What do you feel ...

Hi,   How to say this? … Regarding art …it is the most important thing … even more important than most forms of spirituality … because it can be the highest form of spirituality … So, I need to ask this question, hoping for dead-honest responses:   … Ah … disregarding all expected answers and any consequences stemming from doing so, what do you feel art really is?   ST

Re: What do you feel ...

For me art is a lovely way to express and understand. For things I cannot just talk or feel otherwise. Or times that I end up saying “How to say this?”. ;)

That for me is art.

Re: What do you feel ...

Thanks, Pixie.  :O)

Re: What do you feel ...

Art of all kinds whether music, motion picture, painting, writing, graphic design, photography, dance, stage, TV, youTubes, etc. summarize the quality of communication.  All art creates some two way communication or audience participation.  Art changes the culture and brings people back to their own aesthetic wavelength and express for the individual some joy… I love finding art in all things as it does truly change things for the better.

Re: What do you feel ...

I deliberately avoided reading all other replies to this topic.

Art is a message, an experience - inspired by Spirit and waiting to be shared.
It is a moment of spiritual inspiration that has been honored, experienced, and gifted to the masses.

Whether that means that art reminds us to appreciate the beauty we overlook in the everyday, delivers meaning through symbolism, or simply leads us to an emotional response, when we create art we are acting as a divine messenger and we preserve the message for others, not simply allowing it to pass away unheeded.

Re: What do you feel ...

Hi Mercale ~  If I had a red ribbon, I would tie up your message for the world to be reminded of this truth.  Or put it in a bottle out to sea and make a better day for someone that opened it and became rehabilitated to continue with doing their perceived art that is each individual's choice in with the quality of communication.  Like music, all art causes change for the betterment of mankind endlessly.  You have opened my eyes here to another level of what one does. Thanks for this!!! Kathy

Re: What do you feel ...

Aside from my deep and abiding respect for you Kes, I joined this group because it is truly my feeling that the sacred face of art must be honored. Art has something to communicate to us in so many ways. Truly a gift of the gods.

Interesting yet appropriate that you chose one of my Spirit (automatic) Drawings to post :)  If only so many of them weren't on notebook paper, lol - but you use what you've got. :) I'm currently in the process of taking some of them and turning them into actual paintings - a long process as I'm short on time. I believe there is a sketch of the one I am currently working on (pregnant universal spirit with roots reaching down into earth) in my pictures as well. I'll post the actual painting there when it is finished. :)

Much of my photography at this point - I'm just “starting out” there really- I feel focuses on simple acknowledgment of rich and complicated natural beauties and processes..Perhaps I'll dress it up a bit at some point, but for now, I'm really enjoying how simple beauty really is..

While I don't consider myself a “good” artist by conventional (or what I imagine to be conventional) standards, I do recognize that my art is an extension of how I see the world, be it photography, painting, or sculpture. I've noticed that I tend towards strong lines and more or less solid colors, with simple, “folk” type designs. My art is often strong in symbolism, and low on shading or depth.. For me, if I am expressing something through art, whatever I'm expressing is, in a way, a Truth revealed - it is bright, brought to the surface, vibrant, simple, and rich with meaning.

Of course I'll admit that there are of course areas I would love to improve artistically, ;) and between the chance to pop in and appreciate art's sacred face, the inspirational work of my Gaia friends, the possibility of learning a new “trick” for improving myself artistically, and the wonderful gift of continuing inspiration - I am very pleased to be a part of this group indeed.

Glad you enjoyed my response :D

Warm Blessings,
Mercale

Re: What do you feel ...

this has inspired a blog… I rarely write them.  Mercale, you have pointed out exactly what prompted me to form this group the first day I joined Zaadz.  Your words are like eating dessert.  Thanks for them and for all you do.  I look forward to seeing your finished products.

deep bows

Re: What do you feel ...

This is a great question! I feel art is a communication and expression of your highest self plugging into “the Source”. When you are aligned with this message inspiration comes to you and from there you create as co-creator to the Source/Higher Power and the message contained for humanity therein is brought out into the light through art:) I think it is also an expression of fundamental needs and observations being expressed TO the world at large and communication to the Source through beauty, love and light…….the heart.

Re: What do you feel ...

Art is all those things and more…. more being art is everywhere, in everything, it is creative and destructive, it is funny and sad, meaningful and decorative… 

It is art because the artist said so, or is it art because others have been drawn to it.

Am I an artist because someone else claims me to be one, or am I one because I create art, first for myself, than for those who wish to view it, read it, discuss it, own it? 

I am Love, Jeff

Re: What do you feel ...

