Commentary by Sariah M.

Reeser
Many of us enjoy and appreciate
art, whether we realize it or not.
We see the creativity, and we like
the composition or the color of the
piece, but to many that work of art
is simply that, a piece, an object
to be looked upon and admired,
but art is so much more. Art is a
doorway into the soul for both the
artist and those who appreciate the
work.
For the artist, it is not an ability
or a talent. It is not an exercise or
a science. It is not the career. It
is not the color, contrast, use of
medium or space. Its not even the
composition. For the artist, art is
one thing and one thing alone. It is
a means of self expression.
The fnished piece is not the paint
or paper, canvas or clay. It is a
visual emotional and spiritual
connection to the depths of feel-
ing within the artist and a means
of connecting the artist with those
who feel something when they
look upon the piece. Experiencing
art isnt dependant on understand-
ing history or technique; it is the
act of thinking and feeling. Does
it make you happy? Does it make
you sad or angry? Does it bring
you comfort?
As a young child I remember
composing the most colorful and
beautifully magnifcent work of
crayon scribble. The lines were
swirled in green and orange, red
and purple, layered with blues
and yellows in a visual display
which nearly brought tears to my
eyes. And then I showed it to my
mothers friend, who said, Is that
a butterfy? Whats it supposed to
be? I responded, Its Art! Its
sposed to be beautiful! But in my
heart, even at such a young age, I
was thinking I had colored JOY! It
was pure joy in crayon on paper.
Over the years of creating art, I
have become increasingly con-
fused by those who not only
expect art to be practicle, but those
who dont seem to feel emotion-
ally the expressions portrayed by
it. Some see leaves, and fowers;
like my mothers friend they look
for the butterfy, but art is not the
just the form; its the feeling. This
is the point of art, and the meaning
of creating and experiencing it.
The Rose healed my heart-break
after mothers death. To me it im-
bibes the solitude I felt in my pain
and the strength it took to con-
tinue to grow as a person. It is the
fower the blooms in adversity.
The Leaves imbibe the absolute
beauty that exists in all phases
of life, and the hope to see each
phase again in season.

Experiencing Art
Stop thinking about art works
as objects, and start thinking
about them as triggers for
experiences.
If youre interested in an adventure in artistic expression and
self exploration visit, intothedifference.net for information on
Drawing the Inside Out. Call Lisa Kaplan at (707) 809-5398
or email liskaplan@gmail.com
Courtesy of Drawing the Inside Out
For the enjoyment of the
creative process, check
out the Hillcrest Studio
in Clearlake. Contact
Peter Shandera at
(707) 994-1588 regard-
ing the Second Sunday
Salon or Like the
Studio on facebook at:
www.facebook.com/
hillscrest.
Courtesty of Bonnie Allison Studios
Courtesy of Hillcrest Studio
-Brian Eno