Art
LC: We’re seeing much more
attention given to aesthetics
and craftsmanship these days,
particularly with the example that
Apple has set in the design of its
products. Romantic Realism, as the
description is used presently in the
visual arts, is the genre of stylized,
idealized realism. In Aristotle’s
words, it is reality presented
“as it could be and should be.”
Romantic Realism processes, shapes,
and re-presents reality in accordance
with the needs and processes of
man’s valuing mind. From the
perspective of having art in the
business environment, Romantic
Realism is uniquely appropriate;
it’s valuable precisely because, as
a style, it springs from, reflects, and
upholds the same values, principles,
and orientation to reality used by
businesses in pursuit of success. In
business, one must do one’s utmost
to perceive the world clearly, to see
things as they are, while visualizing
an idealized, achievable improvement
on that reality. One must be able
to visualize one’s goals as clearly
as possible, but also in terms of
essentials, with the extraneous
and nonessential details omitted or
ignored. The essentialized, idealized
vision provides the standard and the
goal on the horizon—the “where
we’re going” and “how we’re going
to get there.” Having Romantic
Realist art from which to draw
inspiration not only provides fuel
in its own right, but also sets the
example of how we can and should
go about pursuing those values.
We can’t achieve success by
unfocusing our eyes and minds, by
idealizing a kind of blurry, blotchy,
vaguely defined reality—the style
we see, for instance, in Impressionism.
We can’t hope to succeed in creating
a valuable product or service by
coming to work and throwing
whatever might be available at the
wall, accepting the accidental and
incomprehensible product of whatever
might stick—as we see in the example
provided by modernist “abstract art.”
There’s a well-known adage: If you
want to succeed, surround yourself
with successful people. The same is
true of one’s art: If you want to
engender clear thinking, well-defined
goals, and the confidence that an
improved, more-beautiful reality is
achievable, then the art for one’s
working environment should be
chosen accordingly.
As to availability, we’re definitely
seeing an increase in the number of
artists around the world who are
creating well-executed, beautifully
stylized representations of human
beings and the modern world we live
in. In our observation, the voguish
trend of touting confusing and bizarre
imagery, “abstract themes,” squiggles,
blotches, and deformed bodies has
bottomed out in bankruptcy. The
emperor’s new clothes can still be
found in museums and on the auction
block, and those who are vested in
“nonrepresentational art” will be
selling it to each other for years
to come—but the civilized world,
to its credit, is beginning to move on.
We need beauty and inspiration now
more than ever, and thankfully, as
the market is demanding, those
standards are back.
AA: How can interested parties
find out more about your artworks
and services?
LC: Our gallery and offices are located
at 1301 First Street, Napa, California.
An extensive offering is viewable at
our website at www.cordair.com. You
can reach me, Linda, via e-mail at
[email protected] or by phone at
(707) 255-2242. We love answering
questions about our services and
our products, and helping beautify
business spaces and homes.
All images appearing in this article
are the property of Quent Cordair
Fine Art and the ar F