Welcome to Gaia! ::

Rue was it that bowl of fruit picture that you showed me? If thats what you did I have to say that you did an excellent job on it 3nodding

If you ever decided to draw me or strawberry...you think you could draw us together? considering we are twins and all wink xd

no promises needed wink ...i of all people know that trying somethign new takes time...the best you can do is all anyone could ask of you my dear heart

Yes, the whole art realm is really little more than snobbery and 'fashion' when it comes right down to it. Did you all realize that 'art' was never meant to be shut up in museums, away from the public, and available only to those who could pay to view it?? It's only a recent development, really. Think about it - all the religious artworks which were commissioned to be placed in, or part of, public buildings. The rennaisance statues were intended to be outside, available to the public, not cooped up behind walls... Now, take a look at some of the utter garbage littering the walls of galleries and museums... (I'm not saying the stuff there is not valid, or shouldn't be "captured" to show the evolution of art/thought/society, but really!) ... there is, has been, a debate about this topic for years in the art community. It's one reason that grafitti has had 'shows' in some prestigious galleries over the last decade or so... (no, I'm not kidding). It's VERY subjective, and even if you manage to remove the reflex "like/dislike" from a piece and try evaluating it on it's technical execution, it is STILL very subjective - one method is "valid", one not (projecting the subject onto the paper instead of freehand drawing it, for example), whether a piece must evoke emotion to be successful or whether a perfect rendering (for example, a drawing that looks like a photograph) equals success... *siiiigh*

It is my belief that *anyone* and *everyone* can draw, paint, etc., and that everyone *should*. I do not believe it should be "set apart" for the "special, tormented" artist types of the world. In fact, I believe it to be essential to a "healthy" human experience while we are on the planet.

rolleyes Ok - you got me on a soapbox. I'm sorry. I honestly applaud all efforts from everyone here to draw, paint, etc. and do not believe any of these experiences to be futile... eventhough I have the degree/background/whatever. Some folks may be born with some talent, some may develop it, but it is our birthright as human-beings and it all has value. Keep Drawing/Painting!!

redface *blush* Thanks fawN. The whole "mysterious starving artist" thing irks me eventhough I have every right to claim it myself. It's a shame our society does not value art the way it should be - that it is set apart to be gawked at and pondered intellectually instead of experienced... but there I go again! *sigh* (edit: LOL! Can you tell *my* creative inclinations? wink )

Anyway - this is a good book, discussing a lot of the perceptions of art, artists, the traditional (ie: usually nude women) forms and various other aspects of art and its role in society. Take a look... ::hopes link works:: Ways of Seeing by John Berger

thumbs up...bravo blais...bravo

Well, I'm having trouble with my software for my camera to get this picture put on my computer. I will post it here once I get it working again.

I'm not sure what's up with it. It's telling me I need macromedia flashplayer which I have. I even uninstalled and reinstalled it like 3 times. I'm going to uninstall the software for my camera either this evening or at some point this weekend and see if that works.