Found this diagram about ART and how it helps children. I thought this might be a good IDEA for February's goal of becoming HAPPIER in 2013!

IN February, DO SOMETHING CREATIVE,
something you can express yourself with
something that lets you explore with color or paint
something that uses both sides of your brain
Game?
In otherwords, play creatively!

I like it!

My favorite artist is Kandinsky. Don't ask my why, but it is one of those mysteries in life when something 'grabs' you and you just are drawn to it. Well of all the art I LOVE, Kandinsky's art spoke to me the loudest and deepest. Out of all the art (and I am not a fan of all of his pieces) but my favorite of all is this one called "3 spots" that he did in 1914.

It is NOT just the art, I am reading a few books about the artist this month (started in January) and seeing the world he lived in when painting and his methods.

What am I gaining so far? That we ALL have unique visions of our world and we interpret it in our own ways.

What do artists have that we don't? They take the time to record their 'feelings' and visions on canvas, paper, in writing or in a photograph.

What is the result of the art we view? It really confirms we all have similar make up being of one family, the human race. Our brains work the same, our hands can create anything on canvas, paper, in writing, or with a photograph. Meaning, no matter how we express ourselves, we HAVE SOMETHING TO SAY, and have something to learn!

Thank you to the over 100 views that this thread has, thanks for lurking and reading, hope you gained even one small idea from this post.

This year, I am hoping to start a thread each month for a topic to think about and ENRICH our souls with. My goal, to make 2013 a POSITIVE thinking year! Good luck to your all in finding more happiness in this year ahead!

No link with photo, just as reference, I got it on All Posters where you can find prints of any artist you favor. I do not have any affiliation with this site nor do I profit from anyone going to the site.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Mary Ruth,

I know I've mentioned my brilliant DGD's before...both graduated HS with honors, one as Salutatorian and with enough credits to enter college as a Junior (the other, a sophomore). Their majors are Math and Science. But, did I mention that they were both very good in art? Neither chose to pursue it, but both of them are talented and creative. I think they are a test ament to the theory...

Belstone,
You must be so proud of your DGDs!!! Wonderful to see the creative with the technical! The right and left brain exercised!

Art is usually one of the superfluous subjects cut when budgets get low.
There are schools (and economic conditions of the country at the time) that encourage or discourage exploration with art. An artist is either pursuing art as an elective (they think an easy class) or just not encouraged to pursue it as a career, just a pastime.

But to an Artist, art never leaves the person... will always need to be expressed. For some of creativity comes out in other design and creative fields.

My son once told me while studying math while earning his Engineering degree, 'mom, I see Math the way you see art, for me it flows'! For him, the theories of Math (all his math courses) were creative and artistic to him! He also happens to understand fashion (likes good clothing and style) and likes good room design. So, his Artistic side gets expressed.

my friend is an artist in el paso..she has a few sellect paintings reproduced...that was my christmas present from my dh...

my other cherished pieces are 3 water colors of single roses painted by this wonderful gentle man, who was also a actor...no, you'd never know him, donald foster...

Oh, Mary Ruth, I love this idea! LOVE IT! Such a fun discussion and also the years worth of challenges will be great!

Your post, and the other comments have set off a chain of thoughts for me. (I am going to post about three or four pictures so bear with me)

I also love the art of Wassily Kandinsky. He seems to paint with emotions to me. Here is one of my favorite Kandinskys. It is called Farbstudie Quadrate:

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sjf,
Oh how wonderful! I looked up Donald Foster, I had seen him in some of he shows he was in.

cocok,
I do love the color circles from Kandinsky too. I am reading a good book about his movements over the years and what work he did and when.

Those who identify with his paintings feel as though they are personal to them.

While I was looking for an image of that painting(the Kandinsky one I referenced above) I started to think about who my favorite artist is. I can't possibly choose. ONE of my favorite artists still living is Chuck Close. I went to an exhibit of his work once and was blown away.

As a child Chuck Close had some sort of learning disorder, and had a hard time processing information. He loved to draw, but it was frustrating for him. He started dividing his paper into little squares, and a photograph into corresponding little squares, and he would focus on just one square at a time and he would draw what he saw. Being able to divide a drawing down into a small part allowed his brain to focus on just enough, but not too much information, and he was able to draw. Eventually his art became photo real. Amazing to me.

Anyway, as artists do, he developed new techniques and started doing huge paintings of faces using bright concentric circles. I wonder if somewhere along the line he might have been influenced by Kandinsky's Farbstudie Quadrate. I don't know.

Chuck Close painting a portrait.

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Here is a close up of a Chuck Close painting. Doesn't it look like the Kandinsky Painting?

So continuing along my chain of thought I was thinking about how huge Chuck Close's paintings are, sometimes a whole wall big, and I thought about a big "painting" I recently did.

I put painting in parenthesis because I absolutely do not think of myself as an artist, and I think my painting was more crafty than arty, but does that really matter? I say no.

I did my painting in December before Christmas. My Christmas season was sort of crummy this year. The weather was dreary, and my husband had to travel a lot for work, so I felt down and lonely and a little bit poor me. I decided to use art to help me get over myself.

