My definition of art is an expression of an individual, put on canvas, sculpted, composed, or constructed into a visual form; appreciated by others for its beauty and emotional power. The person who created it decides to declare something, a work of art, but it is the viewer who determines whether that work of art is valid and that vision is constantly evolving. The things that once fascinated us may no longer. Although anything can be considered art, even a child's drawing or a green ceramic frog, to be considered great art, I believe the artist needs the skills to create, the creativity to give vitality to the work of art and the audacity to use new techniques regardless. of critical opinions. To be a great artist you should possess all three characteristics. Having the ability to paint does not make the painting a work of art, it is the combination of skill and creativity that makes it possible to imagine a beautiful painting and be able to bring it to life. More importantly, an artist must have the courage to try new techniques and forge his own path rather than continue to do what others have done before him. It is this last characteristic that has created some of the most captivating artists of all time. Claude Monet is an artist who I believe encompasses all these characteristics. He was the founder of the Impressionist period and paved the way for 20th century modernism by developing a unique style and brushwork that strove to capture on canvas the very act of perceiving nature (Auricchio n.pag). His painting entitled Impression: Sunrise, was one of the works he contributed for an independent exhibition in 1874. Many critics said that this painting looked unfinished, due to its undefined and indistinct lines......in the center of the paper. .. ...t (1840-1926).” Timeline of Heilbrunn art history. New York The Metropolitan Museum of Art, October 2004: n. page. Network. 6 December 2013. .Cox, Brenda S. "Claude Monet: what an eye!" Bell. 16.6 (2005): 14-16. Galileo. Database. Dec 2, 2013.D'Alto, Nick. "The Monet Effect." Odyssey 16.9 (2007): 30-33. Galileo. Database. December 2, 2013. Epstein, Joseph. “I dream of genius”. Commentary 136.2 (2013): 38-42. Galileo. Database. December 6, 2013. Gilbert, Creighton E. “Michelangelo.” Encyclopedia Britannica Online. Encyclopedia Britannica Inc., 2013. n.page. Web. December 6, 2013. Golds, Cassandra. “Michelangelo.” Cricket 23.1 (1995): 29.Galileo. December 6, 2013.Rabb, Theodore K. “Why Michelangelo Matters.” Comment 122.2 (2006): 56-59 2013.