As with many other subjects, I have an opinion on art. As a whole I am very appreciative of art, but I do have different feelings on certain types of 'art'. For example: I am extremely critical of contemporary art, and an advocate of classic art. Of course, there are exceptions.
Within the vast expanse of classical artists some that have turned my head are well known, while others are not. The sculptures and paintings of Michelangelo are phenomenal, and loved by many more than just me. The genius of Da Vinci is another that I enjoy. My favorite pieces come from the almost fantastical landscapes of Thomas Cole. He is not as well known, but regardless his work is magnificent.
In the contemporary scene there is not much that I respect, much less like. Only one artist has really impressed me: Kugler. He works in paint and airbrush, and arranges shape, color, and line in a brilliant panorama. While not 'contemporary' in the sense of abstract art, another current artist I follow is Luis Royo. His fantasy pieces are imaginative and striking. His technique, unrivaled.
One thing I abhor is 'forced meaning' in a piece of art. I do like meaning in art, but it should be skillfully subtle, not a slap in the face. Furthermore, I do not think it is fair to limit a piece to a singular meaning. The artist can compose a piece to mean something to themselves, but it can mean so many different things to many different people. These people are not wrong in their interpretation; the artist should not try to force his meaning onto the viewer. The piece can, and will mean something different to every viewer. I draw the line at ‘message art.’ I do not mean advertisements; I mean the type of work that is made because the artist has no real originality they are just trying to send their 'deep and meaningful' message out. For example: if a piece consists of an angry face painted in dark colors with the word 'hate' scrawled sloppily in red across the face, then it is 'message art'. This is not good art. Pieces like that are juvenile, underdeveloped, and clearly unimaginative. And, it also makes the piece boring. It leaves nothing to be pondered on by the viewer, it is just there.
In my on work I try to create pieces that everyone can enjoy and understand. As previously stated I believe that every piece has a separate meaning to each individual. Some of my own pieces mean something to me, while some hold nothing for me. In the case of the latter, I hold no personal meaning in the pieces where I draw a character that is not my creation. In theses instances I draw them because I like the character, and wish to create my own version.
All in all, art is amazing. Creating people, places, and composing scenes is something I cherish. I am terribly thankful that I have been blessed with a touch of talent in this area. For me art touches on something that is unexplainable. It is an amazing thing, and adds so much to my life. If there is anything that can explain the meaning of life or why we are here, or any of those unanswerable questions the arts is what answers it. They are like strands tying the universe together.