186 – Art

Because my life the past few weeks has been more hectic than normal, my apologies for the slow responses and lack of visits. Although I know you understand, it’s my nature to acknowledge the situation. Thank you!

Click the video above for 2 minutes of background waves while reading.

I like walking on the beach. It’s good for the mind, body, and soul – and refreshing on my feet.

I look at the sky and notice streaky clouds appearing to be from an artist’s brush. Around me are buildings designed by architects and built by contractors according to their design. Looking at the sand, I spot a beautiful shell designed by nature.

The clouds, buildings, and shells are all forms of art. Hitting a baseball is an art. Then again, so are most athletic endeavors when done well. But today, I think of what most of us think of as art. You know – art – that human expression of creativity that stimulates the senses and cerebral thoughts.

Art isn’t limited to paintings and sculptures but includes other works done by gifted hands – such as quilting, knitting, pottery, woodworking, stained glass, and more.

Photography is unquestionably a visual art. Maybe not in the same way as artistry using hands, but the photographer is a visual artist. On the other hand, I point-and-shot the camera while hoping to get lucky.

Today I think of art – the combination of an artist’s expression, illusion, and even imagination – an artist communicating a message of time, place, senses, emotions, and perceptions.

Art is an expression of what the artist perceives through the relationships of colors, light, space, medium, texture, balance, shadows, contrast, proportions, and probably more.

I wonder if art is the outcome of the artist weaving concrete and imagination – an expression between perception and actuality – something between thought-provoking and a reminder – between reality and possibility – a connection of the past, present, and future.

Art is that creation by an artist getting one to stop, look, and think – yet, the artist prefers to know the viewer’s thoughts instead of stating their intentions.

Art comes in many styles – from Impressionism, Expressionism, Cubism, Surrealism, Romanticism, and Realism to Abstract and more. All are art.

Now I wonder – Is architecture art? I don’t know because I am not an architect or an artist. I think of the guides in Europe identifying architecture as Classical, Neoclassical, Renaissance, Victorian, Baroque, and others. To me, architecture is art because the building is the architect’s artistic visual expression.

I think of the performing arts – the rhythms, harmonies, and melodies of music through voices and a wide variety of instruments. Dances from ballet to modern dance are physical, rhythmic, timed expressions normally set to music.

I think about an actor’s craft of combining speech and gestures to tell a story to a live audience from the theater’s stage. Yes, these performers are artists and what they do is art.

Moving from the stage to film was a major addition to the performing arts in the 20th Century – and yes, cinematography is an art all to its own.

Ice skating is a dance form telling stories and conveying messages and feelings. Yes – ice skating is an art.

The list can go on and on, such as the literary arts of novels, short stories, and poems – plus the communication arts of public speaking – let alone the culinary art of cooking.

Art is one of humanity’s creative expressions. Although nature’s designs sometimes influence human designs, there seems to be no limit to human creativity.

Art is a skill, a craft, a technique acquired through practice and guidance. Whether a classical art form, a performing art, a literary art, and even architecture. Teaching is an art. Many can do it, but only a few can master it. Leadership is an art – so is broadcasting the news. So yes – successfully hitting a baseball is an art.

Nature offers much natural artistry on the beach through its natural designs – the very designs that time has rationally and beautifully shaped and colored. But this walk is about human art.

Art is human imagination and skills at work – but walking on the beach isn’t art – but it is good for the mind, body, and soul – and refreshing on my feet.

NOTE: Marina Kanavaki and I have been blog friends for many years. She is a gifted artist specializing in watercolor paint and music. Fortunately for me, she is allowing me to share her artistry with you. The video displays her paintings for an art show set to her original music. I invite you to visit Marina, and if she is new to you, tell her I sent you.

A link to Jo’s latest walk featuring spring near Leeds, England. Tell her I sent you.

See what other bloggers have posted about Art

• AI-Generated Art (a photo essay)
• The Annual Art Show (by a visitor here)
• Museum of Modern Art NYC (a photo essay)
• Fractal Fantasy (a photo essay)
• Rodin Museum, Paris (a photo essay)

Next Post: Shoes – Saturday 29th April @ 1 AM (Eastern US)