Great art, or High Art as I call it, is something that communicates very strongly and without guile, the way great religious leaders teach us to live.
Some pieces do communicate obnoxiously strong but it’s obvious the artist’s intent isn’t to GIVE but to demand attention be given to himself.
Pusillanimous is my new word. My younger brother, Don, is a good example of someone entirely not pusillanimous. Without fear he sang, with an untrained voice, in a large church meeting. He sang as though he was telling the dearest message of his heart and as though his words just happened to have a tune attached. He sang his message to us, his favorite people.
Don sang in full voice, like an opera singer, he changed the rhythm of the hymn to say better what he wanted to communicate and all who listened heard with their hearts. I didn’t see one person cringe or raise an eye brow at the occasional missed notes or when his voice broke. Don gave us everything he was and had.
When I grow up I want to be like my brother and although he died young and didn’t have years and years to teach me more, I keep him in mind as I paint. When I grow up I want to live with Don and be just like him and had him in my thoughts as I drew this picture.nancymauerman.com