Artists not only fulfill practical roles in our society by designing almost every structure or object that is built or made, but they're also responsible for recording and commemorating our history and special events. Artists also depict what can't be seen, such as giving form to images of God, angels, and deities. Another function of the artist is to give form to ideas and feelings. It is important to experience a way of seeing that is different from our own, and artists help enable us to do this.

There are many purposes for creating Art, and Gilbert's Living with Art categorizes these purposes in nine themes: The Arts of Daily Life such as a basket or a fountain, The Sacred Realm, The Social Order such as a pyramid reflecting the power of a pharaoh or a political satire or caricature, Storytelling, The Here and Now where artists paint daily life around them, The Human Experience such as a portrait of a couple in love, Invention and Fantasy, Art and Nature which could be a landscape painting or a beautiful garden, and Art and Art, where an artist may explore concepts about art or the process of creating Art. As you work with your projects, which theme does your piece fall under? Why?

Thank you for the pleasure in teaching you more about Art. You may have many questions about the course you're in and, hopefully, this website will help to answer them for you. Please come visit, e-mail, or call me if you have more questions, concerns, or would just like to share some ideas.