Competing For The Win
11 x 14 Oil on Hardwood $150.00
11 x 14 Oil on Hardwood $150.00
What is art? A reporter asked me this during the Birmingham Art Walk 08 this past weekend. I thought about it for a minute, then I responded "art is something you create and if people other than friends and family members think it is good then maybe you have something." I know a lot of people who claim to be artist yet these people are better salespeople than artist. They are more like magicians creating an illusion for people to believe.
Many of these so called artist have not the least clue about perspective, foreshortening, composition, warm and cool colors, or even complimentary colors. Many of them could not even draw if their lives depended on it, yet they throw paint on canvas and see what sticks. I have been next to these kitchen table painters in festivals for years, lost sales to them and even not been chosen for juried shows that they got in.
I can play chop sticks on the piano but yet I cannot read music, nor do I have a clue what notes are in music. Does that make me a pianist? Should I be allowed in a recital? I personally do not like abstract art to me it is no different than a magician who can make himself vanish. Did he really vanish? Maybe if you are stupid enough to believe people can vanish. Yes it is interesting to watch, abstract art is interesting to see but does it take talent? Can an artist who paints abstract draw a person, a place or an animal? Some can many cannot.
I lost a sale this past weekend a man dressed very nice came into my booth looked at my musicians walked out into the booth next to me. He then purchased a child like painting of a musician a sax player like I had, the difference was the one he purchased looked like a child had painted it. Even worse it was an adult who teaches children art. I am lucky that the art teachers I had as a child were really artist. I would never be to the level which I am if I was taught by someone who thought they were an artist.
So the next time you purchase art, ask yourself am I buying from a real artist or a pretend artist. There is a difference and in the end it shows.
Time to go put oil on canvas.
mike
Many of these so called artist have not the least clue about perspective, foreshortening, composition, warm and cool colors, or even complimentary colors. Many of them could not even draw if their lives depended on it, yet they throw paint on canvas and see what sticks. I have been next to these kitchen table painters in festivals for years, lost sales to them and even not been chosen for juried shows that they got in.
I can play chop sticks on the piano but yet I cannot read music, nor do I have a clue what notes are in music. Does that make me a pianist? Should I be allowed in a recital? I personally do not like abstract art to me it is no different than a magician who can make himself vanish. Did he really vanish? Maybe if you are stupid enough to believe people can vanish. Yes it is interesting to watch, abstract art is interesting to see but does it take talent? Can an artist who paints abstract draw a person, a place or an animal? Some can many cannot.
I lost a sale this past weekend a man dressed very nice came into my booth looked at my musicians walked out into the booth next to me. He then purchased a child like painting of a musician a sax player like I had, the difference was the one he purchased looked like a child had painted it. Even worse it was an adult who teaches children art. I am lucky that the art teachers I had as a child were really artist. I would never be to the level which I am if I was taught by someone who thought they were an artist.
So the next time you purchase art, ask yourself am I buying from a real artist or a pretend artist. There is a difference and in the end it shows.
Time to go put oil on canvas.
mike
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