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Have you ever heard that saying? Art is in the eye of the beholder. What does it mean? Does it means that there is no right and wrong in art? Art is how you see it and how you make it?  Abstract, impressionism or realism. Art might be any combination of the three. Today art could be paintings worth thousands of dollars but it could also be the art of a landscape quilt. Both use the same art principles. There are so many variations in art. I've seen bronze sculptures which are the standard but I've also seen the artistry in metal that has been welded together to form an intricate free standing life size horse. Both are art in my opinion. I've seen elaborate cakes that are definitely examples of artistry or sand sculpted into complex designs. The artistry in cakes is so amazing that you feel it is a crime to eat it. And the artistry in the sand is so amazing you hope the tide doesn't come up and wash it away. What about wood and the chain saw sculptures? I'd say art.

There is one more example of artistry and it's breathless perfection is really what makes our art art. This artistic perfection is the work of God. It is everywhere in every creek, lake, wash, hill, forest or valley. It is the perfectness of the animal world. Domestic or wild, they are all part of the plan. And humans too are part of the plan. We are part of this world. It's beauty that we as artists attempt to emulate.  Even in the cities of concrete and skyscrapers there is the artistry of nature in the plants growing on balconies and the birds that still occupy the air space. Those geraniums and pidgeons also belong to God. Or look in the parks or in the face of a child. There is also beauty in work that is a combination of God's work and the work of farmers and ranchers. The rows of crops. The farmers designed but God provided what that corn needed to grow. It is the perfect duo of designer and painter or maybe God is both. He gifted that farmer or rancher with the knowledge to do what they do. Every animal and plant contributes to the beauty of this world. It's really quite breath taking and amazing. All of God's creatures including humans contribute beauty to this world. When you look at the patterns of the leaves in the trees or the needles  on the evergreens or even how the different types of grass grows is all part of this beauty. The structures of the tree trunks or the way that pile of pebbles or rocks are formed or how the sage brush on the hills mesh, it is all the art of God.

At some point nearly everyone was part of the land. They were farmers or tenders of livestock or hunters.  Many have left the land but it is still there in the blood. It just needs to be brought out. That is what landscape paintings or wildlife paintings do for you. Every horse painting or cow painting should be tugging at us. Sometimes we forget about this beauty and what it means to our existence. It provides subject matter for artists but it is also a practical beauty. Children aren't taught in schools about art nearly as much as they used to be.  They aren't taught to value the natural beauty and truth of our world and they don't recognize the beauty in the work of skilled artists. There is such a sensual overload with cell phones, television and computers. Lots of bright lights and bright colors and never ends. It's available at any time of day or night. It lacks that connection with the land. The art, whichever form it may be, helps people to connect with everything around them.