What's that about? I've been wondering this for a while. I've never seen a bad comment. Is everyone genuinely that nice? Are we really living in such a utopian world? hmmmmm. Do we oust the people that say something less than sugary? I sure hope not!
I see so much talent on this site. I see people who paint for passion, paint for love, paint for hurt, paint just to be creative or just do it to have SOMETHING to do!
Art for me is joy, but it's suffering too. I do it because I feel I have to, but want to, but love to... but hate to... but can't stand what I've got inside me and want it out or love what I have inside of me and am grateful for the means to release it.
Art is love and war combined. Sometimes I want to punch a canvas I almost feel mad at whatever's coming out and I usually haven't got a clue why. It's rage, but released onto something that can take it. Am I the only one that's ever spat on a painting...? Surely not!
So do I have dangerous anger issues? No. Not at all.(Ha... that i'm aware of!... but aren't those ones usually the most dangerous??!) I've never hit anyone in my life. Tried once at school when I was 16 and missed! Just don't ever feel that urge use physical violence. It never solves anything. Creating is like a family member. I don't always have to be happy with it/them to love them. (No no... I don't get physically violent with family members either just fyi!)
This is just a random ramble, but at times I just wonder if any of you get this way.... and also I wonder if you ever feel that way about other people's work. Sometimes I see such incredible talent and they are painting something so neutral and safe. I wish I had all of your talents! Goodness knows what would come out!!!!
I dunno. Sometimes I want to offend you just to get a stir out of you to make sure you're still alive. Make your heart race a little and get THAT passion onto a canvas!
Perhaps this is not the right place to talk...... Like I said, it's been on my mind. Just wanted to vent.
Have a great day you wonderful wonderful people. :) (See... went back to being nice at the end there! ;) )
Can someone please explain Joan Mitchell. Why is her all so prolific or whatever. I don't like to sound disrespectful... but I just don't get it. (Hey... I'm sure one or two of you might think it about my stuff.... feel free to ask me too!)
I have a terrible weakness to things that are new. New ideas, new paintings, new ways of thinking about things, new people. I get this high that is difficult to explain and although it doesn't usually last for long, in the moment it's very intense and until I learned to recognize it, it would get me in all sorts of trouble.
This painting is that high in me. It's the backwards leap off a bridge, the jumping out of a plane head first. "Thrillseeking!"
If you're wondering why it's not in the gallery but in here as a blog... well.... I'm lazy and can't be bothered to scan it in yet.... but wanted to get it out there.
There is a gallery in New York that I submitted my work to about a month ago and they said they would like to represent my paintings. Of course hearing those words for most (not necessarily all) artists would be music to their ears. I read through the agreement and come to find this gallery is a little different to others. You actually PAY for that representation. It's very well put together and there are different levels of costs ranging from $3k to well... over $20k and that doesn't include any pricing of course with getting it framed or getting it to... or from the gallery should it not sell.
This past weekend I drove up to New York to see the gallery and meet the curator. 1500 mile trip. EXHAUSTING to say the least. The gallery was in a good area in Chelsea and the curator was extremely professional and courteous. They really do have their act together, online, through print and in the actual gallery, but that 'act' comes at a price. I'm looking at having to shell out $5k for this representation, although if/when paintings sell they take 30% not 50%.
So why am I tell 'you' all this?
Well. I want to know what you think. Have you heard or this before?
If this common practice that I don't know about?
I don't have an 'art history' with galleries, although we all have to start somewhere... do we not? The only way people would 'know' me or my paintings would be from an one line perspective. This really was one of the first galleries I submitted my art to to be honest.
Five grand for my paintings to meet the world...or New York at least! hmmmm. I sure could buy a lot of canvas and materials with five grand.
Some people smoke a lot. Some people watch TV too much. Some people get caught up in video games. Others just spend too much time eating or drinking.
Me. I spend too much time on line. Sit there talking to people. I love it. Chatting has become my sparking up almost. Although less offensive, I see how it's effected my creating.... and the longer you leave it the less 'sure' you feel to produce and the circle gets bigger and bigger....
