So what is art and why should you buy it?

Art is one of my passions. I find that owning original art greatly enriches my life through the emotional impact it has on me, and how it makes my living space more comfortable and interesting. My collection includes paintings, photography, and sculpture that were created by brilliant artists who are based in Austin. I proudly own works by Andrew Long, Eliza Thomas, Ethan Diehl, John Langford, Hank Waddell, Shawn Camp, Steve Dubov, and others. All of these artists have a style all their own, and are very highly regarded not just in Austin, but nationally and internationally. Some of their work can be found in museums and galleries around the country, but as a general rule, they only sell locally directly from their studios or through Marcy Hoen of Austin Art Start.

What is art?
Art is work deliberately created to evoke emotion in the viewer. It's that simple. A piece may be created to evoke feelings of contentment, happiness, anger, disgust, wonder, confusion, sadness, etc., or to deliver a message of some sort. If the artist succeeds in moving the viewer in the desired manner, or causes the viewer to give pause and ponder the piece, then he or she has succeeded. You don't need to understand the piece, and maybe you're not supposed to, especially with abstract art. The reaction and meaning you find personally are all that matters.

Painters have many means of expressing themselves through their art. These may include the choice of color (their "palette"), the use of lines and forms, their use or abuse of symmetry, symbols, texture, and other elements. For example, greens and blues may be used to create peaceful feelings, while reds and oranges can be used to evoke tension. You will often find all of these colors in one painting, and they will be combined in such a way as to create a specific feeling or perhaps ambiguity. Similarly, tight groupings or loopings of lines will create tension, while loose, flowing lines will promote a sense of peace.

Photographers use many of these same elements in the same way, though they are constrained by the physical world from which they extract their images unless they manipulate the image afterward using computer software. Composition, or the placement of the subject in the image, can have a profound impact on the way the viewer reacts to the piece. The composition may be symmetrical, or more likely will be creatively asymmetrical to make the photograph more interesting. Depth of field, i.e., the degree to which the image is focused relative to its distance from the lens, can emphasize or de-emphasize the subject according to the photographer's intent. The creative use of color, or of light and shadows, are often used to create a certain mood.

Sculpture is a physical representation of an object, feeling, or both. It might be a faithful representation of a person, place, or thing, but it may simply be the artist's impression of the subject. The artist's interpretation of the subject is an emotional reaction which may render the subject difficult or impossible to recognize in the finished piece. As with painting and photography, a sculpture may just represent a feeling. A sculptor may employ some of the methods described above to translate his vision, and because he is working in a 3-dimensional space with a 3-dimensional material, or "medium", he may also use hard or soft contours or the texture of the material in order to evoke a certain atmosphere around the piece. The choice of whether to use stone, metal, glass, ceramic, etc., or a combination of materials for a piece will have some impact on the impression it makes for the viewer. However, many sculptors specialize in the fabrication of only one material, such as bronze, and that may be a reflection of the sculptor's personal sensibilities. The sculptor will also place a great deal of emphasis on the size, or scale, of the piece and how it will occupy the space in which it is viewed. The manner in which a piece will occupy its space may be considered to be roughly analogous to composition.

How much is it worth?
The value of a work of art is based on a number of factors. These will include the cost of materials, the amount of time the artist put into making the piece, the popularity of the artist, and the technical skill with which he or she creates the piece, as well as some intangible factors such as the originality of the style or techniques used to create it. A good way to determine what a piece is worth is to see what similar works by similarly well-regarded artists are selling for. If an artist has work in a museum, or representation by a well-respected gallery, or if the artist has been featured in a national publication, then that artist's work will tend to command higher prices because their work has been officially "sanctioned" by the "powers that be" in the art market. HOWEVER, some of the best art you are likely to find will have been created by artists who have little or no formal recognition. Their work is usually very reasonably priced relative to the work of well known artists.

Since the appreciation of art is largely a subjective matter, the primary consideration of the buyer should be whether owning a given piece will add value to your life through the response you have to it every day as you live with it. That's what art is about. Ultimately, a piece is as valuable as you believe it is based on your emotional response to it.

Next week, we'll discuss where to find art and how to start your collection.