First Semester

First semester is over at Ringling and we're out for winter break, it's a week earlier than most colleges. I flew back home today but the morning went by extremely slow. I woke up at 7:30 a.m. and didn't get up until around 8:30 a.m. My flight wasn't taking off until 1:43 p.m. so I had a lot of time between that. Most of it was spent pacing my room thinking.

By the time I left at 10:00 a.m. to get to the airport I was thinking about what makes a great piece of artwork. My entire semester at school got me to realize that research is one of the most important factors in a masterpiece. Still though, almost as soon as I realized that I also remember great pieces of art that have to do with the actual painting of the picture, like the work of Andrew Jones where the real beauty in his work is how he paints and not so much of what he paints.

I pulled myself into an inward debate over what the most important factor was in creating an amazing piece of art. Was it how much time was spent on it, what the meaning is, the use of materials and style, how accurately it portrays the subject, etc... It was ended by the idea that it wasn't about any of those things. In fact it had nothing to do with the artist, but the viewer. Artists will never have the last say on which of their own pieces is better because it communicates to everyone and so everyone replies back. Every piece; every idea is just like a word, sentence or story that speaks without a voice. All art speaks through sight. Even if you never put a message to it.

I arrived at the airport 3 hours before my flight. So I sat down and waited outside the security check drawing in my sketchbook. Almost as soon as I sat down a woman came along with a large bag and started to set up something Christmasy right behind me. She pulled out signs on a stick each with a meaningful remark, like "Self Determination" and "Good Will", drawn on with crayons. Three girls in red and white and Santa hats soon appeared with their family. After a while more families and little girls in red and white appeared and over hearing the discussions I realized that this was a small play being put on by elementary students. I wasn't able to see it since I saw a line building up in the Security Check. I would have to get in there now to be sure I would be one time for my flight.