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Artistic direction - 10/16/2009 1:19:05 PM

VikkiKing

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Whether I shall succeed in the future will depend more on my work than on anything else- on my looking calmly through my window at the things in nature, and drawing them faithfully and lovingly.
Of the drawings of which I shall show you I think only this: I hope they will prove to you that I do not remain stationary in my work, but make progress in a direction that is reasonable. As to the money value of my work, I do not pretend to anything else but that it would greatly astonish me if my work were not just as salable in time as that of others. Whether that will happen now or later I cannot tell, but I think the surest way, which cannot fail, is to work energetically from nature. Feeling and love for nature sooner or later find response from people. It is the painter's duty to be entirely absorbed in his work, so that it becomes intelligible to other people. To work for the market is in my opinion not exactly the right way; on the contrary it deceives the amateurs. The true painters have not done so, but the sympathy they received sooner or later came because of their sincerity. That is all I know about it, and I do not think I need know more.

Comments? Criticism? I've thought long about this, please say something. I need to talk about the nature of art.

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RE: Artistic direction - 10/16/2009 11:20:27 PM

swirlygirl

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Do you have your work for sale somewhere now?

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RE: Artistic direction - 10/16/2009 11:35:34 PM

GreenBiscuit

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Where do you want your work do go, Vikki? What feels good to you?

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RE: Artistic direction - 10/17/2009 12:36:44 AM

platypus

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I understand and agree with a lot of what you're saying, but if you're trying to make a living from your art then painting for the market makes sense. Fortunately these days there's a huge variety of work that's popular now so maybe it's a question of just finding the market for the work you already do.

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RE: Artistic direction - 10/17/2009 8:41:34 AM

bromley2

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quote:

Feeling and love for nature sooner or later find response from people

I like this line from your statement. I think nature does find response with people. I also think Vicky has a point that there are many subjects out there that are popular. But, I agree that nature can't fail. Sometimes being confident with what you are doing shows through in your work. sounds like that is where you are going.

C

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RE: Artistic direction - 10/17/2009 10:23:39 AM

bafiedel

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Creating the work, growing and evolving is pleasurable and leads to personal satisfaction and artistic success.

The harder part is finding the right market for it and having financial success. Unfortunately as we all know, it's not as easy as "if I create it, they will come".

We sometimes think that the great artists in art museums didn't have to think about that or compromise, but they had to. How could they live otherwise? All artists, past and present have had to cater to the market in some respect if they want to make money at it.

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RE: Artistic direction - 10/17/2009 11:27:29 AM

VikkiKing

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That was my response, too. I said I thought a lot about this, I didn't say I wrote it. Forgive me for not quoting and citing source but I wanted your responses as if someone came to you with these thoughts without knowing that Vincent vanGogh wrote this to Theo circa 1882. I found it a triffle niaeve. I think it's nice sentiment but fully overlooks distribution which is vital to an artist today. I can understand how it might feel accurate to a post-impressionist painter. Being true to nature and accuracy in the face of criticism was the hallmark of the impressionists, and they were in the end rewarded. But even they knew the importance of being seen. Perhaps because Theo was an art dealer, Vince didn't feel he had to worry about how all those people who were going to respond to "truth in nature" were going to see the "truth" in the first place. For my own part it has always been a mystery to me how Vincent went from utter obscurity to super stardom. Theo died 6 months after Vincent, what happened to the work? Obviously it got into the right hands, but who's were they and how? That's the lesson I draw.

Second point, I think Vincent's beleif that you need this kind of honest integrity to acheive success depends on your definition of success. If success is measured in sales, then no, I don't think you need that at all.
If sucess is measured in lasting impression in the arts, then the romantic in me wants to agree whole heartedly. Not that sucess WILL follow but that without it, it can't. Art history is written by the artists. When someone influences the work of those around him/her, then that person is written into history. For example we look at Manet as a key and pivotal persona in the direction of art in the 20th century. I would like to believe that we as artists are seeking for a "truth", or a "human connection" or to "respond to something." I am moved by bauhaus design. I don't like abstract art because I son't understand it. Inspite of that, occasionally a Jackson Pollock will move me somehow and make me feel good. "THAT" is what I'm looking for. What is that? Why does it happen? Vincent wrote over and over again, I just want to make pictures that Move people." I do too, but it's more than sad puppy pictures otherwise abstract would never have that ability, or architecture when it is done well. Any more thoughts?

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RE: Artistic direction - 10/17/2009 2:42:22 PM

toucanne

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quote:

remain stationary in my work, but make progress in a direction that is reasonable. As to the money value of

Interesting conversation, Vikki. As an art lover, you don't have to "understand" something to appreciate it, as you found out with Pollock. That it has an efect on you is enough. I had a printmaking prof in college who said that the only bad art is art that leaves you indifferent. Of course, even that is highly subjective. Different people are moved by different things, and it's probably a good thing for artists.

