It all begins with a dream. As Robert Henri, an American painter and teacher, put it, "When the artist is alive in any person, whatever his kind of work may be, he becomes an inventive, searching, daring, self-expressing creature." Many artists view themselves as human conduits for inspiration. The art is more important than its creator. Armed with that imperative, the artist works to answer one question: how do I beautifully express this idea?
Artists, once inspired, face a more practical question: which art form would most effectively express my idea? In art, there are so many forms: sculpture, illustration, paint, drawings, literature, film, music and performance (to name a few). Each discipline presents ideas in distinct ways that demand the artist's technical prowess. So, the originator's choice of form is highly relevant to its outcome as an effective piece of art.
The bottom line is: effective art must make an extraordinary impression on you. Impressions can be as unique as fingerprints. A person may cry at a great movie, or they may be inwardly introspective. In a special moment, that special song comes on the radio and changes your whole mood. If the artist's initial vision touches you in any way, the art is effective. Its purpose is achieved and, hopefully, the art has enriched you in some way.
English playwright Ben Jonson observed of William Shakespeare, "He was not of an age, but for all time!" In other words, we still read his plays; we still learn from their messages. This is because Shakespeare's messages have remained relevant. That's the power of artistic legacy: the art outlives the artist. All of us are empowered to consider the potential legacy of effective art by asking: do I still remember (or reflect about) it?