Article: On being an artist

[Roger Bunting]

You can view the page at http://www.coolminiornot.com/articles/content.php?1711-on-being-an-artist&

 

[painterboyroy]

as an artist and illustrator for a living. that is a very concise and accurate description. It just all goes to pot when you have a customer and time restrictions... lol...

 

[Shawn R. L.]

@-painterboyroy HAAA!! Aint that the truth!! Having done greeting card and Christmas ornament design I can attest to weird customer constraints. I've done Santa as a Realtor and Santa in his sleigh being pulled by DUCKS!! HA HA HA.....well, at least their checks didn't bounce!!

 

[airhead]

ain't it the truth.
There are several times in my life I wish I had developed my artistic side more and been willing to take the risks.

 

[dauphan129]

I truly enjoyed the Article. Thanks for writing it.

 

[fieldarchy]

Very well said! All of it!

The part you said about your teacher telling you to push yourself to the point of ruining the piece really rung with me. I haven't done any formal art classes really. I had art once a month in school as a kid and then in high school took one semester of Art 101. My art teacher in 6th grade told us the following, "Don't be afraid to try anything. An artist can always fix her mistakes." Meaning that you never ruin a piece you just have to fix what you don't like.

 

[daddyo]

very good article. one of my architectural instructors told me that 'an archtiect can cover his mistakes with ivy, a surgeon has to bury his...' don't be afraid to take some chances in art. (i've always got paint stripper anyway.

 

[A Luna]

Amen

 

[jabbakahut]

I have to say, many of the points you make are incredibly insightful. I have to believe that much of what you say goes unnoticed due to the subtleties of the somewhat abstract way in which you put things. The points you make about actually having an interest in something is something that experience can only teach you. Passing down great knowledge in a written form can only go so far, but spending years in an art style which you are not in love with and wondering why everything you produce is so bad is such an important moment/realization to have.

I don't know how useful this article truly is for a beginner, but the moderately experience person has a lot to gain in reflection of the authors thoughts on your own experiences.

Wow, your analogy to the 'teach a man to fish' parable makes absolutely no sense, and I'm rather lit right now.

 

[mcsneed17]

have you ever seen the prices of a drawing class- beginner at school of visional arts or parsons is it slightly steep.

 

[Sithious]

All my friends are artists, and much of my family too. We all have our own strengths and styles. I never thought of my mini painting as art, but I love doing it. now on this site I know that it can be art, and have been really inspired to approach it as art. Thanks for the article and wise words.

 

[shuddemell]

This article is right on the money. That being said, remember, anything in your life can be an art. You just have to approach it with a sense of wonder and strive for excellence.
In professio illic est verum.

Well done!

 

[Shawn R. L.]

You can view the page at http://www.coolminiornot.com/articles/content.php?1711-on-being-an-artist&

 

[graymouser17]

when you said the old masters did you mean as in Rembrandt or Adrian Bay?

 

[Wizard Workshop]

if you love it, do it