Where did all the Leonardo's go?

OK, it's June almost and yes, I haven't shared much this year, so sorry for being absent. I do have some thoughts to share and will be posting some new work soon. I came on blogger though to post some thoughts and ideas. It's 4:30 am and my eyes opened and my brain was spinning so had to get some ideas posted.

Recently a friend sent me a link to Neil Gaiman giving a graduation speech. He had some great things to say so go check it out!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ikAb-NYkseI 

I was thinking about some of the things he had to say and the kernel of his message was "make great art". We (society in general) often think of great art as being made in the past. The impressionist, Renaissance, Bauhaus and many more come to mind. True there have been some great artist and certainly appreciating the history and art of past ages is very important if we are to have a reference point to view our current culture. It is my feeling though that the vast majority of us miss an important fact which is that some of the greatest art is being made today. So what do I base that rather bold statement on? Follow my thinking on this one!

First: 
There are more people alive on this planet today than have ever lived since our species began. An astounding thought, but because there were less people over such a long span of time the concentration of gifted people was not as dense as today. There are probably a few "Leonardo's walking around out here today, an interesting thought!

Second:
Communications has made a huge difference, you wouldn't have been able to have a cup of coffee and read this blog just 30 years ago. Today we are able to share our thoughts, feelings and events in our lives with almost everyone. The world is a whole new place and we feel it on a daily basis. As a visual artist I struggle with how to market the things I create! Use to be simple, take it to a gallery and have it displayed, someone will buy it right! Well, fact is, it's not so simple these days. Galleries are folding these days and struggling to find an audience. Some have met with success by accessing the web and promoting heavily.  Artists in mass have fled the traditional venues and are looking for a better more direct means to reach an audience. There really isn't anyone out there who can tell you how to do it successfully though there are some channels developing. Indie music and film are industries who are finding new avenues to reach out to the public and doing it somewhat successfully.

I'll leave you with this final thought! There are probably some of the greatest painters who have ever lived, pushing a paintbrush around at this very moment. Same is true with Sculptors, Architects, Designers, Musicians and Writers. In general I'd say there is more creative energy at this moment than ever before. The problem is accessing it, finding it and bringing it into our daily lives. It's easy to become overloaded with content because there is so much of it to sift through. In fact, it's easy to get nothing done at all because we could spend so much time just keeping up with what's happening!
I know that one! I think I'll turn off the computer and go paint now!