What I know about art!

Let me just start by saying I am not an artist. I am okay, good, maybe even skilled, but by no means can I classify myself as an artist.
This weekend I finished the nursery for my soon to be baby girl. Being this is my first child I decided to throw caution to the wind and create a mural with characters from our theme (Dr. Seuss. See his work at http://www.drseussart.com) It turned out beautifully, if I do say so myself. But the reactions both before and after, from my lovely wife, got me thinking about how people think about art. Before I had started it, my wife was reticent about me marking up her wall, and after, when it was done, her eyes said it before she could speak it. I knew I could throw something up there that would pass, I don’t think it is art by any means, but I would like to think she was floored. She was bragging to her friends sending photos out to everyone. I am also proud of the work, and of course plenty of my friends had to see my work. (You too can see it at http://picasaweb.google.com/Hayson337)
The reaction - the art. First while I think Dr. Seuss is art in one form. I don’t think it to be necessarily a complex or moving piece of work. I do think he was able to capture the attention of the viewer and convey motion vividly. I think that is why it works so well with young minds. Notice I did not mention children. I want to think that adults who still are young at heart can appreciate this kind of art for what it is - art.
What else I know about art. Art is what a person likes, thus there is a lot of art out there that is way beyond my tastes. What I do like is art that grabs a person when they first look at it and then after fifteen minutes of staring at it they notice it again like they are looking at it for the first time. I have several favorite artists that do this. One would be Claude-Joseph Vernet (1714-1789) I make a pilgrimage to a little museum in San Diego every year (Timken), just to spend a few moments staring at a piece of art painted two hundred and fifty years ago (A Seaport at Sunset http://www.timkenmuseum.org/) Like any great piece of work you have to see it to understand.
Who I know about art. I like to brag that I am the most fortunate person in the world. I say this because I am married to the most wonderful person in the world, have the most caring and supportive family in the world, and I have the coolest friends in the world and right now I am going to focus on the one who brings art to a new level for me.
The Caleb Merrick – The Art God. He is a true artist in the deepest meaning of the word. To compare him to other gods of art, I would mix up the brilliant figures of Rembrandt and his manipulation of shadows. To the vivid colors of Boldini, I’m still looking a speck of black in his work. I would also add the depth of Michelangelo and Da Vinci with all the hidden meanings thrown together. I have known Caleb for a long time and have experienced his work first hand. I guess what I want to say is he is brilliant. I think he has a ability that few possess and a hand touched by God. If you don’t believe me see his work in person, or what his demo reel at: http://www.calebmerrick.com/
One day he will be more well known than he is now. Like a good friend of Dr. Seuss once said to him “There will come a day when” Caleb’s work, “will be seen by millions!”

By Jason E. Lee
Author of “Visions of the Unknown”