英语博客(A cup of English):041 Hmm, what do you think?

　　Beginners.

Art is all around us. There are many forms of art, such as paintings, sketches 1, sculpture, architecture, ceramics 2, stained glass windows, and even wood burning. Art is a personal thing, also. If somebody loves to grow flowers, their work in the garden could be considered art. Life without art would be very dull and quite strange. Think about never seeing pictures or photos in buildings. No statues, no water fountains, no interesting details. And what about fashion? You could say that fashion, hair styles, make-up etc are forms of art because they are personal tastes to do with color and shape. Music is a huge subject that is related to art. It makes you think, doesn't it? When someone is very good at being creative in some way, people say that he is "an artist". My recent visit to a bakery made me realize that baked goods can also be works of art. Let me know how art is important to you, my listeners. Drop me a comment or an E-mail, and I will share your thoughts in a future episode.

Grammar notes.

Could be considered: His language could be considered rude. His interview went well; he could be considered for the job.

Art vocabulary: paint, paint brush, shade, form, style, arts and crafts, exhibition, genre 3.

Advanced.

The other day, I found myself gazing at a painting, and enjoying the contact that my eyes were making with the work. Nothing more. Something about the arrangement of the colors and their differing tones, pleased a part of my brain, and had me not wanting to look away. That's how it is with art. In the deep recesses 4 of our grey matter, just left of the hypocampus, is the art appreciation 5 gland 6, better known as artemilikus. Every time a person is in contact with art that appeals to him or her, it is stimulated 7. Well, okay, I just made that one up. But, my point is, we humans can get transfixed by any kind of art without understanding why it is so satisfying and important. The picture on this post is the kind of art that I love. Impressionistic? Perhaps. Modern? Maybe. Well, I'm sure many influences have flowed into the mind of the artist, Majka Sadel, but the end result is that it just is. So, hmm, what do you think? Is it a river reflecting in the water? A busy street on a rainy day? It could be. Though its title is 'Cityscape', it could be, and conjure 8 up, anything for any person.

Grammar notes.

Useful vocabulary: Arrangement, differing, recesses, appreciation, gland, impressionistic, influence, to be in contact.

Verbs: to gaze (reg.), to make (make, made, made), to flow (reg.), to conjure (up) (reg.).