What is Art? What Does Art Mean To You?

Art is one of those disciplines that people wonder what art means and if art and viewing and understanding art should matter? In other words, is art influential?

Art is about human creative skills and imagination that come out in a creative visual form; art such as painting, sculpturing, and photography are all visual art forms. Art should matter to society as it is through art that the creators of art and the viewer of the art can gain new and rich understandings about themselves, their lives, history, and society.

What Is Art?

The question of “What Is Art?” is a question that humankind has been asking themselves since the very beginning. I wonder when our cavemen ancestors drew their cave art if they turned around and exclaimed, “now that is art!”

The Oxford Dictionary defines art as the following:

“The expression or application of human creative skill and imagination, typically in a visual form such as painting or sculpture, producing works to be appreciated primarily for their beauty or emotional power.

‘the art of the Renaissance’

The various branches of creative activity, such as painting, music, literature, and dance.

‘the visual arts’

As the Oxford dictionary points out, art is about the human creative skills and imagination that usually takes place in a visual form. Under this definition, our ancestor’s cave dwellers drawings are a form of art.

Art is about creating something that helps to make the world more beautiful while at the same time evoking the emotional power of others when they see or view the art. That is why the artist – any artist – leaves their mark on the world.

The question “what is art” can get confusing as the branch of art can also include a host of other areas which are not all visual such as literature or poetry. Other forms of artistic expression, such as dance or music, are also considered art forms.

Art may also be called visual art, which is the visual art. Visual art can include art with diverse media such as painting, sculpturing, printmaking, decorative arts, drawing, photography, and installation.

Even within art itself, there can be variations in that not all art is created just for the beauty of the art. A quilter may make a visually appealing quilt that can also be used as a blanket or bed cover. A potter may create a beautiful pot that is used to hold fresh flowers.

Art can also be further divided up culturally, such as Native American Art, African Art, Asian Art, Central Asian Art, Egyptian Art, Islamic Art, Oceanic Art, European Art, American Art, South and Central American art, and more.

Art As A Verb

Art should be a verb as art is something that human beings have done and created since the very beginning of time. Here are some reasons why art is a verb, especially for artists who are creating works of art:

  • Art is an expression of our thoughts, emotions, and desires – The art we create is a sum expression of our thoughts, emotions, and desires and, in a sense, who we are. Each time artists create a work of art, they then give a part of themselves and their thoughts to the world.
  • Art is personal – To an artist – Art is personal, and it is about how an artist sees the world; when an artist creates a work of art, they share how they see the world.
  • Art expresses our beliefs without words – For visual arts such as painting, the artist is expressing to us their beliefs and who they are without using any words.

All these things make art a personal endeavor for artists and those who view and experience the art. Art is a verb because whether you are the artist or the viewer, you actively participate in this process.

What Does Art Mean To You?

What art means to you is and can be a highly personal question. What one person thinks is a brilliant piece of art, another may wonder how anyone can think it is even art.

Art should matter to us as there are so many things we can learn and gain from not just creating but also viewing and understanding the art around us.

Here are some things to think about when viewing or creating art:

Art Imitates Reality

In some way, art imitates reality. The artist paints a vase, and even if they copied it precisely as they see, it is an imitation of the vase and not the actual vase.

That is why art is known to be an imitation of reality; it may be an exact copy, or maybe it is not an exact copy, but in both cases, art is somehow imitating reality.

Art Evokes Human Emotion

For some artists, the goal of art may not be to create something beautiful but to evoke human emotion or express something. Art causes people to think about the art itself or its meaning.

That is why when you view a painting or work of art, you may feel something about that painting; it has evoked your human emotions.

Art Helps Tell You Who You Are

Art can help you to see who you are. The emotions the art has evoked can help you connect to your inner self Art helps to show you who you are, what you care about, and even what you stand for and why.

Art Can Introduce You To New Ideas

Art can show you who you are and what matters most to you, but art can also introduce you to a new set of ideas and experiences you may have never witnessed or experienced before.

Through art, you can reach a deeper understanding of your emotions you may have never known that you had. This also helps you look within yourself and better understand yourself.

Art As A Form Of Activism

Art can touch people at their core and evoke change. For centuries art has been used to promote activism or make a political statement.

Artists have used art as a vehicle to work to try to evoke some change in the hearts and minds of those who view and experience the art.

Art Helps Us Understand History

Through art, we can learn and understand history. Whether our past or the history of those who lived in another time and place. Art can be our guide through history.

Art matters. Art is an integral part of all societies. Because of this, art should be important to everyone, whether you are the artist who creates works of art or those who are viewing the works of art. Art is essential and does matter.

Anita Louise Art is dedicated to art education, great artists, and inspiring others to find and create their art. We love art that uplifts and inspires#ArtToMakeYouSmile! #ArtToMakeYouHappy!

If you are interested to see any of my art, you can find out more by clicking here. If you are interested in what inspires me and my paintings, you can discover more by clicking here.

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Why Do People Say, ”Life Is Like Drawing Without An Eraser?

Often, artists, myself included, will use an eraser to remove any marks or measurements we may have made on a paper to measure out and organize their drawings or artwork on their canvas or paper. For most artists having a good eraser is essential.

By clicking here, you can learn more by reading Why Do People Say, ”Life Is Like Drawing Without An Eraser?.

Meaning Of “Art Speaks Where Words Are Unable To Explain”

“Art speaks where words are unable to explain” means that words, even though compelling and not always able to convey the message as Art can convey it. Words are powerful, but an image or piece of art can be much more powerful than the spoken or written word.

By clicking here, you can learn more by reading Meaning Of “Art Speaks Where Words Are Unable To Explain.”

Is Communism Good For The Arts?

Communism is not suitable for art, and for many artists under Communism, art should have a purpose and way to help further the communist ideals and ideology. In a Communist society, many artists are labeled as dissidents; others are forced to use their talents to create propaganda art.

By clicking here, you can learn more by reading Is Communism Good For The Arts?.

Anita Louise Hummel

Hi, I am Anita Louise Hummel. I am an artist and a blogger. I paint mainly oil paints. I love to paint women, animals (mainly dogs and cats), and abstracts. I use a lot of gold and silver leaf in my paintings. I also love to blog about anything to do with art, business, Procreate, and all the wonderful artists that inspire me.

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What is Art?  What Does Art Mean To You?