So.... for the next week, I'm going to take myself off line after work hours and see what happens!
..... and this is my Monday rant! Have a lovely week, you wonderful creatives you. xx
Things are moving so fast at the moment. I'm exhausted. There are so many aspects to choosing painting for a living as opposed to a hobby or just for sheer release. I think I've written before that I'm torn as to whether I want to have that life or not.
So many of us get nervous when we have to meet people or go out and do things new. I say that because I've spoken to a lot of people and they all agreed. I had a gallery in New York accept my artwork and want to represent me. For most artist's the words "New York" and "Representation" being dream words right? ... but can't they just represent my paintings only? :) You need me involved in this? It's such a fine balance because I so want my art to be out there for the world to see, but I really don't want to be out there at all. I have to fly to New York next weekend and I'm nervous and anxious. My paintings of expression means I'm ALREADY out there. Already in a pretty vulnerable state. Now I have to present myself too... like I'm anything!!!!
I have a book show tomorrow for The Valley of Rhyme too in Knoxville. There's supposed to be 10,000 people showing up and I've got to talk. Oh my! If we really were that social, wouldn't we have so many paintings?..... An act that requires us to be alone for so long.
Please pray for me to be calm if you have that gift. Have a great day.... and you.... meaning people.... quit stressin' me out! :)
I have a lot of paintings, particularly for someone who doesn't think he's painted all that much in the past few years, but I often get plagued by my inner thoughts. Wonder if the right 'judgmental hat' is going to see my work and say, "He's crap." Wonder if I have had too many styles in my lifetime.... or even wonder if someone is going to love what I've created and try to force me into the commercial world of art in a way I don't want to be forced. I imagine becoming the machine, pushing out art that all looks the same and everyone is happy but me. The cook with the cookie cutter.
Before we've 'made it', I guess many artist's wonder if they've got what it takes.... I wonder if I do. Wonder if I want IT. How do you get the art famous without the artist? Ah wishful thinking in a world that wants to glorify self. I remember that scene in "Pollock" when Ed Harris is at the gallery with his work in a hustling and bustling area and you can tell he just doesn't want to be there. I'm sure many if not most artists can relate. Let's face it, if we really were such social butterflies, would we have so many paintings???
This morning I was looking through "Art in America" magazine. May edition. Not being a big reader I was looking at all the pretty pictures and found such comfort in all the art in there. So much diversity. Tons of effort and labor in one painting and next to nothing (seemingly) in others. For the first time I found peace in my peers, which is unusual because often I've felt so inadequate compared to you. YES YOU! I have such respect and feel so honored to have this gift of being able to confidently create, even if I (at times) are less confident to present. I'd love the opportunity to stand by you as my comrades. May I stand by you?
I have this thing in my head sometimes that wonders if I've worked on my art enough. How can it be valuable if I've not toiled and sweated. I've pushed out this piece with a need, like pooping and now I have to stick a price on it? I'm also so attached to the work now, because it is of me, like a child. Birthed and nutured. (I thought I just said 'pooped!') It's instantly historical and related to me. I have to sell is now?? Are you kidding? I don't even know you!
As I continue to look through the magazine I realized I find sense in a painting that looks 'easier' to produce, (from a perspective of labor, not mental production) because my heart's desire is to learn to relax. Detailed works, however amazing, have to surpass toil for me, and very few do. I just get exhausted for the creator viewpoint ( and think back to when I painted Valley of Rhyme) I'm at a place now where I need to see something less stressful. Mark Rothko.... ahhhhhhh.
It's amazing how important I'm finding the 'why' of a painting is over it's actual existence. Our words of explanation become as important as our work. Such an incredible phenomena, to the point that you could have a totally blank canvas in front of you and if explained, it as amazing worth to so many, and I see it INSTANTLY. I can't get over how insane our journey's are from a rational mind... and how crazy the market is to feed into the work's journey too. Have you seen some of the prices of this art in "Art in America!?" What a life... what a world... can't you see I'm IN LOVE!
