(no subject)
Mar. 15th, 2023 09:12 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
shadowkatFor some reason or other - I'm drawing and painting people I see on the subway from memory. I'm calling it the subway series. I see the person on the ride to work or on the way home, take a mental snapshot. Then draw them when I get home, and paint them later.
I'm enjoying it. I tell people about it - and they suggest I sell the paintings. I've never tried to sell a painting, nor has my father, or anyone in the immediate family. My Aunt does sell her work - but she also has a degree in it. I'm from a family of artists, half are artists, the other half are engineers. It's a toss-up on which group is the most successful. Artists are sometimes a little bit more resourceful and clever in finding day jobs than engineers who are focused on careers.
Why is it that everything we do - folks feel the need to place a price tag on it?
"Oh, you wrote a book? Is it published? What is it about? Where can I get it? How many copies did you sell? How much did it cost?"
"Oh you drew a picture or painted something? Can I buy it? Are you selling it? You should do that!"
Sigh. Has no one ever heard of doing something just for fun? Just because you enjoy it? Do you get paid to play video games? Or write fanfic? Or create fan art?
Sometimes I just want to do it - because it's fun. I don't want to put a price tag on it or think about doing an art show right now. I just want to create and see what happens.
Note to self? This is why you don't share these types of activities with other people. Don't tell them about it - unless you plan on giving it to them to read or show it to them.
People are very weird about art.
For some reason or other they want to quantify it. Art is there to be enjoyed and interacted with. It's an expression of the artist - their attempt, however inadequate or successful - to communicate something inside them with the world. They are showing how they view things, what they are feeling, with others - and through that attempting to somehow connect to others.
It's not a request for criticism, how to improve, make money, market, or impress the critics or obtain awards. We're sharing our work to communicate and connect.
I don't know - I think it's very hard to shut up our inner critics. I struggle with mine. Working on it. A co-worker suggested I become a book, film and television critic as a side hustle - except already tried that. It didn't pan out. And besides everyone and their cat is a critique nowadays.
The world doesn't need another one. I only critique things in my journal to figure out why they didn't work or did work for me. Also to frigging remember them. Critiques are also more for other readers and viewers than for the artist - it's a way of interacting with the art. You are telling others what worked and didn't work for you, and getting their take on it as well. It's not for the artist. It's actually better if the artist is oblivious to your review - which is why I try not to post the review where an artist can see it.
***
Started listening to Bryan Cranston's (Walter White of Breaking Bad) autobiography entitled, A Life in Pieces - it's interesting. Far more interesting than Spare - partly because Cranston isn't whiny, and has done more interesting and varied things. Prince Harry and his family are, a bit, boring and bratty. (I really don't like the British Royal Family - and I may be among the few people on the planet who did not like Princess Diana. I still think she was a narcissistic twit who was hounded to death by the press.)
Cranston entered the police explorers program as a teen. This program provided him with the opportunity to view an autopsy, visit Interpol, and various police stations around the world, and view police work. It also enabled him to get work as a security guard. Cranston was also ordained and licensed to do "marriages" by a Reverend that he was staying with over the summer months. The first marriage he presided over was done in a small private plane, when he was about 19 or 20.
He tells stories about cleaning out chicken coops and being taught the right way to kill a chicken. Failing miserably on the first try. Also, being taken to a prostitute in Amsterdam as a teen and how horrible the whole experience truly was - this was on the police explorers program.
It's actually a cool program. I looked it up. There is one in New York.
Become a Law Enforcement Explorer for the NYPD
Cranston did it for LAPD. He was excellent at it - excelled in all the categories.
Cranston also relates his experiences in acting classes, including the first time he was requested to make out (again in his early 20s at the time). He's the son of a B sci-fi horror movie/television actor, who wasn't that successful. His story really gets across how difficult it is to make acting a career, and how many actors veer away from it in their lifetimes.
***
Babs was surprised that I continue to have empathy for BYT. "How you can continue to feel empathy for someone who hurt you as badly as she did, is beyond me."
Me: I can feel empathy for people I hate.
I take after my mother in this way. We managed to feel pity for the Doofus.
I've always been able to see more than one side to every argument. It makes for a very confusing life.
I'm enjoying it. I tell people about it - and they suggest I sell the paintings. I've never tried to sell a painting, nor has my father, or anyone in the immediate family. My Aunt does sell her work - but she also has a degree in it. I'm from a family of artists, half are artists, the other half are engineers. It's a toss-up on which group is the most successful. Artists are sometimes a little bit more resourceful and clever in finding day jobs than engineers who are focused on careers.
Why is it that everything we do - folks feel the need to place a price tag on it?
"Oh, you wrote a book? Is it published? What is it about? Where can I get it? How many copies did you sell? How much did it cost?"
"Oh you drew a picture or painted something? Can I buy it? Are you selling it? You should do that!"
Sigh. Has no one ever heard of doing something just for fun? Just because you enjoy it? Do you get paid to play video games? Or write fanfic? Or create fan art?
Sometimes I just want to do it - because it's fun. I don't want to put a price tag on it or think about doing an art show right now. I just want to create and see what happens.
Note to self? This is why you don't share these types of activities with other people. Don't tell them about it - unless you plan on giving it to them to read or show it to them.
People are very weird about art.
For some reason or other they want to quantify it. Art is there to be enjoyed and interacted with. It's an expression of the artist - their attempt, however inadequate or successful - to communicate something inside them with the world. They are showing how they view things, what they are feeling, with others - and through that attempting to somehow connect to others.
It's not a request for criticism, how to improve, make money, market, or impress the critics or obtain awards. We're sharing our work to communicate and connect.
