativity in the final product (i.e., I've drawn a LOT of carburators in my day), but honestly loved every minute of it.

After years of supporting myself in the computer industry, my "art" has been limited only to the 'computer' canvas. Over the years, I found little time left for other medias, but when I did, the subject matter would always be the human face. A face is more alive to me than a landscape. I guess I just never did like green paint and leaves. Recently I was asked "how do you get such vibrant colors?" and I smiled and responded: "I just mix the paint."

For those who want a serious answer as to which artists were of an early influence; they would have to be Jean-August-Dominique Ingres and John Singer Sargent Today, my appreciation leans more towards Degas, Frieseke, and Tissot.

A writer friend of mine says "when I hear the little voices, I have to write!" It is the same for me and that blank canvas....I have said many times that being artistic is both a blessing and a curse....because an artist NEEDS to create. It IS frustrating, but the creativity has to come out.

So I guess my answer to "what art is for me...." it is just my interpretation of what I am seeing, feeling, and the inner peace in just "doing it." I'm always surprising myself with the final outcome.

An artist cannot speak about his art any more than a plant can discuss horticulture. (Jean Cocteau)

Remember I'm an artist. And you know what that means in a court of law. Next worst to an actress. (Joyce Cary)

If we artists didn't have a "screw loose" we wouldn't be artists! (Jane Champagne)

The artist himself is often surprised at the finished work of art. He cannot tell 'how it happened', nor could he repeat the feat at someone's bidding. (John F. Carlson)

An artist is a creature driven by demons – he usually doesn't know why they chose him and he's usually too busy to wonder why. (William Faulkner)

Artists don't retire – they can't – otherwise they're not artists. (Don Getz)

An artist's job is to surprise himself. Use all means possible. (Robert Henri)

The artist must be ecstatic about something. (Ted Shawn)

What is an artist? For every thousand people there's nine hundred doing the work, ninety doing well, nine doing good, and one lucky bastard who's the artist. (Tom Stoppard)

I didn't discover I was an artist until I was 17... It was very hard to be an artist and a child... it was like having sand up your butt when you go to the beach. (Alfre Woodard)