Art is about more than being able to sketch a still-life or outline an image. It’s about giving the piece emotional depth.

The Museum of Art’s newest exhibit features artwork by Jim Dine, the same artist who created the blue heart seen on the corner of Stadium Way and Grimes Way.

Titled “A Life of Printmaking,” the exhibit features a portion of the 201 works of art Dine gifted to WSU’s art museum.

Dine’s works feature common themes, mainly hearts, ropes, tools and Venuses (as in Venus de Milo). There is also a collection of prints that features Pinocchio.

“The narrative aspect of his work is something students might be drawn to,” said Zach Mazur, the curator of education and collections at the museum. “It initially draws people in, and then they look into it deeper.”

The 201 works of Dine’s art are actually made up of almost 300 prints, with several of the prints combined together to make a single work of art. This collection makes WSU one of the largest holders of Jim Dine prints.

All of Dine’s works are originals, using a printmaking technique that transfers an image from a plate onto a canvas or piece of paper. The plates Dine uses are usually made from metal, copper or zinc, and sometimes he uses wood, said Ryan Hardesty, the museum’s curator of art and exhibition.

“I would describe Jim Dine’s prints as very robust and full of life,” Hardesty said. “I think that’s what makes it so intriguing for our audiences.”

Most would know the giant blue heart covered in various work tools next to the Fine Arts Building. This sculpture, created in 2004, was part of a show when the committee in the Museum of Art bought both the heart and another sculpture piece.

“This is our first opportunity to celebrate the extraordinary gift of these works of art with the Pullman community,” Hardesty said.

There are also plans to take some of Dine’s work and travel to exhibitions around the country, creating connections with other museums and showcasing the collection WSU has now.

“It gives us a strong standing (knowing) WSU has this collection,” Mazur said. “That’s the conversation we want to start.”

Bruce said being exposed to great artist’s work and seeing the kind of work normally in places like New York or Los Angeles is a special opportunity for people. The images represent something very personal to the artist.

“Art isn’t just being able to draw something too realistically or outline something, but giving it emotional depth,” Bruce said.

It’s comparable to listening to a song and playing it over and over again, but each time it’s played in different ways. Recreating a similar shape, as Dine does with the themes in his work, creates a different emotion each time.

“Whether you like it or not is not the point,” Bruce said. “It’s to see it and see what resonates with you.”

The “Jim Dine: A Life of Printmaking” exhibit will be on display through Dec. 12. The Museum of Art is open Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Admission is free.