There are many definitions regarding what art is and why people create art. This study is called art theory. Art is a visual representation, an action, a thought, a sound, or an arrangement of words. Art goes beyond being a mere outlet for our thoughts, emotions, intuitions, and desires. It is deeply personal, as it involves sharing our unique perception of the world, which is intertwined with our personalities. Art serves as a means of communicating profound ideas and experiences that cannot be effectively conveyed through words alone. Thus, we must seek alternative means to express our intentions. However, the true essence of art lies not in the content embedded within our chosen medium but in how we skillfully employ the medium itself and express the content within it.
Since the dawn of time, man has the urge to express himself. Cave paintings were considered one of the first works of art. There are many reasons why man creates art; some create art to express themselves, others create art to mimic nature, some make it to portray people, and some use art as therapy. An artist, by definition, is a person that creates a work of art. During the Renaissance, being an artist was the most noble profession; it was a time when art was greatly appreciated.
October Sun Studios
Vera Luagina Bonacci, also known as Jeanne Henderson, operates under October Sun Studios, Ltd. She acquired a Bachelor of Fine Arts from Kent State University, specializing in metals and fibers, particularly enameling. Additionally, she obtained a Master’s degree from Cleveland State University, focusing on curriculum and technology. Her diverse studies encompass fields such as Studio Arts, Creative Brain Theory, teaching through the Arts, Theater, Fashion (including retail, merchandising, and design), Jewelry design, and other artistic pursuits.
Vera has learned from accomplished visual artists, including Dino Massaroni, Judy Takacs, Paul Foropoulos, and others. While she initially delved into traditional portraiture, her current artistic endeavors aim to transcend realism and instead capture the dynamic energy, life, and vibrancy inherent in her subjects and themes. She hopes her works will resonate with viewers, drawing them into kinetic energy and evoking a personal connection within their souls. She intends to evoke emotions such as joy, curiosity, contemplation, and active engagement as individuals become immersed in the energy emanating from each artwork.
Furthermore, Jeanne Henderson is also an author who publishes under her name Tiefenbach-Henderson. She has written a book titled “Madonna of the Ways,” and an interview discussing the book can be found.
Art theories
During the Renaissance, philosophers studied art to understand why humans perform such an endeavor. Philosophers like Plato and Aristotle were the first to develop the first art theories. For Plato, to create art is to mimic nature to serve an educational purpose; he also believed that art should be beautiful to encourage moral growth.
Art as representation
One of the theories on why people create art is to provide representations. Before photography, the royal families commissioned artists to capture their portraits to preserve a record of their prime. Some artists paint still life to represent they live and mimic the objects around them. Artists who paint landscapes capture the moment of a beautiful place as if time stood still at a lovely time. With the invention of photography, artists challenged themselves to create something beyond photography, beyond representation.
Art as Expression
Nietzsche, a German philosopher, states that music is the highest form of art as it expresses real emotions through sounds. The music depicts the actual emotions which humans experience. In painting, an artist says his feeling through the stroke of his brush, the intensity or the temperature of his color palette, or the expression on the portrait of his subject. Art evokes certain emotions from its spectator or listener.
Art as Creation
Art is a product of creativity. Creating something original is difficult, especially when everything has already been made. If religion believes that god created the world in his complex design, art also believes in the creation of the unseen; art creates worlds and imagines possibilities beyond reality, making art transcendental. If given a sale price, a work of art is expensive because the artwork is beyond expression and representation. What makes an artwork original is the uniqueness of how a work of art is executed; it is original because, like the work of art, each person is unique and, therefore, original.
Art as Play
Art is more than a hobby or an expression. Art is life itself for artists, but to create art should come with immense passion and pleasure. An artist should enjoy painting to produce art like children playing with a hyperactive imagination. An artist plays with colors, mediums, and techniques to explore oneself and the world around him.
The Damsel’s Files 