As a sometime artist, I’m with Opal on this one. Art is utterly personal. Whatever you paint, it’s actually you on that canvas, and the last thing you need is a sidewalk superintendent.
Someone once said that an art critic is like a person who rides out onto a battlefield after the battle and shoots the wounded – if you’re an artist, you get that.
“When you paint and no one sees it…you have a painting.
When someone sees it…you have art.”
With respect, almost but not quite:
When you paint and no one sees it…you have a painting.
When someone sees it, and feels what you felt when you painted it…you have art.
A painting that doesn’t communicate emotional content is not art, it’s decorative craftwork. Nothing at all wrong with that, but it’s not the same thing.
Perhaps you are right. I feel no emotional communication to the works of Vemeer, Cranach, Matisse, Braque or Marin. Perhaps now I should inform the museums they are displaying a lot of decorative craftwork.
Art is in the eye of the beholder, not the psyche.
There was a Ferd’nand comic a week or so ago where he was painting a tree and had 4 or 5 people staring over his shoulder making comments (hard to do in a silent strip). His solution? He put out several of his older paintings with price tags on them. Instant solitude.
And probably the last person to ask “what is art” is an artist! Once you get past the high-toned theorizing, art is the process of playing with reality, to make something you personally like better. That includes the “fine” arts, commercial arts, practical arts like cooking and sewing – the whole thing.
If someone else likes the end result also, then sweet! You’ve got a sale. :) If not, you keep doing it anyway, simply because it’s what you most enjoy doing when you don’t have to be doing something else instead.
And if someone not only won’t buy it, but has the effrontery to criticize it, you may make any comments about their female anscestry that seem right. You make art first of all for yourself – if you like it, no one else has to, and they can just…well, you get the idea.
Opal would understand perfectly. :)
But those who do like it, like it because something in you has reached out and touched something in them…which is what I was getting at in the first place. And that is the highest accomplishment of art.
I hate to think…but think I must. I am off to the bar to consider the conundrum…
If “You make art first of all for yourself”
…then why show it to anyone else?
I hate to think…but think I must. I am off to the bar to consider the conundrum…
If “You make art first of all for yourself”
…then why show it to anyone else?
To sell it, of course, for one thing. (See any “One Big Happy” strip where Ruthie is selling her “GOOD ART”.) Lord have mercy on artists who have to sell their art as their only source of income – the phrase “starving artist” is proverbial, and very few artists have the skill set or inclination to market themselves; it’s a painful distraction, which is why they have agents. But getting paid by a total stranger is really the sincerest form of flattery – egoboo plus money. Who could resist? :)
Even without money, if you’ve done something you think is pretty nifty, it’s a normal human impulse to want to show it off – unless you’ve gotten enough indifference, criticism, or outright hostility in the past to sour you on sharing your work. Such cases are tragic.
I think it is natural for us to want to share ANY thing we enjoy with another person - whether we made it or not.
I enjoy sharing jokes, beautiful sunsets, good food, etc. with other people whom I think might also enjoy it. Pleasure shared is multiplied.
Ugh it’s so annoying when men are being complete and total @$$holes and claim they are doing it “to be helpful”!! (Yeah I’m sure there are some women who do the same but in my experience at least, men are much more guilty of doing this!)
carmy over 14 years ago
You got that, Earl?!
Llewellenbruce over 14 years ago
It’s been taking Opal so long to finish the painting she got tired and had to sit down.
kreole over 14 years ago
If Earl doesn’t paint also, he lacks the right to critique….
GROG Premium Member over 14 years ago
I can’t think of anything nice to say either.
wetidlerjr over 14 years ago
I can live for two months on a good compliment. ~Mark Twain
Jascat over 14 years ago
I can see where it could be annoying to have someone standing behind you, making comments, when you’re trying to do something relaxing for yourself…
Go build birdhouses or something, Earl!
peter0423 over 14 years ago
As a sometime artist, I’m with Opal on this one. Art is utterly personal. Whatever you paint, it’s actually you on that canvas, and the last thing you need is a sidewalk superintendent.
