What do you like about visual art that makes it different from other forms of art, like music or poetry?

I think the visual aesthetic of a well thought out art piece can be more thought provoking & stimulating than a written piece many times. For example, the graffiti artist Banksy. His stencils send an almost satirical message through pictures with no or as little words as possible. Google Banksy, I think you will really enjoy his art. http://img.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2007/12_01/17banksyES_468x606.jpg

Because with music, you have to use an instrument. With poetry, it's just words. Though with visual arts, it could be paint, paper, stone, anything can be visual art really, weather it is a bottle, or something that stimulates the eye.

i think with visual art you are never sure what the artist truly meant to express. at least that is what i always think. does the painting really a soupcan... or does it mean more. most of the time i just think wow that is pretty and i like that or i don't like that.

I have that painting of the dogs playing poker on my bedroom wall. Damned if I know what the symbolism means, though. I'm not good at interpreting visual art. ;)

It is possible, but the thing about visual arts is more about expressing emotion. Writing is about a story. Maybe for you, it isn't. You like to work with your hands, and that's cool. Personally, I do too, but I also always have a plan in my head for whatever I'm creating. Maybe you could combine the two- write a story then draw something for it using the same concepts as you usd in the story. My art teacher used to put slides of paintings, drawing, and sculptures on the wall while we worked and he's go "Hey girls, come over here and tell me what you think it means." He never told us what HE thought it meant though. He'd point out things like. "Well, what do you think of this pop of color over here? What's that look like to you?" And make us analyze what certain elements of the work were. Then he would give us some background on the piece and ask us to say what we think it means again. It turns it around completely. The story behind the painting is always what made it come together. Our class never had the same interpretation. There were only three of us. One tended to pick out tiny details and try to analyze them, another liked looking at how they use color, and I like to just take in the overall impression of works.

I know this question is old, but I'm going to answer anyway. As an observer (vs. creator) of artistic endeavors, visual art is far more internal for me. With music and words (poetry and writing) the mood, tone and intent is almost always entirely clear. That clarity of intent usually carries with it a desired, or expected type response form the audience (or viewer, reader- whatever). With purely visual expressions (drawing, painting, photography, sculpture....) the viewer is on their own. The image just comes in and is processed though out own internal filters. Our reactions are more unpredictable (and harder to manipulate) with individual pieces because our interpretations are more influenced by the blend of what the artist has provided and our personal experiences, memories, bias, fears, joys, humor, intellect...everything that's in our own head. So, I find visual art much more evocative and intimate.