Art, or is it?

We have all heard "beauty in in the eye of the beholder." That expression is used for a lot of things, including art. I have a friend that doesn't think any art he could create is art. For example a painting that looks like a bunch of paint splatters or paint that was whipped and smeared onto a canvas with a rag is not art. I have learned that the subject matter isn't the most important thing in fine art, I like great technique. We have a few oil paintings here at The Craftsman B&B that from a distance looks like a picture of a forest in the Spring. When you look close, it's just a bunch of tiny dabs of paint. I've seen the Dutch Masters in museum shows and the portraits, clouds, trees are photo-realistic from 10 feet away, up close they are paint splatters or paint that was whipped and smeared onto a canvas, sound familiar?

That leads us to today's Salt & Peppers. Is it art? Well I think these are the creation of someone who took an art class at the local community center. Where they learned to make jewelry.

First off we have the typical diner S&P's you can buy at the dollar store. Then we have the wire and "jewels." Hot glue the jewels and wrap wire around them. I think these are ugly, just like I look for. But wait, there is some fine technique. The twisting of the wire to hold the dangling jewels is very well done.

Is this the work of a master or just an average person using the skills learned in one class?

It's art, you be the judge.