When many regular people think of the word "artwork," they tend to think of great works of art in a museum, such as a Van Gogh painting or the famous "Mona Lisa." As many know, however, nothing could be further from the truth, and great works of art are in reality created by people across the world every day. Really great artwork has one single characteristic: it celebrates what makes us human, and it celebrates the different interpretations of different objects and concepts that we all have. Even many modern art contests are starting to appreciate this fact, with categories for amateur artists that award prizes to painters, photographers and sculptures who are able to show a truly unique artistic vision.

As the tools of creating art became more and more accessible to the common man during the twentieth century, the realm of art no longer belonged only to the aristocrat or well-educated crowds. Instead, the masses finally had available to them a medium with which they could express themselves to their brethren and celebrate the uniqueness of their common, and often poverty-ridden, everyday lives. And with the introduction of photographs, and amateur photo contests, the common artists were awarded with a new tool to record the artistic aspects of the less polished world around them. Almost anyone could afford a simple camera, and with that tool they could eternally record the heartbreaking scenes are art that surrounded them in their environment.

And while painting and drawing was always available as an outlet for the more creative among us, the art form or writing was for many years limited to the aristocratic groups who were lucky enough to learn reading an writing. As society has advanced and education has become to be considered a fundamental right of every human being, writing has become an art form that any person, no matter what their background, can excel at and truly express their experiences with. A quick look at the entries in any of hundreds of annual writing contests will show you a diverse number of entrants from people of all castes, income levels, locations and backgrounds. Writing and poetry is one of the most common forms of artwork in the world, although many people don't realize that it often rises to the level of true art.

Thank goodness that art as a method of expression exists in so many possible forms, and that so many methods of expression are available to people across the world. Rich or poor, a truly creative person has an unlimited number of options available to them when it comes to expressing their feelings, hopes and dreams. And that is what makes art one of the most representative hallmarks of humanity.