fish skin feels like wet oil paint

Why should art be this divine, unapproachable thing? Art is just language; it's communication with pictures instead of words. (OK, Sometimes with words). (Sometimes with only words).

Really, Vicki. No bad art?

You know what I think would help people understand art? To approach it as they do writing. (Because writing is actually taught in schools.) There's good and bad writing, sentences that are better put than others. Good art has an eloquence. The expression is as important as the thing being expressed. When that expression is boring the art just won't be as interesting. But good expression can enliven the subject: this is what makes the best still life, for example.

I think people get confused because they look for art to say something concrete to them: "The world is beautiful," or something. But most of it won't do that. It's an idea outside of concentrated thought. A feeling, perhaps, but less, specific.

The best art will give you as much as you want it to: a momentary passing thing or, with some analysis, whole theories. Vicki, you know art because you know poetry. Since when are you the non-artist?