Is Art Personal?

Looking at Art:

Is art always personal? When I look back at the art I have made, it looks like the story of my life, each series represents what I was going through at that time. When I think about the work of other artists, perhaps the most personal is the art of Frida Kahlo, who made many self-portraits during her lifetime in response to the chronic pain which was with her constantly after a devastating accident. Can we say that all art is personal? Perhaps not all art fits this description. What do you think? Do you respond to the art that tells an artist’s life story more than other forms of art?

 Work in the Studio:

My uncle, a syndicated cartoonist, was most well-known for the word puzzle, “Jumble”, which he illustrated. Irving or Henri Arnold (his pen name) passed away several years ago. I was recently given the proofs to some of his cartoons, which meant a great deal to me, since I had always idealized my uncle. After seeing his proofs and photos from one of his old photo albums, I wanted to do something to honor him. As you can see, I decided to paint his portrait. It seemed fitting to include several of his drawings in the painting. Creating the piece has allowed me to work through some of my feelings about his passing.

Henri Arnold, Cartoonist, Watercolor, 14” x 11”