"Art, like laughter, may not be necessary. But life without it sucks." -- Me. Now.

I love this quote from Stan Lee: "I used to be embarrassed because I was just a comic-book writer while other people were building bridges or going on to medical careers. And then I began to realize: entertainment is one of the most important things in people's lives. Without it they might go off the deep end. I feel that if you're able to entertain people, you're doing a good thing."

My Art History instructor had been a child in Austria during WWII. She told the class that humans can't fathom the value of art and beauty until your life is devoid of it. She remembered the pain of watching her father's clock shop and her nation being stripped of its beautiful treasures and the despair people felt. I've never forgotten her story.

Art is basically a language, just more visual. And that's beautiful

"Creating art is what I choose to do with my life" ... I so want that on a tshirt

I am also a wordsmith, and the way I express my contribution is this: 'I want to write the words that others need to read'.

What art tries to do is it tries to slap you awake by putting the beauty of infinite creation a little piece of it up on display for you on a pedestal so you can look at it and say oh yeah. Of course. Look there it is. It's so beautiful. It's so amazing and then that opens your eyes a little bit and you can say oh yeah look that thing's beautiful too and that's beautiful and that's beautiful and that person's beautiful and I'm beautiful. Oh my god it's all so beautiful and then that takes you to a whole new level as a human being and then you can delight in reality and you can enjoy everything as one giant work of art. Cosmic work of art.

The more I learn how to paint, the more beauty I see all around me. The other night I was mesmerised by the shadows cast and light reflections of my toilet roll holder. Fair dinkum. Cheers from Australia.

I attended the Dogwood Festival in Siloam Springs Arkansas over the weekend and I wish words were enough to describe the glass creations that had me utterly gobsmacked. I stood in awe of what lay before me for what seemed like forever, without a word one to speak. I can only described it as ethereal. It was broken pieces of glass arranged in patterns that changed depending on your viewing angel. Art gives voice to the mute and comforts the pained. Art serves as the bridge between words unspoken and thoughts unsaid. It is the dream made real and the real made dream. For me, it is the escape that frees my consciousness and allows me to feel no pain. But I don't create to serve only my vain, I create art to show others that anything is possible and that if you believe in yourself, you can overcome every obstacle in your path.

loving that you took point on this video today. Klee, you have a gift for presenting really good information in an engaging way. You pretty much covered most benefits. I would like to add that Art has an educational purpose too. From a very young age, we learn through visual aids such as children's illustrated books. Even counting books have visual aids to help children learn. We never stop learning either and so I am pretty sure if I thought about it long enough I could come up with an example of an adult learning from art. T x

A world with art is better served than a world without art.

Klee ! You're a such great speaker. You and Rafi both could read the telephone book out loud and still be engaging. Love you both and thank you !

Thank you so much for this. I may need to listen to it at least once a week to remind myself of all these.

I’m a better person when I’m doing things that make me happy. That, in itself, makes the world a better place.

May I suggest "Rafi's Rogues!" tee shirts? Art makes life tolerable and understandable for a lot of people. It's ways to observe and relate to the world around us and to process, deal with, interpret, connect and communicate through different methods. It enriches our souls. And we enjoy it which is good for us.

Bill Murray talks about how a painting of a woman in a field working during the sunrise saved him during one of the low points in his life (check out the interview clip here: kzfaq.info/get/bejne/bst_fMaIp53Og3U.html). It didn't matter what the artist was thinking when they painted it, why they painted it, or what hidden meaning they may have put into it - all that mattered is how Bill felt when he saw it. It's not up to us as the artist to create artwork that will heal others. Instead, it is our purpose simply to create, as often as we can, and to share it with the world. Those who are hurting, who are in need of help, will seek out those pieces of artwork that speak to the them most oftentimes without even realizing it.

I am humbled when someone says of my art "This reminds me of...." and I know in my soul that I did good. Cheers from Australia

Oh Klee!!!! You are come such a long way in the video world!!! What a great video .......content, and how YOU are in control! Great job!

We’ve always had art growing up, some originals but usually a print framed .

I have read poetry that has moved me deeply, saw photos that inspire, sculptures and painting that make me wonder. I can see beauty in some of the ugliest places. I hope my art will bring some sense of wonder to at least a few. My pieces are done from deep emotion to the whimsical spirit of the child within me. If you constantly keep your eyes on the prize, you might miss the flower that grows through the crack in the concrete.

