Blog
Art as a Mirror: Reflecting Culture, Capturing Moments
Today is a great day to appreciate art and the beauty it represents as a reflection of our culture. It’s always a good time to show your favorite artist how much you value them by purchasing their works. Every time you do, you’re voting for them to continue creating. Without your support, creating art can become little more than a self-indulgent hobby. Even feedback is valuable, as it guides us toward becoming better creators. As artists, it’s deeply important to stay true to ourselves, but that only matters when we contribute to our local culture by creating works that people want to acquire and proudly display in their personal spaces.
Local galleries that exhibit art are culturally significant in their own right, and they wouldn’t exist without artists. Likewise, artists wouldn’t create if people didn’t recognize the inherent value of their work. I believe that value is largely created by an individual’s emotional response to a given piece of art. The appreciation of art is historical—people have long deemed it significant to their lives.
What does art say about a person? You might observe that someone has a lot of art hanging on their walls. I say the art a person collects reveals as much about them as it does about the artist who created it. The artist expresses it, but the purchaser amplifies that expression, sharing it with the larger world. As an artist, I paint the things that inspire me and represent the ideal. My style is representational realism, and my subjects are people, wildlife, and landscapes. My perspective seeks to pursue the moments that elude us all too quickly. If I can freeze a moment in time, capture a feeling, and emphasize the sentimental—all while competently organizing various strokes of paint onto a canvas to create an image someone can relate to—then I’m gratified.
Some people will appreciate my skill and feel inspired or moved by my paintings; most won’t care, and there’s a whole range of responses in between. However, there’s certainly an artist out there to inspire every collector and purchaser. I hope you find one to inspire you today and that you vote for them with your support.
R.B. Christian III
Comments
Leave a Comment