My Reason for Creating Art
Background Story
My reason for creating art is different from yours I am sure. People do art for any number of reasons. I hadn’t really thought about mine too much until a recent interaction I had.
I was volunteering at a local art show and sale in which I had some pieces. My job was simply to sit at the entrance and greet people as they came in, show them where the various galleries were and tally the number of people who came in. It was a simple job and a way to engage a bit with the public.
The Challenge
One gentleman talked to me after he walked through the show. He was pleasant enough but did have some strong opinions and felt quite free to share them with me.
He said he had no use really for landscapes, florals or birds. He said that he liked art to challenge him and make him think. He said that was what art was for. I had to politely disagree. He seemed startled. I said that yes, some art can make one think and can be challenging, but that I thought there were many other reasons for it as well.
My Response
I told him that I paint landscapes and florals and that I paint for healing and peace. I told him that we have recently been through two very challenging and painful years. Those years changed us all and that in some ways we are still reeling from their effects. I told him that I didn’t realize what I was doing at first but that in the Ashcroft Art Show and Sale I had several people come up to me and say “Heather, Your paintings are all so calm and peaceful.” I thought about that after and I truly believe that this was my minds way of creating some peace in my life, when all around was chaos.
He just looked at me for a minute. Then he said that I was very perceptive. He thanked me for giving him a new point of view. He said he had never thought about art in that way before.
I am glad he didn’t just storm off in a huff. I hope that he might look at art that he doesn’t really like in maybe a new way. People paint for many different reasons.
I recently came across a quote:
“To my mind a picture should be something pleasant, cheerful and pretty. There are too many unpleasant things in life as it is, without creating still more of them.” – Pierre Auguste Renoir
I know that many people will disagree with him, and a part of me can understand that, but if a true art master can have these thoughts then I can’t be too wrong in having them as well.
Final Thoughts
There are as many reasons for creating art as there are artists, just as what art means to its viewers is as varied as its viewers. I don’t think any one reason or view is more important than another. For me, at this time in my life I paint for healing and peace. When I look at other art I like to see calm or happy scenes. That is what I want and need right now. This isn’t to say that at some point I won’t change. I have learner through experience to never say never. We are all growing and always experiencing new things which has to change us in some way. That is life.
