What Is Art

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This is a question that has always been relevant and will continuely be re-answered. So, thought I would just offer my humble opinion - cause that's where I'm coming from. Got my first job in junior high school as a reference page(part time) at the James V. Brown Library in Williamsport, PA. What a wonderful job, surrounded by all those books and magazines. My job was to retreive matterial for patrons as requested and then to put those items back in stock. And by constantly handeling all this information and knowlege; well, it was like a kid in a candy shop . . . Around that time I became enamored with Picasso, et al, and read what I could (at my level of understanding) about them and Modern Art. It seemed that there must be some special "thing" that made these particular paintings "Art", (asside from the text) and why they were presented in this hallowed way in the history books. A formula started to emerge. It doesn't matter what materials you use, nor the colors, style, content or subject matter. It's that inner balance when suddenly everything works together like a good math formula. Somehow the painting becomes equal to itself and there's nothing more for it to say, it's complete and balanced internally. For me, that explains what makes a painting, Art instead of just paint on canvas. In the ensuing years, and especially now, by being able to research on the internet, I've come to understand more of the "why" that makes things "Art". What makes certain works"important". And of course, that's all very true. But for me, my formula still works. Without a formal art education, it was hard for me to break away from realism and find my own voice. Well, actually it was quite fun - understanding it or knowing how to go about it and trust myself was(and is) the hard part. I don't pretent to be an important artist or that I make great art ( well, actually I DO pretend, but I'm sane enough to know my place) - but it's just plain wonderful to have an idea and be able to turn that idea into an object that can be admired, enjoyed and appreciated. It feels great to be an Artist and make Art.
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