By its original and broadcast definition, art (from the Latin ars, meaning "skill" or "craft") is the product or process of the effective application of a body of knowledge and a set of skills. This meaning is preserved in such phrases as "liberal arts" and "martial arts". However, in the modern use of the word, which rose to prominence during the Renaissance, art is commonly understood to be the process or result of making material works (or artwork) which, from concept to creation, adhere to the "creative impulse" - that is, art is distinguished from other works by being in large part unprompted by necessity, by biological drive, or by any undisciplined pursuit of recreation.
In addition to serving as a method of pure creativity and self-expression, the purpose of works of art may be to communicate ideas, such as politically-, religiously-, and philosophically- motivated art, to create a sense of beauty (see aesthetics and fine art) or pleasure, or to generate strong emotions, the purpose may also be seemingly nonexistent. - from: Wikipeda, the free encyclopedia, http://en.wikipedia/wiki/Art.