07/20/2008 10:44:47

I agree.  Here's the deal, we stop and take a longer look at things that catch our attention, and are well good.  We don't take the time of day to comment on the crap that is out there, cause we are all very busy people.  Personnally, I think that part of it is the political correctness crap that is being taught in our schools now, that we are all winners.  We are not all winners, that is why some of us shine enough to have a kind comment dropped our way.  Hope that was the reality that you were looking for here.

-Amy Windland

07/16/2008 20:28:55

you hit the nail on the head....oh there i go hitting things again. :)   i understand what you are saying ....for years....yes years i have doubted my work...or at least the outcome .  i believe i was created to create art....i have always thought of myself as an artist.....but here i am teaching...not that it is a bad thing ...not at all ...it is just i don't always get to create ...because i am too buzy getting middle school kids to create..obtw..some of them are totally awesome.  but i too see the safe and neutral stuff...i suppose i am even guilty of making some myself..

taking a risk is hard...scary...and seeing the outcome of that risk could frighten anyone for lots of  reasons.

i love creating, painting , drawing....i am lost in my own world that i see and i feel the need....no the urge...to share that with others so they can see what i see.

i think we are NICE to each other because that also feels good...maybe i will need to start making more "sandwiche critiques" in my comment boxes.

that is what i use in my classroom crits...it goes like this.

  1.   tell one thing you like about the work.  ( and no cops out like "i like it cus it's cool)  tell what it is you like.

2.   suggest something you think could improve the work.....realise that you may or may not have a suggestion.  but at least thinking what could make it better mite be something no one else had thought of to share.

3.  explain something you believe to be successful....( liking something is different that something being successful)  so i remind the kiddos to look at the work for things that are really...really hard to achieve in whatever they are working on so they understand how some are more successful than others. even in their own work.

well have i rambled enough ....good talking to all of you....now i really do have to go and get to work on my stuff.

 

happy creating all

artfitz

 

 

07/02/2008 13:58:56

Yes I think the people here are extremely nice and I am so grateful for that.  When I first found this site, I was a little hesitant to join as I work in glass.  The people who paint in any medium are so very talented and I am happy to have been accepted here.  I've been on some other glass related forums where people are just so mean spirited, I didn't want to post questions and eventually stopped visiting them.

You, along with so many here, have amazing talent.  In another of your posts I saw where you aren't represented by a gallery and I find that hard to fathom!

It's good to vent.  We seem to be quoting our mothers on their words of wisdom....mine always said it was better to get things out than hold them in.  Guess it depends on how you let them out! 

So vent when you need to.  It sparks thoughts and creativity in all of us.

And as Alston posted earlier, hugs...we all need them.

Kathleen 

07/02/2008 13:30:11

Adam, not too long ago someone else wrote a blog just like yours.

I'm confident that at one time or another each one of has browsed the gallery and said: "boring....garbage...what the hell is that?...that person's work isn't good at all...painting isn't their thing...etc., etc. I don't mind stirring the pot once in a while as long as it results in some interesting conversation. But these days, you start a war dropping comments - people are waaaay to sensitive. I have my favorite members on Scuttlebutt and let them know when they post something I like. Others that I don't like I just take the, don't have anything nice to say, don't say anything approach. Now, if you ask my opinion, you better take a step back because I'll give you on honest answer and you may or may not like it : )

Punching (or wildly smearing paint) on canvases...I've certainly had my share of those. Oddly enough more than a few times it resulted in something that gave me an idea or made me something new and turned into a piece I ended up selling. Go figure. 

Now shut your pie-hole, leave us alone, and just go paint.

07/02/2008 13:13:41

I think on these forums we try to be as supportive as possible, knowing how tough it can be 'out there', and we all understand the frustrations as well as joy in making art.  THAT being said... I think on the Daily Painters' Google Group forum I myself have been .... um... not so nice.  There's a painter, who's quite good, but dominates the forum and I'm afraid I've let my 'grouchy' side come out - yeah, now I'm embarrassed but I still really feel I was 'right', but maybe should have let the moderator handle it.  And there it is in black and white - forever!  So maybe, too people are smarter (than me) about showing their positive feelings rather than negative ones.  

07/02/2008 10:00:51

Oh, stop your whining and get back to work!  Is that better?  You are so funny!  I could have written what you wrote!  HA!  Have you read Paul Dorrell's book?  It is really good and he talks about the Artist's Life.

Yes, I feel like punching the canvas, too, at times, but then I realize that my hopes and dreams as an artist are to bring joy and hope to other people.  That's why I tell God all my troubles.  There are days when I actually hate painting, but I have to do it anyway.  I have done works about abortion, war, depression, etc.  Also, if you read my blog -www.DebMagelssen.Blogspot.com, about grieving, you will see there is sorrow and sadness that were released into my newer works.  If it wasn't for the ability to paint, I do not know how I could release my emotions in a healthy way. I know you know how I feel.  All of us can relate.  I heard from a doctor that when we get angry we move into insanity.  Next time you see someone having road rage, angry outbursts or a "melt down'- it's not a pretty site is it?   Not that I haven't ever had any road rage, meltdowns or outburst myself, (ya, right!) but, I do love to encourage and promote others when I see that they have a gift. 

I noticed it, too, here how people are so nice here.  It is because we have all worked our butts off so hard and any more critizism and we would be crushed?  I don't know. I wouldn't.  I wouldn't stop painting if someone was nasty to me-I would just think they are having some stuggles and are more miserable that I. 

Now I am rambling.  See what you started?  Blab, blab, blab-  I gotta go-I'm not painting today in the studio-I am painting my husbands office.  I will be going to a spa after all this.   Hey!  Have a GREAT day!       Deb   

07/01/2008 21:46:12

Adam, oops, I left out "nice" when I said what my mother said.

07/01/2008 21:44:26

Well Adam, first of all I believe the people on this site ARE nice people, not to say we don't all get angry or upset or discouraged,I'm sure we do we are all human. And I think if you ask for criticisum you will get it, but hopefully the constructive kind.

There is enough  anger and uglyness and problems in the world , I would hope we come here to escape that and not bring it with us.

My mother always said if you can't say something don't say anything at all. Maybe I'm just a pollyanna but I believe in the good in people and like to associate with people of like mind. That's one of the reasons I like this site.

That's how I feel about it, I wonder how others feel.

Hugs ( We all need them too) Alston