What really is Art?
- Me
- Jun 22, 2024
- 4 min read
Updated: Jun 26, 2024
Most children love crayons. There is something very intoxicating about the power to create. The power of expressing something that exists only in the mind and not in the physical world. Children gleefully give in to it.
Perhaps the prison time in the womb was used productively - dreaming, ideating and gurgling for 9 months. And as soon we are out, we engage. Drunk on the power of colours, we lay “waste” to anything in our path - scribbling as far as our grubby hands will reach on the floors and walls.
Not being able to speak or write keeps the dreams and ideas pure too. There is zero vocabulary to contaminate the thoughts. Impeccable, un-adult-erated art happens.
Till they eventually become adults.
Mass extinction of artists happens at school. Only a handful of survivors make it out alive. Gasping for breath, we keep flapping. Bobbing up and down in the sea of society. Some find shores with juicy coconuts and friendly fish. Most keep flapping forever faithfully.
Does this mean we are all fundamentally artists? Do we all have what it takes to make a living out of art? Or is there some secret sauce? To answer this question, we really need to start by asking - what is art?
In my opinion, “art” is anything that is consciously created through expression of a feeling or emotion. Illustrations are art. Paintings are art. Sculptures are art. Movies are art. Music is art. Dance is art. Books are art. Poems are art. Sport is art. At times, food is art too.
This is art.
And so is this.
This is also art.
And this one too!
This is art (I hope).
This definitely is art, probably the mother of all art itself.
And finally, this counts as art too!
You see where I’m going with this. My point is, the artist cannot define “art”.
But then who can? The audience.
From whatever little I have seen in my lifetime, there seem to be no rules for what is classified as art. No laws that dictate what forms, shapes, lights, shadows, perspectives and proportions make art. It seems to be entirely about the expression and conviction of the artist.
Am I saying that there is nothing to learn? Not exactly. It would be helpful to learn the basics. But that’s just to understand how a particular “universe” works, so that you can go ahead and create your own “universe”. Learn the rules to not follow them, but to make your own.
Unlike math or science, none of the theories and concepts dictate proceedings. In art, they only meekly offer suggestions, that you can condescendingly reject. You, artist, are the ultimatum.
Unless you are into creating “realistic” art, you don’t really have to be an expert at anatomy or perspective or proportions or shadows or anything. Your “universe”. Your “style”. Your art. As long as you are having fun.
A boy with a sharp triangle for the head? Sure.
Superhero girls with arms sprouting out of the ears? Why not?
Assorted animals in Chinese attire doing Kung Fu? Go for it!
Insect loving superheroes in jumbled universes without a cohesive style? Sounds great.
Most of us, as the audience, don't question these rules. These are not things that strike us. We buy into the universe and the style that the artists have created. We accept it as “art”. The artist creates, but it is the audience who decides what art is.
Even in Vincent Van Gogh’s starry night, it is clear to the audience that the night sky he painted does not look like that in real life. You cannot follow the laws of physics, lighting, shadows or forms to paint what he did.
It is not what he SAW, but what he FELT that became The Starry Night. And it is that feeling that he has managed to imprison in that painting for the last 130 years.
If art has no rules, then why doesn’t everyone draw?
With the world of possibilities open, the confusion usually starts when you try to draw in a way that caters to the “market”. Or try to draw like someone else, replicate and live in their universe, embody their style. That is when you might need to reach a particular level of skills that someone has or the market demands. And if you aren’t there yet, you might end up feeling inferior and giving up art forever. That's how most artists go extinct.
Take Batman for example.
Do all of these look like art to you? You might look at some of these and think "eww". Some of these might be more of a "Hmm. Not bad". Some might even be “I will never be able to draw like that”. And that’s exactly the point. You don’t need to.
Unless you are being hired by a studio or have an art commission to draw in that style. Or perhaps if drawing exactly like that is your passion. But, if everyone wanted to draw like someone then there wouldn’t be these many styles and versions in the first place.
I have spent years looking at art and artists and thinking "I could never do that". But I did end up drawing that last picture. Not bad eh?
I realised that I don’t need to be anatomically perfect like Jim Lee. I don’t need to master manga and anime like Takashi Okazaki. I don’t need details that convey seriousness and fear like Frank Miller. I cannot even imagine something like Bat-mite or Lego Batman. I need to be me. My expression. My universe. My style.
Have you been thinking of being an artist?
Stop procrastinating. Stop overthinking. Start right away. All you need is a feeling. Let it express itself through you. That is all. See what makes you engage. Create your own universes with your own shapes and forms and laws.
Do you want to make money as an artist?
The artist can only express with conviction. Beyond that, only the audience defines art. People decide if your “art” adds value to their life or not. If a banana and duct tape adds value to someone, then it is art.
So, keep drawing with strongly held conviction and unending passion.
Either you will find your audience eventually, or your style will evolve to become whatever the audience wants. Join me. Let’s keep flapping and bobbing together. Inevitably, we will reach the shores one way or another.
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