Someone once said that an art critic is like a person who rides out onto a battlefield after the battle and shoots the wounded – if you’re an artist, you get that.
dukekraus over 14 years ago
When you paint and no one sees it…you have a painting. When someone sees it…you have art. dkraus 5/7/10
peter0423 over 14 years ago
dukekraus said:
“When you paint and no one sees it…you have a painting. When someone sees it…you have art.”
With respect, almost but not quite:
When you paint and no one sees it…you have a painting. When someone sees it, and feels what you felt when you painted it…you have art.
A painting that doesn’t communicate emotional content is not art, it’s decorative craftwork. Nothing at all wrong with that, but it’s not the same thing.
dukekraus over 14 years ago
Perhaps you are right. I feel no emotional communication to the works of Vemeer, Cranach, Matisse, Braque or Marin. Perhaps now I should inform the museums they are displaying a lot of decorative craftwork.
Art is in the eye of the beholder, not the psyche.
peter0423 over 14 years ago
Point well taken, dukekraus. But unless the beholder’s eye is connected to the psyche, is there anyone at home? :)
(A discussion of what constitutes “art” would be fascinating, but our fellow posters would chip in on a hit man to stop us….)
JanLC over 14 years ago
There was a Ferd’nand comic a week or so ago where he was painting a tree and had 4 or 5 people staring over his shoulder making comments (hard to do in a silent strip). His solution? He put out several of his older paintings with price tags on them. Instant solitude.
dukekraus over 14 years ago
The bottom line answer to “what is art”, is… One man’s treasure is another man’s trash.
peter0423 over 14 years ago
And probably the last person to ask “what is art” is an artist! Once you get past the high-toned theorizing, art is the process of playing with reality, to make something you personally like better. That includes the “fine” arts, commercial arts, practical arts like cooking and sewing – the whole thing.
If someone else likes the end result also, then sweet! You’ve got a sale. :) If not, you keep doing it anyway, simply because it’s what you most enjoy doing when you don’t have to be doing something else instead.
And if someone not only won’t buy it, but has the effrontery to criticize it, you may make any comments about their female anscestry that seem right. You make art first of all for yourself – if you like it, no one else has to, and they can just…well, you get the idea.
Opal would understand perfectly. :)
But those who do like it, like it because something in you has reached out and touched something in them…which is what I was getting at in the first place. And that is the highest accomplishment of art.
dukekraus over 14 years ago
I hate to think…but think I must. I am off to the bar to consider the conundrum… If “You make art first of all for yourself” …then why show it to anyone else?
freeholder1 over 14 years ago
Actually, Earl, you better NOT say it…
1148559 over 14 years ago
Art is one of those things that is completely subjective.
Each person likes or dislikes art forms based on their personality. There is no “right” or “wrong” way to do art.
In my opinion, some of the greatest art is that made by young children with no instruction or training. Others may feel differently.
Both opinions are equally valid.
peter0423 over 14 years ago
dukekraus said:
I hate to think…but think I must. I am off to the bar to consider the conundrum… If “You make art first of all for yourself” …then why show it to anyone else?
To sell it, of course, for one thing. (See any “One Big Happy” strip where Ruthie is selling her “GOOD ART”.) Lord have mercy on artists who have to sell their art as their only source of income – the phrase “starving artist” is proverbial, and very few artists have the skill set or inclination to market themselves; it’s a painful distraction, which is why they have agents. But getting paid by a total stranger is really the sincerest form of flattery – egoboo plus money. Who could resist? :)
Even without money, if you’ve done something you think is pretty nifty, it’s a normal human impulse to want to show it off – unless you’ve gotten enough indifference, criticism, or outright hostility in the past to sour you on sharing your work. Such cases are tragic.
Smiley Rmom over 14 years ago
I think it is natural for us to want to share ANY thing we enjoy with another person - whether we made it or not. I enjoy sharing jokes, beautiful sunsets, good food, etc. with other people whom I think might also enjoy it. Pleasure shared is multiplied.
COWBOY7 over 14 years ago
Like now, Earl! Or git outta Dodge.
Frankie5466 over 2 years ago
Ugh it’s so annoying when men are being complete and total @$$holes and claim they are doing it “to be helpful”!! (Yeah I’m sure there are some women who do the same but in my experience at least, men are much more guilty of doing this!)