Thought on Art

(Andy Warhol's Marilyn Monroe)

Art is a funny thing. Until I majored in it at The University of Texas at Dallas, I looked at art in a naive way. I did not properly analyse the art for the message in or behind it. I did not fully understand the artists and their creative process. Where did Jeff Koons get his wild ideas about his art? Was it truly art even though he did not actually create it himself? In fact Jeff Koons actually has people who make his art for him. Although he is the mastermind behind each piece, workers fabricate each work.

The name Andy Warhol should conjure up popular images in your mind. Marilyn Monroe, Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, John F. Kennedy and many others represented important individuals that Warhol made into famous bodies of work. Silk screen was his medium in which he produced his amazing work. Compare the mechanical process of silk screen with the process of painting a piece.

While silk screen happens to be my preferred medium, painting requires a great deal of control of the hand itself. Monet's beautiful work showcase the beauty of the mind and nature communicated through the hand while silk screen requires the mastering of the mechanical aspect.

Next time you view a piece of art, stop and think about the artist in context with the work. Think about creative process. Research the artist and the process they use before going to the museum or gallery. You will appreciate the work all the more. As a viewer, you will be able to understand the struggles or the joy the artist brings to the piece.