Here's what I believe about the art world, and art itself
2017 10 29
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- Every single person who isn't currently dead, has a creative capacity - it is merely a matter of finding out what medium or method works for them - whether that be painting, music, building houses, or slinging hash. Some folks make an art of their work. Some folks make living itself an art.
- Art can be a wonderfully stabilising force in a person's life. Sometimes, for me, it's like going to the dojo; while I'm working at it, I'm focusing on it, and it's very calming and soothing.
- Adversity is not required in order to either make good art, or make art valid. Adversity helps some, hinders others. It is a tool of inspiration, but not the only one; and is no more or less valid than the others.
- I don't believe in the idea of the nobility of the starving artist. We don't live in a barter culture, so money is absolutely necessary in order to function. If you can live through adversity, good for you; but if you've got the ability to go out and be another Gerhard Richter, go for it. Starvation is not a motivation for much, and the poor artist is not more valid than the rich, simply because they're poor. I think the idea of it came about because so much good art does come from adversity, because the creative is a way one can work out one's frustrations with life.
- A message is not required in order to make art good and/or valid. If your art is nothing more than lovely to look at, it isn't any less valid than Picasso's Guernica. It's just different.
- Being delibertately abstruse for the sake thereof, doesn't validate your art above someone else's either; though I know many artists who deliberately adhere to such a lifestyle specifically because they think it makes them an "artiste".
- That the worst thing a lot of artists do, is create the divide between the creative world and those who aren't creative. It's sad to see so many people feel shut out of the art experience by artists themselves, because the artists believe being an artist "elevates" them. I've actually heard one say that. See point one: we're all creative, but if you create and feed the divide, rather than being inclusive, you're feeding the problems that cause non-artists to hate artists. You take fun, joy, interest, education, and involvement away from people. Art should be inclusive; it should strive to get everyone into it, not keep anyone out. Art makes you a different person, not a better one.
- In order to sell art, you have to think of it as something that is sellable. It is a commodity for which you can acquire money. This doesn't devalue your work. Besides, you need to eat.
- Some might consider that doing art to order is devaluing the "sacrednessof art; but I bet they aren't going to go back in time and tell any of the great masters (who we hold up as the pinnacle to strive to be like) who painted what the Catholic church told them to paint, that their work is without validity or value. Besides, we need art to order - we need graphics, packaging, illustration - none of those things are devalued because someone paid money for them.