Japanese Painter Observing His Work

I have found it extremely difficult to write as of late. I find myself writing a whole paragraph of words and then re-reading it, only to hit the backspace button and be left with nothing. It’s been going on like this for weeks. I’m not really sure why this is. Today, I wish to write about my obsession with art. Some people say they are obsessed but don’t really mean it in my opinion. Some even confess to understanding art, when in actuality they don’t. I call these people technologists.

The reason why I do this is because they find art in technology as opposed to simplicity. I want to point out here that you all are not artists. You are technologists. Artists die emblazoned with passion, and a strong understanding of the human mind, body, and soul. Artists are caught in between the past and the present. Technologists are obsessed with the future and nine times out of ten, happen to be extremely paranoid.

What makes technologists interesting is that, they are obsessed with artists. And artists, well, they happen to be obsessed with technologists. Moreover, at times, an individual can be both, and not realize it. I want the reader to keep in mind that I am using the term artist in the classical sense, i.e. a painter, sculptor, actor, dancer, etc. Wikipedia states that there have often been discussions on the differences between artists and technicians so I guess this is just one more example.

You see, art to me, is that which our elders and forefathers taught us it should be. I’m talking about the carved and colorful figures the Neanderthals left us in their caves. I’m talking about Renee Magritte’s painting of The Son of Man or Michaelangelo’s The Libyan Sybil. Diego Rivera’s murals is another prime example. The love poems of Pablo Neruda is another. The many paintings by Ethiopian artist, Afewerk Tekle, now that’s an artist!

Hokusai’s Great Wave of Kanagawa is another perfect example. Hell, the musical genius Kitaro’s ‘Wind and Water’ masterpiece is artistic in every way imaginable! As is Miles Davis’s ‘Recollections’ track. But why do we shun these gifts? Why do we forget the lessons artists teach us? Moreover, why have we humans as a race, given up on some of the basic life lessons that Art has given us. Alas, when you abandon Art, you are abandoning Life.

Moving along, a physician is an artist in my book. They are the preservers of life and they are moral. The deepest core of an artist always reveals that he or she is noble and truthful. And so, doctors are artists. Judges, politicians, soldiers, and executioners on the other hand are not artists. They seek to destroy that which is sacred; that being of course, the human understanding of life. Adolf Hitler wasn’t an artist, Ghandi on the other hand was. Catch my drift?

You see, art is the individual’s avenue to self-fulfillment. And self-fulfillment is life. What turns you on is what defines you, so the individual must be weary of what he or she chooses. I found art initially in writing. I mean words are nothing more then symbols at the end of the day and the words you are reading now are nothing more then ancient symbols passed down from the West Germanic family of languages. But you have to ask yourself, what is the West Germanic language and/or Modern English popular or known for today? Well, modern English is said to be the dominant international language behind, communications, science, business, aviation, entertainment, radio, and diplomacy.

No wonder I don’t write anymore.

Well it so happens I am growing weary of the English language. I speak three languages fluently, but the English language I always had disdain for. I think I realize now why. I cannot find Art in it anymore. And so, I started sketching. Why draw words when you can draw anatomy? It is so much more fun and challenging! The technique of recreating images that are alive is both eye-opening and challenging and it fills my heart with a sense of relief. I would urge every man and woman to buy a drawing pad and drawing pencils and give it a shot. You might strike upon something you never knew existed.

I don’t quite know if I answered why I’m obsessed with art. But consider this my, Preamble.

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