Art in its basic form should be viewed as a celebration of humanity. Be it paints applied to a canvass, or ink on a paper, music from an orchestra, or motion picture on a screen, it is the giving of pleasure from one to another.

Art is something we turn to for enjoyment, pleasure and contentment. I don't think we stop enough to consider how much art impacts on our lives, how it creates in us a world of emotions and expressions, how it helps us to communicate and record our history. It impresses us, inspires us and give us cause for reflection. It touches our lives in almost every way possible, and is something that we take for granted.

Think about it the next time that you reach of a book, or read a story on GA. There are times that we may not enjoy what we read, or think it very good, but it is art that you are reviewing. The next time you look at a news paper, or read a magazine, it is art you are investing your time in. Stop to admire a car, or lie back relaxing with a glass of wine while listening to your favourite piece of piano music.What ever it is, there is art associated with it.

In our modern world, art can be associated with so many things. Take cooking or eating out for example. Food preparation and presentation have become an art form all in itself. You only have to watch one of these ultra cool chef programs on the telly these days to see how much art goes into presenting a stunning plate of food on the table for us to eat. We appreciate the visual impact as well as the taste sensation of what we eat.

I was sitting in a quiet country pub this afternoon watching them preparing cocktails, and wow, that was a talent exhibition of note. The young bar man was extremely well versed in flaring the bottles, and putting on a show while cooking up a cosmopolitan or a long island iced tea. And the visually stunning blues, greens and yellows of the drinks that left the bar to go to various customers were eye catching and were it not for the fact I had to drive, I'd possibly have been tempted to partake of these magnificent looking offerings.

I recall a number of years back when I was working for a particular shopping chain in the UK, at how much emphasis they placed on window dressing and shelf presentation. It was as they called it the Art form that prompted buying. Shelving plans were received every few weeks from a head office team that would sit and work out exactly where every product was to be placed in order to be visually dynamic but also to inspire people to buy. The scary thing was, that it worked.

I love my music, I adore reading. I enjoy a stunning sun set. I love a quiet candle lit dinner. I love the sound of the sea. All these things are art to me. Special, treasures and a huge part of my life and the world I live in. I guess I'm a bit of a romantic in that way, but I am grateful for these things, for thinking of living in a world without these things would be completely not worth contemplating.

Thought for today - "Adopt the pace of nature, her secret is patience." - Ralph Waldo Emerson

Song for today - Waterfall by The Stone Roses