What a wonderful list! I would add the value that art has to communicate with those that have cognitive impairments and dementia. The ability to get lost in something is a gift. So are you!

Art brings up emotions and creates connections! So much of the emotion in art is universal, it shows that we are not alone in our joys and struggles. Also yaaaaay Klee💜💜💜

Klee, that was awesome! You worked hard on that, I can tell. OK, I took notes and need to riff on this for a few days. The thing that stuck out to me the most was that art can return someone to "the moment" of right now. (Eckhart Tolle talks about this a lot. I recommend him btw). So, by being returned to the present moment (the biased memories of the past and the worries of the future thus fall away) we are in line with the only thing we can ever really have, which is the present moment. This matters because it makes our mind shut up for a moment and we can just relax with "things as they are" as the old Taoists would say, and probably some Zen Monks would agree. Well, this is just a first run, but if my artwork has the potential to stop someone and get them out of their chaotic "fear-based brain loop" for a minute, that goes a long way to justifying the doing of it. Plus, there are another 10 other things you mentioned that are just as valuable! Really awesome, Klee, you should be proud!

That was awesome! Just what I needed right now. Thank you for saying just what I feel about art. I do abstract design art at this time of my life, but I have done botanical art too. I love it and I have fun doing it. It's all good, and I'll probably do other things too and combine them all as I wander through life. I just turned 73 and I just do what I want to now. :-D

Number 5 is pretty much why I create! I am all about trying to capture beauty, love, the light, and the good. I want adults to feel childlike wonder at the world. I want them to believe in dreams and magic again! Maybe even Santa Clause! People that see the world like that can do anything! They appreciate life. They take time to be in the moment. I try to give people that feeling in my art and writing!

Lots of beautuful things were said in this video. Thank you for that 💚

I F-ING LOVE THIS, KLEE.

Art has saved my life. I was in therapy for a long time because of alot of traumatic events but i could never really get the help i needed because of trust issues and not having a language. So when i was on my own without help i was in a very sketchy place in my life and in the same time, my very creative mother suddenly passed away. So i took up drawing and painting in a way to celebrate her life and that have saved my sanity and been far more healing than any of the hours of therapy i have had in my life. Sure i had to go back and see it as learning my "abc's" and start from the very bottom and work my way up with mandra "done, not perfect" and it have learned me so much about myself. I am still a very crappy artist but does that matter? No. I enjoy it, even the frustration that comes with it.

This is amazing! I love Klee!! I just had a discussion with an art collector about what it feels like to be an artist. I think I opened his eyes.

Art makes bearable the bland functionality of every day things and spaces.

Every time I watch a Rafi & Klee video, I want to pull out my paints LOL

As long as I can spark an emotion to someone who looks at my art, whether it’s positive or negative it has value just because it sparked a feeling. And at it’s origin of creation it holds value just because I am happy to create and because I’m expressing myself. Thank you for this video guys! BTW I love the statement “everything I make is a gift. You’re welcome! “ 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

Spiritually speaking, if this is the reason you are here, then its your mission to fulfil this and it will have an exponential affect on yourself and those in your path! Go create, no matter what! Blessings guys, great vid! 👍🌈🤗

Right on.....Thank you Klee and Rafi....You just made it okay that I followed a bumble bee around a flower bush to get a good picture of it so that I could use it’s image in one of my new creations....Ha, Ha, Ha !

Creating is a calming process for me.. Creating art also helped me to fight through some serious addiction issues and life’s hardships. We formed a bond from shortly after birth and we would never leave each other🙏🏻❤️🙂🙃

Yay, Klee ❤️❤️❤️ also, first ☝️

As an artist I consider art a drug- Free mood enhancer. At least that’s what I want the effect of my creations to be. It is interesting that although I have fibromyalgia, and it is called PAINting, I am not in pain while creating. If you have been given a gift or desire to create by the Creator, you are meant to use it. Don’t hide your light under a bushel . Also, for health and balance we NEED to use both sides of our brains. Take art or music out of the schools, and the children will misbehave and not learn as well.❤️☀️

I got into creating art, producing music, photography, and writing books, because I wanted to do different things. I wanted to show other things. Whether my music, or art work doesn't look like everything else I just wanted to create. I haven't looked back. I wanted to keep going forward.

