"He who works with his hands is a laborer. He who works with his hands and his head is a craftsman. He who works with his hands and his head and his heart is an artist."
— St. Francis of Assisi
Italian Friar and Preacher
Founder of the Franciscan Order
1181 - 1226
What makes a great painting, poem or novel is the heart of the artist. Great art grows out of the heart, not the mind. A person can perfect his technique and think new ideas, but if the work he produces does not have heart, it ultimately will fail. Yet a work of art that has heart will be able to overcome poor technique and weak ideas.
Emotion is what connects one human being to another. Emotion is what connects a work of art with the audience. Emotion is what artists must put into their work. Have you connected with your heart? Do you create from the heart? Do you feel as your heart feels? Or are you lost somewhere in your mind, thinking up new thoughts and new ideas? Ideas are not enough. We must feel the emotion behind what we create.
