For the Artists...

                                                                                               ©Manisha Tulaskar

                       An Artist. I have always been an artist even when I was very little. As a kid, my mind always wandered off in the reverie.  I was always more curious about what lies beyond this physical and onerous existence. For a little kid that I was, it was too much of a burden the way art made me feel.. I never understood how one could put up an exhibition and let people come and judge their art (I am being a hypocrite here, Because even i want to put up an exhibition of my Art. My Naive mind couldn't understand exhibitions then). I never understood why people always had an opinion on which art is good and which is not. I never understood why certain paintings were sold for millions while others were devalued or not even considered art. I remember taking part in drawing competitions and winning them. I never understood why what I drew in school was ranked number 1 and what my Friends painted was number two or three or sometimes not considered good enough to be given any ranks (Really why do we even have competitions?) I don't mean to flaunt but I always felt if what is drawn on the paper is making the artist feel good and it's comforting him then who are we to judge?

Well, obviously the world doesn't run in accordance with my perception. Growing up I already knew the world was vile. I never understood the race everyone was running, in this realm. I always felt otherworldly, lost in my own reverie as I said before. I grew up. I pursued Art, film-making and Animation, only to find that Art was already lost somewhere in the past, amidst this race for popularity. Everyone appallingly judging Art as though it was supposed to be Perfect and comforting to all. I recently read this quote "Art should Disturb the comfortable and comfort the Disturbed." I feel the Art you are looking at should stimulate your Mind and Soul. Not everyone's art is going to please you and not everyone thrives for perfection as a lot of artists find beauty in their unfinished work or their sorrowest painting. What Art is to you, it may not mean the same to some other person or what it means to him and what he sees in it, you may not even be the closest to guess.

Well, Why am I writing this? Because I was about to post a sketch I did last year on Instagram. I cropped the sketch, angled it properly and it was time for the caption. I couldn't help but think, what would my followers make of it? How would they see it? What would it mean to them? What message may my art convey to them looking through their perspective? How would it make them feel? Wait! These questions were absolutely not the reason I'm writing this post. The real reason actually is, I felt, either my art would get judged or no one would really have time to actually see beyond what lies in front of them. i don't think millennials understand Art (no offence, Sorry), But Art is not only two taps and red hearts on Instagram. Art and the artist shouldn't be judged by how many followers or likes they have. This doesn't only apply to Art but everything actually.

 We, all of us are so eager to get thousands and millions of followers. We are so eager to get seen that we forget the value of things. Anyway, we were talking about Art so let's stick to the topic. We can talk about girls stripping for followers in maybe some other post. Well, Do you think I'm being a hypocrite again? *sighs* Yes, Even i have accounts on social media. there was a time i was completely obsessed with certain sites, posting every day, updating every day, but the addiction has faded now. and NO I am not saying those who still do these things shouldn't do it. Your life, your wish. Anyway, we were talking about Art. A lot of different people have a lot of different things to say about Art and A lot of people think that what they think of Art is the utmost truth and their way is the right way. Maybe this Painting shouldn't have been this way, it would've looked more beautiful if this or that was done, Maybe the Artist should've used this colour instead of that. We all act as if we understand Art. I truly believe out of all the things in the world, Art is that one thing which is beyond our normal understanding. What goes through an artist's mind while painting a certain Painting is beyond our understanding unless the artist describes what he exactly was going through while painting it, word by word. But that's not possible you see. You don't Describe Art, you don't just see art. You feel it, in your soul, to the core of your bones.

 These days Artists don't make Art, Money makes Art and Art makes Money. These days it's just a decorative item hanging in your living room which you hardly have time to look at. Art is judged upon how many followers and likes you have, not that there are a lot of artists with millions of followers but you sure will find millions of so-called models with millions of Followers. I have nothing against anyone and I don't mean to spread hate. I just want people to look at art without thinking how much money it will make. Keep aside the flaws and try to connect and feel what you look at. Don't just see Art. look at it. Feel it.  Get lost in a world which, that particular art will take you without you trying to force yourself. Value Art. Stop judging. Don't be in a race. Be yourself, at least when you paint. Don't think about which colors may be pleasant to look at, for your followers. Use colors you feel connected to. Don't try to copy someone's genre of art just because they have more followers than you. These sites and the followers will perish one day. Your Art will Live forever, Just follow your Heart Through Art.