What Is Art?

Creating art can be difficult at first, however, it can also be as simple as making time, getting in the studio (or creative space) and as "they" say, "putting your pencil (or medium of choice) to paper". Some people say in order to create art you have to do X, Y, and Z. I guess in order to know how to create art, One must venture into the lengthy discussion on art and what exactly art is.

Art is a very universal & generic term that encompasses several categories. It acts as a global category for all things creative and depending upon ones point of view (art is subjective after all) it can make for a very interesting conversation. Art is more than an activity (Painting, drawing, playing music, writing, comedy, etc.)- Art is the ability of expression...Art to me is a way of life.

As a creative person, I can't stop creating! I'm serious, I have tried to take breaks but I can't stop my mind. My mind is continuously conjuring up new ideas.

So, What is Art?
Since this topic has been discussed several thousand times over - and will continue to be discussed - Here's what the world has to say about Art via a Wikipedia article.

Here are some interesting quotes which offers different view points:

Henry James in his short story The Middle Years:

We work in the dark—we do what we can—we give what we have. Our doubt is our passion and our passion is our task. The rest is the madness of art.

Steven Pressfield in The War of Art:

To labor in the arts for any reason other than love is prostitution.

Elbert Hubbard in a 1908 volume of Little Journeys to the Homes of Great Teachers:

Art is not a thing—it is a way.

Oscar Wilde in The Soul of Man Under Socialism:

Art is the most intense mode of individualism that the world has known.

Thomas Merton in No Man Is An Island:

Art enables us to find ourselves and lose ourselves at the same time.

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In a much broader sense of the word, Art can be everyday objects such as (lamps or salt shakers) that go unrecognized. Once upon a time people use to make these objects with their hands and it was a craft, skills that created objects that served a purpose in everyday use. Now that machines create these objects we take them for granted; Are they not still art? Is art only art, when a living thing (being) creates something unique? The advancement of technology has allowed people to use machines to create art.
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I dare propose the question:"What's the different between a person making something with a machine to sell in stores vs a person making/creating something on a computer to sell as "Art"?" I suppose that it's best left up to the viewers or creators to make that decision.

The bottom line is Art is and always will be different for every viewer. Some may love what I create and some may hate it because they don't or can't understand it. As long as I am creating the art I choose to create, I'll be happy.

Cheers!