Applicable Definitions

Define art.

The answer to this demand is long sought out by people worldwide. However, it is not a simple task to carry out. To define art would destroy it. Art, as we well know, has many different subcategories, each of which survive in an individual state. In order for art to exist, there has to be a well rounded acceptance that there are no rules that apply. What many people fail to realize is that art comes in many different shapes and sizes, and every aspect of the subject is unique. Comparable to humans, art almost has it's own welcoming personality. It does not judge, rather waits for the open-minded to venture in and explore the depths which have been classified as "art".

What exactly makes something a candidate to be placed in the same category as art?

Freedom of expression plays a major role in this placement. Not only should it be widely accepted in communities, but the creator, of whatever the art may be, must feel that they are able to express themselves freely. Not only that, but one should be able to take criticism in all of its forms and use it to their advantage.

Creativity, when viewed from the "outer circle", is something that only talented people possess. But whether those people want to hear it or not, we all have talents; some of us just haven't grasped how to utilize them yet. When approaching art, you have to let go of the "inner and outer circle" mentality. Anyone is capable of art, whether it be writing, painting, or making music. As I stated before, there are many different subcategories listed under art.

Writing, for example, is an art form. Yet under this subcategory there are multiple types of writing. Poetry, short stories, novels (etc), and along with these different types of writing there are multiple genres, such as fiction, thriller, horror, science fiction, drama, non-fiction, and so on. Under each genre there are more categories, and under those are more genres. Compare it to a fractal. Everything has to start somewhere, but once motivation sets in, the possibilities of where it may go are endless.

This leads me to my next point. A positive mindset is vital for success in the art world (or anything, for that matter). I'm sure we've all heard the saying, "it takes more muscles to frown that to smile". Take that into consideration every time you are having doubts, because if you believe you can do something, you will have more fun during the process. Even if you fail at first, never just give up on your dreams, because with failure comes experience, and in the end, the journey will have made it all worth while.

Your World, My World

I saw a film today about the Hubble telescope and space exploration.

There was something about it that spoke to me. Not just on a "student knowledge intake" level, but more so on a personal level. It made me realize that art and science are not just distantly related, but rather go hand-in-hand. It was one person's art that influenced someone else to make new discoveries and scientific advances. It is one huge chain reaction that has changed life as we know it.

One of the focuses of this film was Hubble's ability to give us an in depth look at space. It discussed nebulae, and gave the viewers a new perspective on what they are. It was this that made me realize how little we really know about the universe, and how much potential we have for our future. I only wish that everyone else could realize this, too. The more I sit and think about it, the more baffled and curious I become. The things we don't know are what nurture creativity. Creativity is one of the more important aspects of our lives, because if we don't take one daring leap across our own borders we're not really living. With this being part of philosophy, I find myself wondering: "how is philosophy not considered an art?" Philosophy has a lot of the same elements as art. Taking large ideas and narrowing them down to something unexpected and new, yet keeping it completely relevant to something is just one of the many similarities I see between the two. Philosophy is spoken poetry, and art is the silent philosophy that screams opinions and raises questions about things that typically go unnoticed.

But it isn't just philosophy and science that relate to art. In a sense, anything and everything can. I say this because everything takes some amount of creativity to become what it is, and creativity is a major element in art.

As I sit here watching a single visible star disappear behind a cloud, I find myself pondering the things we have yet to discover, and it is this that makes me appreciate the little things in life.

It's More Complex Than You Think

As I sit here watching "Sherlock Holmes", I can help but realize how movies are taken for granted. Too many people think that film making is a pointless industry; a waste of time.

There is so much work behind the production of a film. First you have the pre-production stage. Screenplay writing, storyboarding, scouting actors, set building, recruiting producers, etc. This is where the most stressful events take place, so to speak. If that isn't enough work in and of itself, take into consideration the actual production stage. You have filming to do in a certain time frame. This is also where editing of the script happens, because sometimes, an actor will forget their lines and improvise their way through a scene. Usually, the director will approve, but there are occasions when he or she will make the actor go through that scene again, meaning they have to discard the old film and start over. Granted, it sounds like the easiest part of film making, but in reality there is no such thing as simplicity in the film industry. And then you have to consider post-production. This is when the editing takes place, which is probably one of the most difficult parts of film making. Scenes are cut and moved into a different order, and sometimes they have to re-film. This is what takes the most amount of time, and yet producers are able to release a decent film on time. So why is it that the film industry is thought of in such a degrading manner?

