The essence of art is to picture or portray reality.
Good art is an accurate mirror on the world, imitating nature or some ideal form.
The essence of art is expression of the inner emotions, feelings, moods, and mental states of the artist. Good art effectively and sincerely brings these inner states to an external objectification. Good art communicates its meaning effectively in this non-verbal language. The essence of art is its usefulness in helping us to comprehend and improve our overall life experiences. Good art is always a means to some important end.