Art is communication, and ultimately communication is the transference of one mental state to another person, or the preservation of a mental state for future use or reference. In writing, fiction is the former and non-fiction is the latter.
Writing is a unique trait to humans and a very powerful tool because it gives people the capacity to restore a previously experienced mental state that is not dependent on memory. Good writing is concise and stimulating to the senses, filled with imagery, sound, touch, taste, olfaction and references to other senses including an sense of humour, and other social senses. Communication that achieves this is good communication, and because visual art can include words and images it can do this more effectively that writing, making art a powerful medium for communication, memory and life enhancement.
Communication without a message is pointless. Sometimes paintings by an artist repeat the same message. Thomas Kinkade says... Bob Ross said... Francis Bacon said...
Are such artists boring, or trapped by limited tastes? If limited tastes limit art then limited tastes also limit effective communication. Artists who get on with a wide range of people then produce a wide spectrum of art. The reverse is also true; to like a wider range of people, an artist can simply produce a wider range of art and get to like their output.
All artists portray their life, personality or elements of both in their work, whether they like it or not, so to accurately convey an intended message it is important to think and be that message at the instant of conception of the art. As such, a certain degree of mental control and flexibility is needed, and it is perhaps that that separates two types of artist; the balladeer and the philosopher; those who experience and tell of their experiences, and those who hypothesise and relate their ideas.