What I personally find the most irksome is that no one considers film making an art. Yes, it is far different than stereotypical art, but it is nonetheless an art.

Is There Such A Thing As Too Much Influence?

Many artists will compare their art to others.

There are many reasons as to why this can be a good thing to do. It helps the artist improve in the various areas of art. But, it can also have severe consequences. Think about this for a moment. Art is about originality and creativity, and when you mimic someone's idea it can either lead to a great, new idea or disaster.

In the beginning stages of learning different techniques and styles of art, it is important to be able to look at someone else's creation and learn from it. Test their observed techniques in your own art and find what works best for you. Never stop experimenting. But when does this mimicking get out of hand? If you never find the opportunity to find what is right for you and spend your time trying to be someone else, the set plan to imitate the art you admire begins to collapse in on itself. Everything you thought was going to work for you begins to crumble. It's almost comparable to being caught in the act of plagiarism.

Even after discovering what works for them, artists will always compare themselves to other artists. This is good, but only in small doses. Too much comparison, I feel, leads to the artist believing that their work is inferior and not worth the time they put into it. In turn, the artist begins over working their pieces, which will only lead to more disappointment.

So, is it important to learn from other artists? Definitely. But not letting it get to your head is also key in being happy with your creations. Sit back and love the art you produce, and never doubt your talents.

Chain Reactions

Music.

It plays a significant role in human life. Music inspires, influences and creates a state of mind where anything is possible. It fills the void of whatever predicament life has thrown at us at any given moment. It controls our emotions, making us feel a multitude of ways we never thought existed. This element of music is what drives the creative genius inside us all to physically generate the crazy ideas just waiting to burst from our skulls. In many ways, the ideas behind music and visual art coincide. They influence each other. The musician gathers and retains information from the visual artist and interprets it vocally, and vice versa. The same could easily be said for writing. Many authors get their inspiration from songs.

I see this as an endless chain of positive events, something comparable to the domino effect. Each element of art gives new life to another, like each "genre" holds a mutual relationship with the next. Art, being a wide umbrella of possibilities, has the ability to unify people. Whether it be music, visual art or writing, there will always be someone who enjoys the same things you do, and that someone will just so happen to know someone else who has the same interests, and so forth. You are never a lone soul in the world of art.

The Universal Healer

I was once told that art can be compared to a child. At first, an idea is thought over and discarded. But the more you think about it, the more your ideas begin to grow on you. Sketches and outlines are created, and eventually you find yourself staring at a masterpiece. Even if you think it isn't the greatest idea you've come up with, you hold a special bond to your creation. There is something about art that humans are able to connect with on an emotional level. Every aspect of the world of art has the ability to change a person. An artist comes up with an idea and is forever changed in the way they see something. The audience experiences the artist's breakthrough and, in turn, will walk away with an enlightened view on certain aspects of life and perhaps even view life, as a whole, in a new light.

As I sit here listening to music, I can't help but think of the therapeutic properties of art. Sculpture heals the soul, painting relaxes the mind, drawing unties the bindings of drama, writing channels energy, and music brings people together. That is one of the many reasons why art is an important aspect in our daily lives. Even if the art umbrella isn't your cup of tea, always try to have a solid appreciation for what it stands for.

"The Beginnings of Something Random"

The artist's mind can be dark place. A place of creation, birth, death and rebirth. I've heard specialists say that artists are borderline schizophrenic. But where would the world be without us "crazies"? In my mind, the world would be a place of absolute monotony. Everyone and everything would be exactly the same. I can only imagine how boring that would be.

As a developing artist, I am here to talk about breaking the restraints. Every one of us has some form of restraint holding us back from achieving our dreams, and nothing should have control over us in such a fashion. We all aspire to be something, and as human beings we are capable of defying what we all fear: the unknown. The unknown is one of the greatest elements of art; you never know what you're going to get out of your idea. Every idea starts as a seed, but it always grows differently than you expected. Sometimes it is for the better, and sometimes you hate the outcome. But the best thing about art is someone will always love it. Whether it be painting, drawing, sculpting or even writing, let your ideas flow and never doubt your instincts.