Most artists need an audience. Whether entertainers of whatever kind, or visual artists – all must (even reluctantly) admit they ‘do art’ for the eyes of others.
We tell ourselves we are being true to ourselves and (in the fine art genre) are only painting what we want to paint.
Now of course there is truth in this. Because if the artist him/herself doesn’t find any kind of fulfilment in what they do, then we can ask: ’what’s the point’? We therefore as a result – paint what we feel is a true expression of our own ‘vision’.
A graphic artist once referred to as a ‘commercial artist’ has however, to work to please the client.
So there is more to-ing and fro-ing of communication to ascertain if what is being created meets the criteria of the Client.
In this we have the artist using his creative ability to realise the clients ‘vision’.
We know there’s a whole history to how art has changed over the years, nay centuries, and what it’s raison d’être is – presently.
Originality has certainly climbed to the top of the list, of ‘must haves’ when art is judged today.
The enjoyable thing (for me anyway) about art is – there are no rules. There, I believe, should be moral censorship. But no rules in the sense that it’s an open field of endeavour.
There have been, and there are, so many schools of thought as to what art is and what it should be. All can’t be wrong and all can’t be right.
It is a very individual thing – to choose – what you think is good, bad or indifferent in art. That’s part of the freedom of art.
At the end of the day – you ‘know what you like’ – right?
Because of technology and the digital age – art skills, have changed. But the basic ability to design is the one remaining factor that cannot change in visual art.
Drawing, and painting skills, have been superseded (to some degree anyway), by the digital means of producing fine or graphic art.
Sculpture cannot but be – hands on. It is not sculpture when on a screen, because of it’s inherent requirement for solidity.
But no sooner has a pronouncement like the above been made, when someone will contradict it and somehow a computer screen will find it’s way to being accepted in the world of sculpture.
And that’s how it should be. Art is always changing. But in another sense cannot escape being the same as it always has been.
I haven’t fully ‘sussed’ why artists feel the need of praise for their work. Certainly it may help.
Satisfaction at the end of the process of production, is one of the legitimate pleasures of life, enjoyed by the artist.
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