What was my goal for going into art?

Hello,

Last week I wrote about how I made the mental switch from being an architect to being an artist. As I shared, I was always an artist and architecture was a detour, and a very good one at that because it aligned with my values so well.

Recently Amy G. Sent me an email with several questions. This blog post is my answer to one of her questions.

What is my goal for going into art?

First and foremost in life I want to be a catalyst that brings beauty and joy into other peoples lives. This is why architecture was a good fit, not the perfect fit, but a really good fit for me.

As an architect, I made peoples lives better by improving the environment they lived and worked in. I had the opportunity to learn and observe and create beautiful spaces, that then improved their lives. With Art, I am doing the same thing but I feel with a deeper more heartfelt connection between me and those who see and live with my art. It is with my art that I hope to heighten the experience of life in a positive way, bringing joy, calmness, and serenity to the viewer.

I believe art is a basic instinct, and we are drawn to beauty. Not all forms of beauty will appeal to every person, however when you connect with someone who shares your sense of beauty, that meeting is magic.

My goal with art is to just create connection with others, sharing a mutual love of beauty found in art. In this connection, I know I am improving other peoples lives.

Are you curious about the art and beauty instinct? I have read excellent books on this topic, the three that I recommend are:

• The Art instinct by Dennis Staten

• A Taste for the Beautiful by Michael J. Ryan

• The Evolution of Beauty by Richard O. Prum
  

Each of these books are good. Though, I preferred The Art instinct and The Evolution of Beauty most. I still think about and ponder some of the ideas that are covered in these books, specifically how we have evolved to have aesthetic preferences and how they help us navigate the world.

The topic is so interesting and makes me feel even more committed to the importance of art in our culture and the importance of connecting with others over a shared sense a beauty.