Fibermania

ArtSpeak:Less Silly, More Serious

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One of my grandiose ideas when I started this blog was to provide the truth behind the work I would post. In grad school art history classes we were told what the artist did (true or not?) and occasionally we would read what the artist said in response to the critics, historian, columnists, etc. I was struck by the descriptions of Georgia O'Keefe's paintings, that they were all about sexuality. Flowers=sex. She disputed this notion, but the written word has strength and once published, turns to 'fact'. I wanted to have my say about my work, in case anyone wanted to look it up later. Gotta give those art history majors some work to do.

The world puts artists in a separate class, sometimes on a pedestal as tho we were from outer space. I hear so many people say, "I am no artist, I just like to make stuff".

What do you think an artist is, for heaven's sake? If you like to make things, that does make you different in a way from those that don't make things, but it isn't magic, what we do, it is learned behavior not unlike athletics, or anything one focuses on with tenacity.

Some are better at it than others. Some are better at math than others too. So?

Being an artist doesn't mean being a great artist, or even a good artist, it means trying to make stuff that pleases the inner self. Eventually with practice and some direction, one finds one's art is improving and when it clicks it seems like magic.

If you can find an audience it is even more magical. We have all seen artists that have a huge audience however, but that does not make their art better, it may just mean that they are better at public relations than others. I am thinking of Thomas Kinkade as an example.

Syrupy and maudlin, his art sells in the millions, but that doesn't make him or his art great. That whole greatness aspect is what gets into our brains and results in paralysis.

David Walker says that art is primarily for the benefit of the artist. It makes us feel good when we make it and when we show it and it is well received. Even if we make art and never show it, the thought of it being discovered one day, and judged to be brilliant, may be the motivating force behind what we do.

Or we just have to do it, and can't even face answering the why?

Judging by the comments you left here yesterday, I am thinking we all are in the same insecure life raft, out on a sea of uncertainty. Where's the shore, and will we ever get there? Ha! The cruise is really all there is. Even if you get to the place where you are lauded, you still will want to be out there testing the waters. That is the artist in you.