WHY ART? & Video of my Artist Talk

I believe in art.  I believe we all deserve beauty, meaning, and something deeper than the "necessities" for daily life.  Some people think they can't rationalize owning art in the same way they can rationalize owning a new toaster or a new sweater.  You can tell yourself you need to eat and you need clothing, but do you need art?  Gee, do you need inspiration and beauty?  Do you need to think and feel something more than what our society screams at us through memes, entertainment, and advertisements?  Do you need happiness?  I think you do.  I believe we all deserve art in our lives, whatever that may mean to each of us personally.

I am not saying this to try to make sales.  I say this to lift the stigma that you cannot enjoy art; music, film, literature, dance, the fine arts, and more.  It's more than okay to let yourself bask in the gloriousness that so many creatives have offered us.  I'm giving you the okay.  Feed your soul with what it needs, something so much more than a new sweater that you have rationalized as a need, but really it's a want.  And it's a want for the novelty of something that will fade.  But to give yourself the experience of art, is a lasting fulfillment.  Start paying attention to the things that truly enrich your life.  Support those who fight for beauty, and allow yourself to experience the beauty as well.

Again, this is not a rant to make you want to buy my art...  HOWEVER, if you have wanted to, but felt some silly mysterious guilt for buying art, now I'm giving you permission to feel no guilt!  It's great for me to sell a piece of art, because what I get is money, which helps me to make my living.  But money comes and goes.  When you buy a piece of art, you get ART.  And I do love it when my art goes to a good home.  It's a win-win.

More on the subject of 'why art?' I give you a video of my artist talk from March at the Bay County Public Library during my exhibit, "Cut It Out: Paper Cut Art by Heather Clements."

I give a short history of the conceptual side of my art, along with research and ideas behind my current themes.  A special thank you to the Public Eye for creating this beautifully shot and edited video!  I hope you enjoy it!

Green Tip #16:  Spend your leisure time in nature.  Awesome fun activities that you can do with little or no harm to the environment:

• Go to the beach
• Go on a bike ride.  Short ride, or all day, they're all great.
• Go for a walk
• Spend time in or on the water: swimming, canoeing, kayaking, paddle boarding, tubing, down rivers, in lakes, bays, and the ocean
• Go camping
• Go hiking
• Go for a picnic
• Go to state and national parks

These are just a few off the top of my head.  Other perks: gaining new admiration for the natural world, little to no financial cost, healthy for mind and body! 

Thank you so much for letting me share my thoughts and art with you.

-Heather