When I teach beginning art history, one of the things I like to ask the students is: “What is your definition of art?” I then give them some possible definitions. This first one is my favorite, given to me by my artist friend Ann Bain. It is the one I try to measure my own work by. I stated it at the recent workshop I presented at the Western Ohio Watercolor Society and one of the artists in attendance asked me to post it. I am finally doing so! Here it is:

“In all object making that aspect which relates to its conceptual interpretation is ART.

That which relates the object to an intended purpose is DESIGN.

And the quality of its execution is CRAFT. …Hella Basu

Stay tuned for more favorite art quotes!