You guys create some outstanding content! Thanks for being a unique spot on this thing called KZfaq! Oh Yes, Art Is well, everything!!!

So very well said, Klee, thank you!

Something I struggle with. Paint on a canvas vs rent security shelter . It’s tricky but I guess it’s not one or the other like it would be for myself with finances not left for art (wish I could purchase originals, as an artist I appreciate them and connect to the artworks ) But is buying art truly life changing but way I see it is people pay thousands for interior design, and artworks are part of that.

This video is pure GOLD. Thank you for sharing BEAUTIFUL perspective!!

Thank you so much for a beautiful 19 min TED talk! (No mockery intended) I often struggle to explain what purpose art serves when talking to someone, anyone about art. AND I trained as an Art Therapist and have made art continuously for 60 years.I think it's always valuable to talk this over and discuss because there still so much pressure in everyday life to kick art out of our life. I saw this with my patients: She's disturbed and depressed and now you want her to draw?! Thanks, keep up the good work...

Spot on! Wish I could have heard this twenty years ago 😊

Hi Guys. Wow KLEE WELL SAID. WOW SO True. Keep Up the GREAT SHARING...

Thank you Klee...I really needed this today!

Excellent vid. Thank you 🙏 I remember going to the Art Institute in Chicago by myself one day. I’m FromChicago originally and left when I was a kid but we go back here and there as I still have friends there and I grew up going to all those Museums. In AWE. EVERY TIME. but this day the friend I was visiting was working and couldn’t get away until late in the day so I went to the Art Institute alone. omg. 🥲although I had been there Many times being alone in that very first room/ gallery with the Huge masters paintings I literally wept. It touched me so deeply in a way I cannot put into words. I was so struck. In awe and thought just How lucky I was Just to see that one painting let alone hundreds of others there. I just sat down and wept. It was a good cry. From the depths of my soul. Not to b too dramatic but that’s how I felt.

I think Beauty delivers our perception straight back at us, thereby rendering an objective world as an inclusive one. Art reminds us you are part of this world and not a separate witness of it. Thank you for this thorough, intelligent and funny video... I’m so happy I stumbled across you both xx

I've rewatched this and I must say, Klee, you are a wonderful speaker. Cheers from Australia

Rafi you should paint your hands. You have the most beautiful hands I've ever seen. Klee you're so inspiring and adorable. Hugs n love you guys

Brilliant! Loved this. And loved seeing Klee on point. 🙏🏽🕉🔮🎨✨

i was displeased with one of my paintings but my wife convinced me to put it on fb marketplace. Not long after, a lady wrote concerning the piece: 'I think I need this in my life.' She paid $30. for it, but to me it was the most valuable piece I'd ever done because it meant so much to her.

Great video Klee!! It is all so true. There is much out there that gives me goose bumps or a belly laugh in a good way or makes me suddenly tear up.. its all good and from all art arenas. And honestly, without art (whatever type) to give me these visceral emotions I am sure I would not be a living being.

the gift of sharing our appreciation

Art has saved me so many times. Love the firefly glowin the dark tshirt Klee!

Art should be edifying, inspiring and communicative. I'm sure there are people out there that say art can be anything; it doesn't have to mean something, it can be ugly, plain or downright atrocious. But aren't those the very things we see in the world and life? I'd rather create something that gives people joy or reminds them that there are good things in life. But that's just how I view it.

Fantastic. You guys covered it all in a most beautiful way. Thank you. Much love to you both.

Thank you for this Klee. 🙏❤ Fantastic job. ❤

Omg Klee I love how you express yourself and how you explained the wonders of art, that was awesome!! 😍

Thanks for making this video! I've actually been struggling with these questions recently and found myself having apathy towards my own art. You've helped me realize ideas deserve to be expressed no matter how simple, and art has just as much right to exist as anything else in this world.

Thank you so much for sharing. I just made my KZfaq art channel for spray paint art not that long ago and you and your lovely wife have been such an inspiration and a help to me.

