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What Is Art Good For?  Why do I make Art? 

I ask myself these questions all the time, and I’m starting to make headway with this topic and narrow down my motives. 

I love the feel of the knife or brush in my hand as the paint glides across the panel or canvas.  It is a feeling like no other that combines the wet paint, the (mostly) dry canvas/panel, and the ideas floating around in my head.  I paint to see the outcomes of color combinations and to use color in uncommon ways.  I get a visual thrill when an unexpected harmony arises, or a really cool complimentary focal point turns out better than I supposed it would.  The texture produced by thickly applied paint is something it seems I can never get enough of. 

But what does this mean for non-painters?  What is Art good for?  More specifically, what are paintings good for?

The great thing about paintings is that, most of the time, they are portable.  Unlike some other home improvements, you can take them with you.  You can wrap them up, put them in your car, and transport them without renting a truck.  They come in all sizes, so whatever space you need to fill, artists have a size for that!  Paintings come in a variety of styles:  photo-realism, realistic, impressionistic, expressionistic, abstract, and on and on.  There are styles enough for every person, and for every room of a house.  They are never underfoot like many consumer goods.  They are generally on the wall and out of the way, or less often propped on a table smiling up at you. 

Paintings are the gifts that give back every day of the year.  When you look at your painting, you take a deep breath and smile.  You remember when you bought it, or who gifted it to you, or where you were the first time you saw it; or maybe it reminds you of a person you love or a place you’ve visited.  The reasons for feeling good about artwork are as varied as there are people viewing the work. 

So how does one go about choosing a painting for a specific spot?  Naturally, size matters.  I love seeing little five by seven inch paintings in unexpected places when I’m out somewhere, or a three by four foot painting on a large living room wall or office wall.  Original artwork transforms a house into a home.  It gives offices and public places a human touch.  It can excite or calm without making a sound.  It can spark a conversation.  Artwork generates gratitude for the intangible. 

So now that we know what Art is good for, we can get back to answering my question, Why Do I Make Art?   I make art mostly because I can’t stop myself from making it.  I smile as I type this, but it's true!  I pour out all the peace and excitement I see and feel into my impressionist style paintings so that you, my viewer, can experience the color, the texture, and the light, and keep it smiling at you from the walls of your home and office.   Thank you for letting me into your life!