Art is About Sharing

Art is ultimately about sharing. You see, when an artist paints something there is usually more to the selection of the subject than meets the eye. I ask my students, “what is it that you love about that picture, and why?” Sometimes the subject chosen has a good memory attached to it or there is affection because of someone, or something pictured has great meaning. For example, I really enjoyed painting the handmade toys my parents had made the year after my mother’s passing. The memories flooded my mind as I spent concentrated time adding the detail to each part of the painting. When I finished it was so fun to share the photos of the artwork with my siblings who had similar memories of the toys. 

I came from a generation whose parents were children through the Great Depression and then young adults during World War II. They learned how to make do and became incredibly talented in creating necessities and gifts for their children by hand. No doubt this is where my passion for handmade things originates. Since the paintings I make are totally made my hand, mind, and heart, this continues to resonate with me even in this technological age. Sharing the knowledge that I have gained with students brings me a considerable amount of joy. I love to teach. In teaching art, I have the opportunity to share not only the nuts and bolts of how a realistic painting is made, but the “why” behind the image. It is such a thoroughly human endeavor and sharing helps us connect with people on a deeper level. We all have a story. The desire to hear others’ stories and share our own builds relationships. Truly we humans are made to need one another!

#nostalgia #handmade #yourstory #generations #traditionalrealism #nehemiahsart