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With Sarah, Phil, Ellen, Rose the dentist, and the granddaughter whose name I forget.

Robert Jones, Napa

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So do I - I have to draw every day; I've become very slow at painting, largely because .... actually, I don't know why!   But there are scribbles, doodles, more considered sketches, all over the place - you can't move for them......
IMG_8857

Marjorie Firth

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It’s not a hobby for me either. I have to paint, if I can, every day! It’s such a big part of me and if I’m not painting I’m taking in everything around me….what a wonderful thing to do!

Tessa Gwynne

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Art to me is taking an idea, a thought, a feeling from your head and changing that into something physical, be it drawing, painting, sculpture etc.. so the resulting work should be as individual as what is in your thoughts.  I think Gudrun has largely explained it as I think of it.
GS Feb 2022

Gudrun Ståhl Sharpley

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Tessa.  I pressed the 👍 and it came with a message about reputation!?  I think I shall not press buttons if I don't know what they do!  Robert, what's the 👍 button for?  I hope it means thumbs up🙂

Tessa Gwynne

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I believe it does Gudrun! I assume it adds to the reputation number under my details, which gives me as far as I know absolutely nothing. 😉 but thank you. 

Denise Cat

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I agree Gudrun, it not a hobby for me. I'm not a professional artist. I have no training. It has become everyday living interwoven in everything I do. It becomes a way of living I guess.
IMG_3630

Paul (Dixie) Dean

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It starts as a hobby or interest as you develop your skills it starts to become far more than a hobby it’s a way of life , expressing yourself, we become so involved with it that we see shapes and patterns in everything that most people miss.  Since retiring it’s become almost a job but without the hassle of a job if you know what I’m meaning , it unpaid apart from the odd commission or sale , but who need paying for having such pleasure. It’s even better if you paint , draw what you want not feel obligated to paint to please others or do what I call prescriptive artwork. I could go on trying to explain it more but I’m sure you can get my drift . A good day is getting some time to paint even if it only a short amount of time, down days are not having time with any thing to do with artwork, but even then ideas pop into mind . Dread the day I can no longer paint or draw , as I’m sure many of you do .

Tessa Gwynne

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Good points Denise and Dixie. I may not paint daily especially recently but I’m constantly looking and thinking what would make a good and interesting subject to paint or sketch. As has been said, the enjoyment is a big part of it.
PB3 - Copy

Cordelia Campbell

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It's difficult to define but I would say that art comes from the 'heart', and is produced when people put their heart and soul into a work.  Otherwise, I'd say it would be more like illustration.  Don't get me started on the Turner prize!
My Profile pic16

Lewis Cooper

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This has been an interesting read with people attempting to define the almost indefinable.  Like others, art is an essential part of my life, both doing it and appreciating the work of others, I can't imagine life without it. I'm a bit jolted by Cordelia's comment.  It can only be read as being dismissive about illustration.  When I post an image, I always tick the illustration box.  Because that's what interests me.  My image of Scrooge, posted today, is me attempting to illustrate that character.  My understanding of the phrase 'put your heart and soul' into something, means you approach it with enthusiasm, determined to do the best you can.  That's what I do.  All illustrators do the same.  So for me, ART definitely includes illustration, it isn't something I knock out because I can't really be bothered. But it's an opinion.  Everyone has one.  We all make our choices.  So I'll bumble along with my illustration, and let everybody else make 'art'.
PB3 - Copy

Cordelia Campbell

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Sorry Lewis, I hadn't meant to offend you.  I believe illustration is valid and worthy and just as important as what I would consider art to be and this is just my opinion. I'd say your Scrooge image is art, whether it was a quick study or not as you have taken the time and effort to put something of yourself into it and that's important to me. I think of illustration as, say, an image in a magazine or a comic, or an advertisement.  Something aimed at the mass market and not something I would dismiss.  It just shows that art can mean different things to different people and is difficult to define.  That's what makes it so interesting and controversial.
GS Feb 2022

Gudrun Ståhl Sharpley

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... is a sketch the same as a drawing, and when is it 'just a sketch', an unfinished work and not a drawing?  Is a sketch in fact a drawing which is a finished work?
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