Wanting to be in Control of your art...

Recently a good friend (artist) and I were talking about the competitiveness among artists, wanting to be the best. An example of this is the feeling you get when you walk into a workshop and begin to size up the other artists. The thoughts range anywhere to “I’m the best” (in relationship to the instructor) to “I better find a less advance class”.

At about the same time someone called my cell wanting to buy 3 of my paintings at a reduced price and I wanted to be a victim (my choice) about not getting the respect blah blah blah and my friend interrupted my thought and said isn’t wonderful someone wants to own 3 of your paintings.

Later I thought more about our conversation and it struck me that maybe as long as I keep comparing myself to someone else it becomes more difficult be me. I know this is like a constant theme of mine, but it seems that we are always looking for others to define our work and wanting to be better then another artist is another way of doing this. So it is a kind of trap. I found this blog and essay Gnostic World of Candy Minx I Blame the Artist on Art & Perception as a part of Karl’s discussion about What is Art, a very good read.

Competition happens in a environment where there are a clear set of rules that everyone has agreed on. If the basketball goes in the basket, if you miss the tennis ball, if you cross the line first etc. But being creative in how you express yourself? I think we all want to get better at expressing ourselves. I just want to be careful about expressing myself like someone else, just cause someone may want more of my (you know, thank goodness not the other guy’s) paintings.

Noon (c) 06 by Bob Martin

The Next Project...

The Exhibit in New York went well-I’m told. I’m sorry some people got the impression that I was going to go to NY, but I didn’t. In any event it was a success and now its time for the next project. I’ve committed to support a Foundation, Zeta21 International, at their fund raiser donating a portion any sales of my art work to them. Win Win I think, I get a non-traditional audience and they get wonderful artwork.

Comments...

Recently I have been trying to reply to the comments that I have received and they have all gone into outer space. Meaning that they are not showing up. I am afraid they will all show up at the same time with many dupes. I appreciate your comments and try to reply immediately, so this is a group shout out “Thanks”

Learning How to Paint #2...

One of the basic ways to learn anything is to study and even copy what others do better. Hopefully you begin to develop your own voice, but some how all of what you’ve learned that is good stays with you and shows up in your work. I think that’s the point that Francine Prose makes in her book Reading Like a Writer.

Bob Dylan has come under scrutiny lately because of some of his lyrics which may or may not have been ripped off from something he read. Original thought is rare and we live day to day mostly from what we have learned. So are we all fakes?

This painting is one that I copied from Jacob Collins as way for me to learn something that will eventually show up in one my paintings. I don’t have the same skill level as JC and there should be no comparison, but my use of color and brush strokes is mine and I’ve learned more about how to frame/layout a head.

Sun Rise...

Sunrise (c) 2006

Bob Martin

More on the work that it takes to being an "Ar...

The last couple of weeks I’ve been watching Roger Federer and Tiger Woods and what I can say about both is that they never look like they are struggling. They go about doing their jobs in a calm and committed way. I think they are able to do this because of the amount time they spent on getting and staying good. Both of these athletes (any many others) I consider to be artist They are not dependant on some outside authority to define them, like the “Art Elite” or the “Art Establishment” Watching them I am emotionally moved by their play. I find myself going “wow” when Tiger hits a putt into the hole from what looks like 50 feet away.

If I were fortunate enough to study tennis with Federer it is doubtful that I would ever play the game in such a beautiful and artistic way. But if I put in the time and was as committed to the work I could eventually create my own beautiful and artistic way of playing the game.

I think this is the same for painters. When I first came back to painting, after being lost for a time, I would only refer to myself as a painter and only at the point that I believed that I was creating an emotional impact on the viewer did I start to speak of myself as an “Artist”. (Not at all suggesting that others do this, this is just my own personal madness) People were hearing what I was saying in my paintings (like a secret code). Like magic. I was amazed, caused my paintings don’t look like Dinnerstein, Peter Cox, Laffel, or Ted Seth Jacobs and others that I studied with. My paintings kind of look like my paintings.

“Pain” (c) “87

Bob Martin

The Work that it takes...

There is this interesting contradiction that I am forever encountering. Meeting someone for the first time they are quick to say about themselves “I have no talent, I wish I could paint, sing, draw etc.”  As I listen I realize that some people think an artist just gets up in the AM and goes and does his/her thing and that it’s easy. A post on the “Making a Mark” blog  “If at first you don’t succeed, try, try again!” sums up some of the commitment that it takes.  Being Creative is a mindful endeavor that takes time, constant effort and understanding by friends and family.