Beauty Keeps You Young

Franz Kafka said, “Anyone who keeps the ability to see beauty never grows old.”

The ability to see beauty keeps you young. Nothing much has changed about the truth of that statement in thousands of years.

People today are still drawn to beauty. They purchase art to bring beauty into their lives. Obviously, everyone has a personal concept of what art is beautiful. Still, many people and most collectors are clear on what art movement speaks to their particular sense of what is beautiful. What art movements speak to you? Is it Contemporary Art, the art that is being created right now? Is it Modern Art, Cubism, Expressionist, Surrealism, Abstract, or its hybrid, Abstract Expressionism?

Why, with all the technological advances, do people still want original art? Original art comes directly from the mind, heart, soul and hands of the artist to a buyer. One-of-a-kind, handcrafted, a thing of beauty only one buyer can own at any time.

Why are people drawn to collect the work of a single artist? Perhaps a buyer knows the artist personally, having followed a local artist through career stages. How exciting to meet the artist and get the chance to speak directly about the artist’s work.

Those of you who go to sporting events, you know how exciting it is to meet the players, riders and drivers. Meeting artists can be fascinating. Imagine owning a piece of art you can tell a story about by an artist whose story you know. You probably already know how much easier it is to meet artists than super-star sports giants. Meet and greet artists because you can.

Artists are interesting. Look for art gallery openings and local art council shows. Be there where you get a chance to mingle with artists and discuss their work with them. Why? Because every piece of art has a story attached to it. Art stories amaze. Artists lead exciting, spontaneous, serendipitous lives. Many move through life following whatever attracts them.

Artists have stories attached to them, as well. Many professional artists have had to wait a long time to earn the bliss of creating until late in life. Some of  these artists appear like they can’t afford to waste a minute. Others appear like they have all the time in the world. Other artists have always been artists, like Picasso, whose mother once told him, “If you become  a soldier you’ll be a general. If you become a monk you’ll end up the Pope.” Picasso said, “Instead, I became a painter and wound up as Picasso.”