Art is what you want it to be
Art is our spiritual path at Ho Ho Chi Heaven
The act of creation defines who we are and what we do
The most creative people are leaders, not followers
To make something that has not existed before is the rarest gift
To make a variation on what exists is a natural act
To make an exact copy is an unnatural act
To continue to make exact copies is not art
To fill the world with more of the same is folly
Some mass produced objects (which are not art) may contain content that is

I recommend that you disagree with at least some of the above

Re: What do you feel ...

Part of what I read here sounds like a discussion about clones in so far as unnatural acts:) LOL

What of the photographer who sells prints of their photographs who has travelled far and wide?

What of the artist who work has touched more then one life with not only the affordability but the content?

I have seen a child's face light up when they have seen me and tell me how they still have my artwork and they just love fairies.

I had one customer who's daughter is going for marine biology purchase one of my mermaid prints and she loves fairies too.

I produce my work right here from my home and yes I have retired some of my pieces to make room for the new ones that are ready to come into the world.
And so what am I to say to the child and the parent? The fairy you liked is no longer available because there was only one of that one? You cant buy the one that called to your heart.

I think it depends on how something is made and what it is made with;)
When my work brings people joy it does my ticker good and I am happy with that. Each package get shipped with that feeling of joy and gratitude.

Thank you Chaparral

Liza:)

Re: What do you feel ...

I'm glad you disagreed, I have no quarrel with prints, books, films. It is their content that I regard as Art, and not the mass produced artifact. I might chance hanging one of your beautiful prints by the window, but I would keep an original out of direct sunlight lest it should fade.

At Ho Ho Chi Heaven we produce copies as well as originals, and I could hardly only sell the original master recordings of my music and stay in business.
By “unnatural acts” I meant that nature does not make exact copies. I rather like hand made prints as they are semi mass produced yet each one can be a tiny bit different - for me the best of both worlds.

Each artist is different, I only speak for myself

Thank you Liza!  I live in a Celtic country, and it is good to see the knotwork adapted to new uses.

Re: What do you feel ...

This commercial brings tears of joy.  I really enjoyed the feelings behind it as universal art.

Re: What do you feel ...

This inspired me, made me cry and from now on I am using Pantene, actually been using it for awhile now:) Thank you.
I love the violin and the way it sings. I did a piece with a fairy playing the violin to a tree across a pond. I call it Tree Serenade. There is a piece called “The Pines” by Loreena McKennett always makes me teary. You can actually feel the trees. I believe it is a cello in this piece.

Hello way over the POND! I love music. My fairies/faeries love that part of being created. Music is very special to me soothes the soul. Thank you for your uplifting words about my work. I hope you post a link soon so I too may hear yours. I have always admired people who are musically talented.

Liza

Re: What do you feel ...

I don't believe in the devil, but am I the only one here who thinks that advertising is the devils tool? making us dissatisfied with what we have even though others have so much less.
Some artists make good money working for adverts, I would pay not to be used in them!

Re: What do you feel ...

Chaparral,

 I think it is the intention behind the advertising that causes the loss of integerty to any art form… 
The power is in the visual and the message… as well as the spirit of the being that is offering the art to the advertisers… 

Re: What do you feel ...

Good morning Jeff - I agree that it is not what we do, or what we refrain from doing that counts.  It is the MOTIVATION BEHIND (intention) what we do, or what we refrain from doing that counts. 

The big fat W-H-Y?

Re: What do you feel ...

I agree there is the devil but must differentiate here as I have also done over a hundred commercials but please don't work for any spots that do an “ask your …” . I agree with this and wouldn't do them.  It's sad Big Pharma is using their money hose to do ads and hypnotize innocent people that have insurance for their drug pushing:

I’ve been a professional  now for over 25 years.  During that time I’ve been involved with the making of many hundreds of TV and radio commercials.

Commercials are one of the ways we stay alive thru times between other, more artistic projects like plays, films and television shows.  One can make a good living indeed in commercials, although this has become increasingly rare for the “workaday” actor.

For an audition recently I was sent a piece of copy (the text one is to speak in a commercial) that caught my eye.I don’t audition for absolutely any sort of product under the sun; I have particular prejudices against certain classes of products and services and refuse to support them just for a paycheck.  Most actors have similar scruples.By accident, I was sent a script for a sleep medication.  I have instructed my agents long ago that I don’t pitch pharmaceuticals in commercials for personal reasons.  

So I rarely have actually seen in bold type this sort of narration:“Sleepwalking, and eating or driving while not fully awake, with amnesia for the event as well as abnormal behaviors have been reported.In patients with depression, worsening of depression, including risk of suicidal thoughts or actions, may occur.”Now, I have heard things like this on TV and have guffawed, as perhaps you have, at the juxtaposition of cheery, sunlit scenes of fun and recreation that typically accompany this kind of voiceover.  

