Where does art come from?

[Corrupted Unicorn]

For me, art is how the earthly and the divine (the latter being God, multiple deities, the intangible forces of the Universe beyond our control, whichever way you prefer to envision it) interact, and we're the middleman, the antenna, the ones tasked with bringing those ideas down to Earth. By making them reality, art becomes not what is in our minds, but somewhere in-between, existing in both planes.

I like art that comes from joy. Maybe I'm some sort of Pollyanna, but in my head, I enjoy art because it reminds me there's good things in the world. That's not to disparage people who process their suffering through art and thus their art reflects their suffering. It doesn't mean I can't ever like or relate to art that reflects suffering, either.

My issue with art is not whether it comes from suffering, but whether it comes from honesty. Lately there's too many people and artworks who are afraid of being sincere and hide under layers and layers of irony, quips and cheap shots at humor to the point they self-sabotage their own message, sometimes their own purpose. That's not to say these tools have no value, but you have to know how to use them.

But after reading all this, about art being about vulnerability, I'm starting to wonder....can art be appreciated and enjoyed off of that alone? Can people look past imperfection if there's some clear emotional weight behind it? I'm asking because I've barely tried to be expressive or intimate with my art. I've just been practicing anatomy and feeling disappointed over and over again.

Yes. Yes. Some of my favourite art pieces come from children and beginners. What they lack in artistic skill, they make it up with honesty. With joy for the craft itself, no ulterior motif but to display what's on their heads. No perfectionism bringing them down.

[devils]

In a historical sense, art came to be to teach each other how to hunt, how to survive, what our history was like. I'd argue it's what truly separates us from other animals- some primates utilize primitive technology (chimpanzees have been recorded to make tools and even have gone as far as to create fire), but we're the only ones creating art in order to communicate something. To this day, we're still finding out about historical events from art pieces! So, to me what makes art truly unique/interesting is the fact that it's a recording... «I was here, I was alive and I created this».

I feel most replies are focused on what makes great art. But what is great art anyways? I've yet to figure that one out for myself, so reading the replies to this topic has been interesting.

Also!

I all around disagree. I think suffering is just easier to make art with so it appears that way. What people are thinking of here is evocative art. Art that makes you feel things needs to capture an emotion, and its easiest do that when you actually feel the emotion you're trying to capture. Negative emotions tend to occur more in most people's daily lives and usually happen in downtime where its possible to make art out of it. Positive emotions are absolutely possible to make great art out of, its just less common that they happen in a context where art can be created. Though keep in mind I also reject the notion that emotional investment in what you're creating is even necessary for creating "great art" anyway, but this was more important to express in my opinion.

I generally agree, but I wouldn't say negative emotions are more common than positive emotions necessarily. Most people who believe this and live that way tend to be depressed or otherwise mentally ill... I'm certainly no exception. Regardless, I'd argue the reason why so many pieces are inspired by negative emotions is because these emotions stay with us longer. Think of the last time you felt happy and the last time you felt sad. It's probably easier to remember the bad times, because they hurt!

That being said, emotional investment is absolutely not a requirement. The Mona Lisa was a commission, and figurative art is not only important to gain skills, it's also a record of how the world was, how the people who lived in it looked like.