The Avante Garde

Art has been an elusive dream to me for most of my life even though I grew up surrounded by art and making art. Drawing came naturally for me since I was a boy, while growing up I was always known by my peers and teachers as that kid who could draw. I never did like that designation. The place where I felt the closest to art was at The School of the Art Institute of Chicago where I recieved my formal art "edumacation". Even then with all the art and artists roaming about I never really fully discovered what art was. Sure you could tell me that art by definition was the product of human hands and stems from the very being of the artists soul (cue in dramatic music track). My only concern with that is there are SOME "artists" that get caught up in the money and fame aspect of making their art and completely get sidetracked, thus making their art a little less convincing then their previous works before. Believe me they notice this, and instead of sticking to the plan of moving forward creating new and different things they remain in place painting the same thing over and over and over and over and over again. UNTIL! They have created a label for themselves as "The artist who paints _________" (rocks, lighthouses, horses, indians, angels, faces, cottages, trees, birds, cartoon characters, big eyes... you get the point). You can call it an artist style or whatever, but they will remain stuck there painting those things for the rest of their life!!! That is a painfull thought to me. For those artists who remain vigilant and change their style and subject matter from time to time I applaud you! Always think avante garde.