Expanding my Knowledge of the Art World

Having learnt about many artists through High School I believed up until a month or two ago that I had a good idea of what kinds of artists had been and gone throughout history. To me, Art was simply an outlet for very creative people with the passion and skill it takes to produce beautiful paintings, or drawings. My outlook and personal opinion on the matter has changed and developed a lot since beginning this course.

On Monday afternoons we have been looking at the periods in history where groups of artists have challenged tradition and disrupted the norm and created new ways of physically producing artwork. This has opened my mind to the art world, it has questioned my view on what 'art' really is.

So many people find comfort in pigeon holing things they come across in life, things have to be categorized and for example if one person with an open mind and a flexible perspective, views a blank canvas with three single dots in the centre, that person will take their time and develop a patient opinion on the piece. Other people instantly decide "That isn't art! How could it be?! It's nothing, anyone could do that!"
I used to be like that person. I guess it's a maturity thing, not to say someone who simply doesn't like contemporary art is immature, nothing like that. It;s just a trait you develop as you grown up. That is what I've come to learn since starting the course, is that you don't have to like every piece of art in a gallery, it's about appreciating and realising the artists ideas and motives and developing your own opinion on their piece.

Igniting my Creativity

Upon starting the Art & Design course I was happy in knowing that I was once again going to be in the company of people who like me - love art. Since I left school I had only the desk in my bedroom and spare time after work to draw inspiration from. Each week I begin to develop new ideas in my head and become influenced by my teachers and fellow students, I learn an abundance of new things about different artists, their work and history surrounding the development of the various ages of art. I am enjoying getting into a learning routine once again. We are encouraged to be our own person and express our minds whether it be through speech or on paper. I am pleased I am on this course and using my creativity in new and exciting ways. I hope to further my knowledge of the art world throughout this course and improve how I express the ideas I have in my head.