Why?

Have you ever looked at a piece of art and wondered, "Now, why did the artist make this?"

As far as I can figure, there are two main reasons we create.

1. Because we want/need to

2. Because someone pays us to

Now, these two motivators can certainly overlap - and happy for us when they do! Most of the time, though, for most artists I know, the more common reason is the first: we simply want or NEED to do this.

One artist friend of mine recently said, "All I know is, I'm supposed to make things." For many of us, it's that simple, and that powerful.

So then, how does a particular piece of art come to be?

It seems to me that, again, it boils down to two factors:

1. We wish to create something which has personal resonance for us

2. We have a message or an idea to communicate

I think these motivators overlap more often that the first two I mentioned!

Above on the right is a pastel painting I made of my dog ... I love my dog, and this image gives me happiness. At the most basic level, that is why I made the painting.

But not all images are happy. Sometimes, the message which must be communicated is ugly, frightening, disgusting. And sometimes this is the most powerful art of all.

The first time I saw Picasso's Guernica, above left, I was puzzled as to why the artist would create such an unattractive piece. Then I learned - and I looked more carefully - and I was horrified. I wept. Such can be the power of art.

Fascist and dictatorial regimes censor art and persecute disobedient artists, because they understand its power.

In upcoming posts, I will highlight local artists whose work tells us of uncomfortable things - as well as, of course, those whose work makes us happy.

Both types of art are important, and valid, and both need to be recognized.