But I didn’t really credit what revulsion the words inspire on their own without the rosy scenes of harmony filling the screen as eye candy.Yikes!So, if I read the above correctly, (which is, after all, my job) what the warnings for this pill infer is that you might, after taking this drug, fall asleep, then get into a car, drive around for an indeterminate amount of time STILL ASLEEP and then awake later with possibly no recollection of what you’d done or where you’d been.That seems to me to be a pretty good guarantee of homicide.  

I know what it is like to drive when drowsy from lack of sleep; I really have no experience at all, thank God, with driving while completely unconscious.  But, I can’t imagine a scarier thought than waking up in my own car and realizing I must have been doing some driving while asleep during the night.And what about the last bit: “worsening of depression, including risk of suicidal thoughts or actions, may occur.”Okay, “suicidal actions.”  What are they?  Cutting one’s wrists?  Stepping out in front of a semi?  Walking on a high ledge?  Taking an overdose of the same pills that caused the suicidal feelings in the first place?The warning goes on to instruct the viewer to contact a doctor immediately if any of these symptoms occur.  

That’s nice.  But would there be necessarily time or even the inclination to do so?  If one is feeling and acting suicidal, doesn’t it seem unlikely they would reach for help?  And what if the suicidal actions occur during that time when the guy is unconsciously driving down the highway?Okay, so all that is very grim, but my argument is really not about the drug companies, who have evidently made peace with their consciences long ago regarding “side effects”.But what of an actor who would read these lines for money?Here’s how I look at it.  How comfortable would you feel explaining to a child, say, that medicine they were taking, or that their parents were taking, might possibly cause them to kill themselves?  Or that dad or mom might be driving the family car around while dead asleep, probably not stopping on red and going on green?

It gets clear to me when I look at it from that angle.Look, I’m no angel.  I’ve done commercials for banks for crying out loud.  (Many of which don’t exist anymore.)But to claim that a product is a wonderful solution for a common problem, then pleasantly add the caveat that one reason the problem won’t be a bother anymore is because the user will be too dead from the treatment to notice it, is a bit beyond the pale.So, if you, like me, depend on advertising for some of your income, consider what I’ve tried to convey here.The world would be a better place if we all treated each other with more kindness.  And telling harmful things thinly disguised as boilerplate “side effects” is no way to express kindness, or earn a living.

Back to regular art forms of art that create a better disposition.  

Re: What do you feel ...

 Art is found in many forms. My favorite is; “Art is an imprint of what we feel that cannot be seen.” ~Jeannie

Re: What do you feel ...

Here, here Kathy!  I vote for kindness and I agree with what you are saying in regards to telling harmful things to people. This can go with a code of ethics for life:)
I hear what you are saying its the quality of the job that counts and the fact that you choose what your work means to you;)  Pretty cool way of looking at things.

Hi Jeanne I like what you just said! Interesting concept drawing!

I do believe intention counts Laurie.

Great forum here. Thank you all for your insight.

Re: What do you feel ...

Great discussion! During our day-to-day lives, we have to conform our ways of thinking into molds that are both unhealthy and dishonest. This would be one thing by itself, but what makes it worse is when we start to BELIEVE that those ways of thinking are “real”! We mistake society's illusions for cosmic truth.

Most of us know deep down that the world isn't like this, but we don't listen to this “inner voice” unless we are in a receptive frame of mind.

Since art is a documentation of what's going on “inside”, in order to make art we really need to LOOK at what's going on inside, and then faithfully record it with our outer bodies in some way (hands, speech, dance etc.) This puts the outer body “in tune” with the inner self, and serves to help us remember what wholeness is while we are stuck living at least partially fractured lives.

Re: What do you feel ...

What if none of us were “stuck living partially fractured lives?” What if we lived in wholeness anyway and that was aligned with our lives? :) Is change possible?

I believe it is.
The creation of a thousand forests is in one acorn.
~ Ralph Waldo Emerson ~

;)
Liza

Re: What do you feel ...

Thanks charlesellis for the opportunity to read your beautiful words.  Art does summarize the quality of communication.


Liza I like your “what if's?” I was watching the Emmy's last night and was so proud of the two that stood out in my personal career and was pleased that Bryan Cranston won & Elisabeth Moss was nominated.  I was a part of both of their careers & can attest that wholeness exists here in Hollywood.  Hard work, in ethics, doing things that won work wonders in this field. I can add them to my book coming out called Lights, Camera & Action… so dreams of artists do come true and continue to on into the future.  We get what we want.

Re: What do you feel ...

I agree Charlesellis workds are beautiful, for a long time I been feeling like my work has been a way of communicating something. I wrote it somewhere in one of the thread topic discussions. Reading it made me feel that there is more understanding about art.

Kathy your amazing. I can appreciate this because of so many of the struggles I have gone through myself as an artist. Thank you for sharing your experience.
Please save me a page because I have a whole lot of what if's! ;) maybe 3 pages!!!
LOL

Liza:)