You explained everything fabulously Klee to the point where I feel better now (cathartic hearing you say what you did)

Thank you so much creating this video! Creating, in whatever form it takes, is an expression of our truth...we are creators and we are Love, the energy of Love. We are energy beings in physical form so that we may create. We are sharing the energy of Love in all it's forms when we create. That we are the energy of Love and that we are creators is our highest truth as humans. By expressing, sharing and putting this truth out into the universe, we are raising the energetic level of everyone and everything. Experiencing art in any of it's forms reminds people of their true selves on an energetic level. Everyone is a creator but not everyone remembers their true selves. Creators have an important role to play and that is to awaken those who have forgotten. The act of expressing appreciation and gratitude is the act of Love. It is wonderful to know that you are a creator, not a victim or powerless, and that your truth is Love! So much of the negative and fearful in the world is just because people have forgotten their true selves.

Thanks for sharing your perspective on this subject!

Go Klee 😊 this video was awesome!!! Art in any form when the right person looks at it will really produce overwhelming emotions, sometimes it's as easy as colour or as Rafi mentioned texture can create emotions. Each person is different and I feel art is unpredictable, but what I have learnt is a person will be moved by the art they look at.....at the end of the day art is awesome and will heal a person when they least expect it!!

For me art is the most rewarding is when I can inspire others to do art. Most the time creatives that that procrastinate see another work it can push them to do their own thing.

😆 that was a fun intro thanks for the chuckle gifted ones! That was an awesome presentation! Gosh Klee, you are really good at this!😊 p.s. my husband said if you have your art glazed onto a dinner plate then art serves others....groan....🤔

8:09 I relate to this fear of it being altruistic in my soul; I have to paint for me but I hope it brings connection and ideas to others too. Yet it’s tricky to know if paint on canvas in my case can connect to value 9:18

Thank you both so much for what you create and share. I've been watching your videos for a few days now whilst bored at work and you've made me realize how much i miss creating artwork and being confident to call myself an artist. One love, much respect ✌🏼

I've always created with the intention of it serving and healing, so thats the effect it has wherever my art goes

Since the four pillars of health include stress (management) and sleep I'd say that art fits into both. For example, meditating on a work of art could be part of a sleep or stress management routine. Among the many, many other ways that enjoying art can just be amazing. I've struggled to find my sense of value in our very financially focused world but I grew up in an artistic family and it's never been hard to see the value. But it has been hard to translate it to people who weren't exposed to that except in the most commercial mediums.

just gotta say THIS video made my very very selective favorites playlist (20 videos of which have been eliminated :( ) down to like 13 (since 2008) - I really appreciate this video as someone who identifies as a person who loves to produce art in many ways - I create 'art' in so many ways - with so many 'materials' whether it is some sort of material manipulation, pant , untraditional materials , set-ups af areas - idk - so much visual things I do inclusing paint and other things or musical participation (playing by ear is a goal I feel I have sort of obtained) or some sort of written expression or experiencing someone else's expression of artistic endeavor - it is the one thing I have seen that can become a way to express oneself even if it it is personal and not shared with others. Thank you for this video foreverrr

Gee Klee, You are great at this! You should do this more often. I have a piece of art that just brings me calmness and happiness. :) Thank for sharing your thoughts on this. You guys rock!

Excellent video, talk about bringing it!!! Thank you both for being you!!! And bringing these videos that are so much more than churning out tutorials or something... So much more introspective, always. Keep it up, and wishing you so many more subscribers!!!!

“They were... dumb!” Love it ✌️

Life has no meaning so you have to give it purpose, you also give art purpose!

Do not know what to say other than, that was excellent.

You are beautiful people,thank you for your videos.

This was amazing. You two are also amazing. I really needed to hear this today :)

Thank you so much once again for a wonderful video. One of things I really want to do with my art is help people experience appreciation, because I think we get too busy to see the simple beauty around us. I do think the act of appreciation really can change your outlook in life.

Thank you so much for this fantastic examination of “why Art. “ This video actually opened my mind and made me feel better. Yes, Art. Klee, well done. 🌸

Oh boy, you guys hit the nail on the head for me! I struggle with this issue a lot. My thinking is something like: there's viruses killing people and floods/ crazy bad weather happening all around the world and I'm here just making pretty pictures.😛 But then I think about the fact that if I didn't have art in my life, I probably wouldn't get out of bed in the morning. I know I'm not the only one who feels that way. And now Klee gave me a whole list to add to my reasons for making pretty pictures. It may not be life saving directly, but maybe it will bring inspiration and joy to someone in need. Thank you both for being so inspiring! 💖

You and Klee matter. And I like the art I see.

