A Brief Introduction

I've always been interested in art. Always drawing, painting, sketching. Always trying to produce something aesthetically pleasing. But never really trying to convey a certain message with my art. My art teachers had always tried to get me to draw something with an intended theme or certain implication. I was very resistant. I liked creating work that "looked good."And I realize that's totally acceptable, but sometimes trying to convey a message in your work is important.

But the idea of trying to convey a message in artwork, or creating a piece that "means" something, lended itself to a series of questions.

Does the intent of the artist matter?
If the viewer's interpretation of the art doesn't parallel the intent of the artist, is their opinion totally discredited?
Is art created for the sole purpose of the art itself?
Is art a self-indulgent field and created for the artists themselves?
Is art created for the viewer?

So I began to think...how can I go about exploring the above questions in a most thoughtful and interesting way. Visits to museums, reading various articles by art philosophers, and perhaps even getting feedback about my own art.

And what better way to do that than create a blog. So here it is: A Look at Artist Intent.