The Artist’s Search

I believe art – all of the arts – is a celebration of beauty. Something is an art form because it is connected to beauty. If musical notes are not arranged to make a song, then the arrangement loses its connection to beauty and it becomes simply noise. If I cook up a dish that is disgusting to look at and dangerous to eat, then it cannot be legitimately called culinary arts. Likewise, fine art is art because it is, at some level, visually beautiful. Not “pretty,” as though painting butterflies is more “art” than painting trash cans. It isn’t about subject matter, it’s about the search for beauty, regardless what we paint. The search of the artist is the search for beauty. 

An artist is one who wonders at beauty and is driven to create it. The child artist is the one always pointing out the interesting clouds and flowers and sunsets to the rest of the family. They never lose their sense of discovery and delight – or if they lose it, they find it again. Not only do they live with wonder at this incredible planet full of life, they follow their heart and create beauty. That is the heartbeat of the artist.