I'm a professional selfish, narcissistic, meritless stain on society! LOL Great video, Klee!!

This question of the therapeutic value of art reminds me of the book Bluebeard by Kurt Vonnegut, and the Nick Nolte short film Life Lessons, part of Martin Scorcese's New York Stories (1989), both of which capture a process I've seen IRL art studios with certain hard-life experienced individuals. I would add that the focus has a calming effect altering the brainwave pattern to hypnotic state, which literally heals stress anxiety disorders--and can occur in both the creation and the appreciation process. I'd be interested in hearing your take on whether modern art is beautiful or a subversive attack on beauty (though I suspect it could be in the eye of the beholder). Klee: Is art narcissistic? Rafi: YOU'RE WELCOME. HA HA H A HA HA HA HA!!! Also amazing works in the background, love them!

Love this video guys, I even saved it lol ❤ words to remember.

Great convo. Klee, I've been wondering how you would go as the main speaker in a post as your personality and style is different from Rafi's ( which is great too ) and have been waiting for you to shine. You've come a long way from sitting in the back corner, as I can relate to being shy and not confident enough to speak one's mind. I'd like to hear your views on how you overcame being in the background to being confident enough to be in the foreground. Great discussions as always.

"I almost got ran over like 50 times" I have never related to something more than this. I am always like OMG look at that adorable little tree or WOW that leaf is cool... I get distracted by anything lol for some reason I find beauty in everything and no one else even notices!

❤❤❤❤❤❤❤THANK YOU KLEE!!❤❤❤❤❤

Earth without art is just 'Eh'. 🙏

I like your shirt and the message !

I love this.

5:14 that’s London too

Art is everywhere in a place that is about the most serious place on earth, the US Aircraft Carrier. Sailors and soilders have expressed themselves through art since the dawn of time. On every ship I ever served on there were murals everywhere. There were cooks making cakes in the shape of the ship or plane, people who could sing like they should have an album and so much more. If Art were not important Sailors would not go to the great lengths they do to create it. I saw a Sailor paint a 16ft by 8ft mural with decanted spray paint and a tiny make up brush with a 2 inch long handle. Art is in everything to dismiss it shows ones lack of deep thought and would suggest that person is self absorbed.

Oof I want to see that painting you did for your dad. That’s so cool

I think that with music it is easier to see how it serves others when you put it out. It is a art form that is easy to spread and with one song you can reach millions of humans and make them feel something. While you can do same emotional touching with visual art, it will never have same world wide impact than musica can. Visual art by it's nature is something that is much more private and individual experience. You can reach with it a lot smaller crowd than you can with music. I don't think it lessens it's value though or would make it something that would not serve others when you put it out. Both can have equally big impact to the person who is receiving it. And on these days you will reach bigger audience with the visual art than you ever have had a chance to do before because of the social media. But I think that because we all see and feel it how big impact one song can have and how many people that one song can reach in this world, that because the visual art form is not able to do the same that because of that it would be something less. That as an artists we would not serve the world in the same way. I guess here comes the old truth with do not compare youself to others. It is true on so many levels. I guess I have found answer to my own questions with this topic lol. Have been pondering this area a lot lately with the questions of having the courage to put my own stuff online to other's to see. Nice to see that the time has not been totally wasted heh.

I'm surprised to realise I never had an existential crisis about my art/craft. (I had my existential crisis half way through my Computer Science Honours year, actually.) I've never considered my creativity to be self-indulgent or "selfish" -- perhaps because most of my life, my artisanship has been employed in making gifts for others, or perhaps because all of my family have been "creative" in one way or another, so I never had the "art is impractical and a waste of time" thing shoved at me by my nearest and dearest. We are made in the Image of the Creator; therefore it is in our nature to create. No further justification needed.

All art is worthy to someone, even if you're 'not good at it'. It is an act of love. How many refrigerators are adorned with sometimes undecipherable markings made by a grandchild? Anything you make you are making for someone. Even if you don't know who will get it in the end, there is someone in your head during the act of creation.

At least artists and craftspeople are creating real work, something to show for the effort and resources spent. Our culture has too many people who make a living while adding no value, just serving an amoral company in a meaningless job. The conventional lifestyle is the one of questionable (doubtful?) importance, not the creative lifestyle.

Klee is very healing, just saying 🥰😘