When I get out art supplies my husband gets really nervous because he doesn't like a mess. Since he was gone for days on end, I took advantage of his absence. (and the absence of his distress at the art process) I hauled out a super big canvas, and some left over white and grey wall paint, and some craft paint and went to town in my kitchen turned art studio. I found a clip art image of a deer and drew it larger on the canvas and started painting. (please don't judge, I know it's not perfect, as I said I am not an artist)

Anyway, I am sharing this photo a bit nervously. Art is fun to do, but sometimes not that fun to have critiqued. Ya know what I mean!

So I would like to add something to the first thing you posted, Mary Ruth, about what art does for us. I would add, "art can lift your spirit!" Painting this really did that for me.

(My painting isn't as big as Chuck Close does, but I put a chair in the photo to show scale. The painting comes up to my nose. It was fun to use as a decoration this Christmas)

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PS. I hope someone else posts their art project so I won't feel so embarrassed.

Coco, nothing to be embarrassed about!! That is a great piece and I'll bet it looked great at the holiday, because it looks great now!

I do like the first Kandinsky piece that Mary Ruth posted. Art is very taste specific. What some see as great art, others don't care for at all!!

I paint furniture and murals for my DGK's. Is it art? Probably not by many standards, but it is artistic and they love having something painted by Grandma Candy.

I painted a mural on the wall and a dresser (inspired by Camryn Grace's dresser on RMS) for my now 6 yr old DGD.

I'll post it with this response so you have company.

TTFN,
Candy

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And this one was painted for my 1 yr old DGD on a piece of particle board that I found at GdWl. My youngest DD wanted one that could be removed from the wall and saved instead of a mural that will eventually get painted over!

None of this would be classified as "art" but they give me a sense of satisfaction to be creating something for my DGK's and I love to be doing anything crafty, whether it is making a floral arrangement, setting a tablescape, painting something, sewing something, or building something!


Candy

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cocok,
How INTERESTING that Chuck Close's art is! The little squares! HOW COOL!
Yes they do look like Kandinsky's circles which some think were inspired by the other artists of his time including Delaunay pic attached done in 1930 is similar and both artists worked with circles and colors. There was a group of friends who saw each other often, and critiqued each others work as well as using some of each other's ideas. So, they actually advanced each other in their artist circle.

I actually liked Robert Delaunay first, but when I saw Kandinsky's work, I had found something deeper to look at.

I like art as well as decorative art. And that deer is WONDERFUL! I LOVE IT! I am so happy you put the chair beside the canvas to show scale! I love the laurel leaf collar too, and the ribbon showing movement. VERY NICE! I am so happy you shared that with us! I would NOT be embarrassed to show that! YOU did a fantastic job on it too!

Christmas Candy,
I remember seeing your wall art before and I think it is darling! I love the castle! Both murals are wonderful, and the swan and fountain is so special! I really like the colors too! And the pot on the sill is wonderful to draw you into the scene.

I agree, doing something crafty is fulfilling and is just as important as other vignettes we do in our home.

this is really cute and cool. my sister should see this.

I love art but have a terrible time choosing a piece. Those I have chosen dont tie in with any colors I have in the room, so I think it looks kinda off. Is there something I'm missing in the art pieces I choose?

Thank you for commenting Evkin, I hope your sister gets to see this post!

Seashell,
I don't think art has to 'fit' in a room. But if you have a matching room that has all parts coordinating, I can see where your Eclectic art choice might look out of place. I think you brain is trying to tell you to go with more choices in decor, more Eclectic perhaps?

For example, a room with neutral or white walls and no other decor makes a good backdrop for art.

Do you have a photo of your favorite type of art to show us? Maybe that will help us to give you suggestions as to how to display. If you have one hanging in your home that would be better.

(photo attached) is in my house showing my Kandinsky poster framed (a gift from my daughter) at Christmas (Xmas decor on the drawer unit that is not usually there).

Here is my Pinterest board on wall vignettes, mainly shows collections, but there is some art in these examples:
http://pinterest.com/mary_ruth...s-mantels-vignettes/

Here is my Pinterest board for (mostly decorative art) Art I love.
http://pinterest.com/mary_ruth/art/

For those who like collages you could try this! Sometimes an old print, or a few of them... cut up with your favorite colors, or magazine pages (great way to recycle ads!) can be a creative piece of art for you to enjoy! And this is a great inexpensive way to express your creativity! Or... to experiment trying a new color combination. Stretching your brain towards new territory!

Awesome thread, MaryRuth! I wish I could paint or anything like that but alas not for me, LOL. I do love to see what others can do!

Hi Sarah Ann,
I know you can be creative, I have seen it!

I am trying to make a post each month of POSITIVE things we can think about and explore more.
My GOAL in 2013 is to be more positive and thought I would share it on this board.

Great to see you here!

Links to other threads: My monthly POSITIVE posting series for 2013. I will post one each month of positive ways to inspire us, and in a very small way try to encourage positive posts and replies.

January 2013 12 things Happy people do differently
http://boards.hgtv.com/eve/for...003947667#4003947667

February ART
http://boards.hgtv.com/eve/for...753954767#8753954767


March Atta girl post:
http://boards.hgtv.com/eve/for...463901967#3463901967

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Mary Ruth,