Collingwood's thoery on what art is

Collingwood’s theory of art is based around two central claims; he states that art is merely an imaginary object and that it is only exists within the mind of the artist who has created it. Also that the work of art the artist has created is truly an expression of the artists inner emotions.  Collingwood believes that art objects are imaginary because they only exist within the mind of the artist; there can not be an identical replication of what the artist is truly envisioning. There can only be a physical manifestation that the artist utilizes in order for others to be able to experience the work of art. Unlike other theorist Collingwood states his belief that art is made to in order for an artist to reach self-acknowledgement. He also believes that as human beings we often do not know the emotion that we are feeling at the moment it arises; we go through a process in which we are able to recognize the emotion. Artist’s, in his mind work in a similar manner, in order for them to realize the emotion that they are experiencing they go through an artistic process in which they create a work of art.  He makes it a point to state that this process is merely for the artist alone, and that the artist aims to create an individual thing. He also mentions that physical entities that are viewed as works of art are not “art proper”