As an artist, you can't completely detach yourself from your motivation for painting in the first place. I did large absrtacts in college to please my professors, but also because I really "felt" them, and they engaged me in a way representational work did not. I would draw from nature, but painting for me, especially at that scale, was such a primal act that I couldn't be bothered with technique. I am more concerned with that now. After a hiatus of many years, my recent paintings are more representational, although I still keep some playful elements. I have never been interested in super realism. If I wanted to portray whatever it is exactly, I'd take a photograph, which I also do. Photo-realism doesn't move me, although I admire the discipline and the craftsmanship.

I do enjoy photography for a different set of reasons. The more anal me, I guess. Same with digital art; when you involve machinery, a different set of emotions comes into play. I hope this wasn't too much of a digression...

Oh, and I'd like to become famous after I die, as often seems to happen, but I'd rather find success when i'm still around to enjoy it...

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RE: Artistic direction - 10/17/2009 3:32:41 PM

bafiedel

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There's more than one unfortunate side effect that comes along with commercial success, but one of them is the risk of becoming boxed in to a particular style or subject matter. I think about vocal artists who have expressed how they have to repeat their old works over and over to please the audiences. I imagine that famous visual artists run into the same thing. The public isn't always interested in new things -people like to know what to expect. If you become famous, are you as free to expand in the directions you want to and still count on the same level of success? Unlikely, I think.

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RE: Artistic direction - 10/17/2009 4:35:59 PM

toucanne

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To avoid that, you have to be really really good, or not care, or both. Look at Bob Dylan and the flak he got for changing styles. But he keeps doing it! Actors get typecast as well. Michael Richards can never be anything but Kramer in people's imagination. Picasso's style has changed radically many times over his long life. Beth, you can never count on anything... while you alienate one type of ausdience, you can easily pick up a new following. Or not. Never count your chickens, for sure.

As artists, we have to evolve, I think. I know I'd get bored with the same old stuff. You can't help it anyway. It probably takes more effort to remain rooted in the same old same old than to let your style morph naturally.

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RE: Artistic direction - 10/17/2009 4:51:02 PM

bafiedel

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quote:

As artists, we have to evolve, I think. I know I'd get bored with the same old stuff. You can't help it anyway. It probably takes more effort to remain rooted in the same old same old than to let your style morph naturally.

Agreed! You have to be brave enough to walk away from your saftey zone though. It's not that easy when the money and acclaim are pulling you in the other direction.

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RE: Artistic direction - 10/17/2009 5:06:10 PM

toucanne

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Popular acclaim is one thing, acclaim from your peers quite another. Sometimes you have to pick which is the most important to you. And you can't discount the money factor either.

Remember Leroy Neiman, who did those brightly colored paintings of sports figures and was so popular some years ago? I was never a big fan of his work, and then one day I happened to be in a gallery that featured him. In the back room

were all these absolutely gorgeous drawings and lithos, including one of a rooster, Heather

that really changed my opinion of him as an artist. So, do the popular stuff if it makes you money, but keep working at your art all the same!

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RE: Artistic direction - 10/18/2009 8:51:24 PM

VikkiKing

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If you had a choice:

#1. Always be criticized, never sell, keep working, but never see any reward but after your life fame fortune. I call this the van Gogh choice. You live like he did, poor and unrecognized, die despairing of your failure as an artist. History revers your work, you have the highest amount ever paid for a piece of art all that stuff..

or
#2 You are able to make a comfortable living off your art work. You're moderately well known in your time, your doing pretty damn good for an artist. History will forget you and eventually nothing of your work will remain.

Which would you choose?

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RE: Artistic direction - 10/18/2009 9:02:06 PM

bafiedel

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I choose option #2. I harbor no illusions about my artistic limitations/abilities. I don't give a damn about my place in history and I resent the idea that other people would make more money than I ever did by re-selling my paintings.

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RE: Artistic direction - 10/18/2009 9:58:33 PM

platypus

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quote:

ORIGINAL: bafiedel

I choose option #2. I harbor no illusions about my artistic limitations/abilities. I don't give a damn about my place in history and I resent the idea that other people would make more money than I ever did by re-selling my paintings.

I couldn't agree more, not to mention that you'll never even know that you were a huge success after you died, because YOU'RE DEAD. You will have died believing yourself to be a failure (assuming your goal was to be recognized for your art).

As Beth alluded to earlier, most if not all of the "old masters" (depending on your definition of the term) were commercial artists, their work was for hire.

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