Art and Consciousness

What has art to do with consciousness? What is consciousness? What, for that matter, is art? Can I answer these questions in this web article? I actually think I can. I will do my best.

I suppose consciousness is easier to define than art. Some would disagree. Well, always. Right? I'll tell you, though: I wrote an article that I believed nailed it on what art was. I wrote this article on the website Helium. On this site, fellow writers rank the cogency of your article. Boy, it made my head spin how fast others started writing about the subject and quickly ranked my article as the least valuable of the lot. Which only goes to show me that nobody likes to be told what art is. Beauty in the eye of the beholder and all that.

Well, be that as it may, I still believe I know what art is. Too bad if you don't like my definition. I've given the matter a LOT of thought - say, 35 or so years; actually, more. I've been thinking about art ever since I was a kid. I grew up in a family of artists. I'm 46.

Not every artist gives the matter - of what art is - a lot of thought. One artist, a film director, as I recall, on Terry Gross's Fresh Air radio program, claimed he didn't like to think about the creative process because it took out the mystery. I surely don't agree. I don't care how much I think about the process of making art: I'll never figure it out.

In another article, I wrote about how consciousness was the act of perceiving. I'll stand by that statement. If you want to know more about my definition, look up the article.

If you agree to the definition, I would think it would be easy to also agree that art is a form of consciousness, at least a record of it. In art, the artist perceives. He also creates. Creativity and perception are simultaneous, synchronous, and, to a large degree, analogous. I have said so in the article on Consciousness. That doesn't make it so. But, well, it is what I believe. We could argue. Let's not.

To perceive, you must create. To create, you must perceive. The artist painting a picture of his subject must perceive the subject. He does so through paint. That is, he redefines the subject using the medium of paint and its restructuring of reality according to its own order and hierarchies. The barn is going to look different through the eyes of a painter: Compare his perception to that of a scientist or engineer. We all see the barn differently. Two painters will not see the barn in the same way.

The way we structure reality is the way we perceive. It is also the way we create. What is art? It is a way that we communicate perception. It is also a way we record perception. Indeed, if we could not record information, could we perceive? Memory is fundamental to human perception. The records of perceptions are part of the information we must gather to achieve new perceptions. What is a new perception? I would say that all perceptions are new. If they are old, they are no longer perceptions.

The recording of a perception must be perceived again and again for it to function and for it to have meaning. Art works this way. Every viewer becomes a co-creator. You see the art differently from the way I see the art.

Let us say that the newness of perception, that is, the quality of a perception that makes it something new and fresh, is vision. An artist must have a vision. (Only one? At least one.) Giacometti said so. He's not the only artist to have made this statement in one way or another.

Thus, art symbolizes the newness quality of perception. Thus, artists are pioneers. They must be. And so they are.
By: Beau Smith

Isn't Watercolors Hard?

It seems that each time I show my watercolor paintings at shows or events, someone will say to me, "Watercolors are hard."

I smile and ask, "Why do you say that?"

THE MYTH : There is a myth circulating that painting with watercolors is difficult. Why? Is it because watercolors can become uncontrollable and people tend to want to be in control? Is it the effects of the medium? Or, what, I do not know? This myth continues to fascinate me and who knows, maybe, someday, I will have an answer.

THE TRUTH : Watercolor painting is not unlike other disciplines. Whenever a person undertakes a new experience there seems to be a "training period" where learning and skills are acquired. At this stage in the game, most people seek out an experienced person who they admire and who possesses that which they would like to emulate. This is true with any endeavor, so why not watercolor painting?

What makes watercolors different? What makes them so different is that you never know what will happen. Are you a person who likes surprises? Watercolors will surprise you each and every time you paint. A colleague of mine has a favorite saying which is "Let's see what will show up when I paint today." It is absolutely fascinating what water and pigment will do. To repeat an effect is challenging or not possible. Each time it is unique.

There are established techniques for watercolors as with any other art medium. These skills are helpful yet not necessary to express your self in watercolors. Many artists, and I believe everyone is an artist at heart, freely paint and allow what appears to tell them where to go or what to do next. Sometimes "what is" can be pleasing by itself. There are NO RULES! It is my belief that artistic expression lies in all of us and requires only a sense of trust and the freedom to allow the flowing for magic to happen.

A favorite way I freely express myself with watercolors is to paint Mandalas. Basically, painting within a circle, a mandala, creates a meditative state whereby a person freely paints anything they wish. In my experience sharing mandala painting with students, we have witnessed an array of all beautiful, unique mandala creations.

The one thing that sets watercolors apart from other painting media is that it is a spontaneous method. First impressions are vital. You cannot go back and change it, or rarely. This might be a little intimidating to people, yet it can be very refreshing, too. I have found that my favorite paintings have had this light, first impression touch which magically flows, no effort. It is just there.

Not every piece is a masterpiece. Of course, there is always more paper. I must admit that I have turned less successful paintings into new paintings with collage. Watercolor paintings are full of happy accidents. You will never know what to expect and this is the nature of watercolors and most likely fuels the myth.

ARTISTIC EXPRESSION: The fun of creating is what it we are all about, right? It is our connection with our soul. I feel as if I learn everyday when I sit down to create a watercolor painting. Watercolors change, I change, the subjects change. People tend to avoid change because it requires letting go of external layers of beliefs. Maybe the myth is true that watercolors are difficult, what do you think?
By: Joanne Osband

Acrylic

You should know this with acrylic paints for painting. We know that they will save you time and money, or even your sanity.

1. Buy good quality brushes. You will find yourself struggling with cheap brushes. Quality brush stand up better when the period of time in the water.

2. Remember, very fast drying acrylic. In my opinion this is the process of artistic creation, but the disadvantage if the paint starts to dry to take advantage of the possession. Always replace the tube top. You should also keep useful to keep the panel wet paint.

3. Acrylic paint water-based, which means that it can clean brushes with soap and water. You can use plain soap, but I recommend washing with soap specially made brush. You should brush between projects in the habit of cleaning. Do not let them soak in water for several days at a time.

4. Do not let the brush on the paint dry. I have saved the situation after a brush or two, but it is not easy. Get in the rinse, then brush the paint shop, and I was a dish of shallow water on their side to avoid damage to the bristles of the habit.

5. Buy a slab of plastic guard. GK panel color moist, and stop the paint to dry. This is like painting your Tupperware. When you do a meeting, simply mist the top of the painting and replacement of all. When used on the drawing boards on paper, stored in a Zip lock bag of large, small items.

6. And placed in a palette of colors in the same location each time you draw the habit. After the child, and will be put color where your instinctive habits.

7. Do not use more than oil paint acrylic paint. Hear the long-term oil and water do not mix. Thus, acrylic resin, water-based paint does not adhere to oil-based. Acrylic surface and not to cling to oil-based.

8. One of the things I have is they like the acrylic multi-functional. Paintings using acrylic water to look at the thin layer. Just add water and you have acrylic paint watercolor paint.

9. Will apply a thick coating of acrylic on canvas painting give the appearance of the fabric surface. Prospects for the application of thick coating material to give the depth of the painting was not completed.

10. You can purchase a variety of media, and acrylic acid to obtain different results. Glaze medium help to bring about the effects of water. Gel medium and texture. Media organizations to add additional paste, paint, and make your painting come to life.

Book by Nancy Reyner 'New Tricks and techniques for Working with the World's Most Versatile'reveals the power of this medium