I don't know - I think it's very hard to shut up our inner critics. I struggle with mine. Working on it. A co-worker suggested I become a book, film and television critic as a side hustle - except already tried that. It didn't pan out. And besides everyone and their cat is a critique nowadays.
The world doesn't need another one. I only critique things in my journal to figure out why they didn't work or did work for me. Also to frigging remember them. Critiques are also more for other readers and viewers than for the artist - it's a way of interacting with the art. You are telling others what worked and didn't work for you, and getting their take on it as well. It's not for the artist. It's actually better if the artist is oblivious to your review - which is why I try not to post the review where an artist can see it.
***
Started listening to Bryan Cranston's (Walter White of Breaking Bad) autobiography entitled, A Life in Pieces - it's interesting. Far more interesting than Spare - partly because Cranston isn't whiny, and has done more interesting and varied things. Prince Harry and his family are, a bit, boring and bratty. (I really don't like the British Royal Family - and I may be among the few people on the planet who did not like Princess Diana. I still think she was a narcissistic twit who was hounded to death by the press.)
Cranston entered the police explorers program as a teen. This program provided him with the opportunity to view an autopsy, visit Interpol, and various police stations around the world, and view police work. It also enabled him to get work as a security guard. Cranston was also ordained and licensed to do "marriages" by a Reverend that he was staying with over the summer months. The first marriage he presided over was done in a small private plane, when he was about 19 or 20.
He tells stories about cleaning out chicken coops and being taught the right way to kill a chicken. Failing miserably on the first try. Also, being taken to a prostitute in Amsterdam as a teen and how horrible the whole experience truly was - this was on the police explorers program.
It's actually a cool program. I looked it up. There is one in New York.
Become a Law Enforcement Explorer for the NYPD
Cranston did it for LAPD. He was excellent at it - excelled in all the categories.
Cranston also relates his experiences in acting classes, including the first time he was requested to make out (again in his early 20s at the time). He's the son of a B sci-fi horror movie/television actor, who wasn't that successful. His story really gets across how difficult it is to make acting a career, and how many actors veer away from it in their lifetimes.
***
Babs was surprised that I continue to have empathy for BYT. "How you can continue to feel empathy for someone who hurt you as badly as she did, is beyond me."
Me: I can feel empathy for people I hate.
I take after my mother in this way. We managed to feel pity for the Doofus.
I've always been able to see more than one side to every argument. It makes for a very confusing life.
no subject
Date: 2023-03-16 02:37 am (UTC)YES! This!
I have seen the same thing happen - my friend T started playing with clay and pottery and sculpture a few years ago when she retired. She was having fun, learning techniques, practicing and creating all kinds of pieces.
And she got better - and more confident. And of course someone started saying "you should sell your art" - and suddenly that was her goal - and she was putting her stuff in this little gallery/store - I think she sold ONE piece before the store closed.
In my own little circle of 'paint nite' people - I see the same thing - and I've had people make comments that I should try selling my paintings.
I just laugh - I'm not doing this to make a living - and I have *no* illusions that my paintings are good enough to ask people to pay money for them - heck I won't even *give* them to people unless *they* ask for them.
And honestly - the one time that a friend asked me to paint something for her - and insisted on paying for it - it was kind of stressful - trying to make sure that what I came up with was *worthy* - it was an intersting experience, and I was really glad that I did it for her - because she did like it - but it definitely made me understand a bit how my brother - who does art as easily as breathing - utterly *resists* any attempt to "produce" art for money - it ruins the experience for him.
I would love to see some of your watercolours if you are willing to share photos though? I am really impressed at the idea of painting people from memory - your visual memory must be really good! I can barely visualize faces of people that I know well!
no subject
Date: 2023-03-16 09:24 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2023-03-16 10:47 am (UTC)So, yeah, I value critics more for helping me know what I want to bother investing in consuming. Those behind it don't need to know.
My uncle paints for pleasure and has also done commissions but, as far as I know, they've never been a source of serious income for him, especially given how very much hours he puts into an oil painting.
no subject
Date: 2023-03-16 04:58 pm (UTC)Anyhow, exactly - selling or showing the art creates a level of stress that I don't want right now. I just like the fact that I'm doing it.
Will try to share more of the paintings - once I complete them. ;-)
no subject
Date: 2023-03-16 04:59 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2023-03-16 05:03 pm (UTC)It's not meant to be a job.
Even those who do it for a living or are lucky enough to make a living from it, to one degree or another much do it for the joy?
And for things that I do improve at better, I'm already fairly adequate at criticizing myself — I can mostly tell what's wrong with what I did, so again not much need to involve others. If I share stuff, it tends to very much be on a take it or leave it basis, though I admit that, back when I shared poems more, it was nice if somebody said a nice thing about one.
Pretty much the same. Most folks, I think, aren't really interested in criticism, unless they directly request it.
no subject
Date: 2023-03-16 05:15 pm (UTC)But it's distressingly common alright.
no subject
Date: 2023-03-16 05:36 pm (UTC)So true. I don't get it either. Sometimes, as you said, you just do things for the sake of doing it and you like it. Having hobbies without the pressure of benefiting financially is a good thing - otherwise, the pressure can ruin what was previously a fun activity.
no subject
Date: 2023-03-16 09:19 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2023-03-17 02:17 am (UTC)The business of art is ....not fun. Regardless of the art. We're opening it up to criticism - once a dollar sign is placed on it. Also, there's all the boring and annoying administrative stuff to deal with.
I think people want to be able to brag about it, buy it, and have it accessible, maybe? IDK.
no subject
Date: 2023-03-17 02:22 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2023-03-17 02:29 am (UTC)But there's this view - that if your work is financially accessible for public consumption, it's not worthy. Or if it hasn't won a competition or been placed in the competitive race - it's not worthy. And that's kind of silly when it comes to art. And why should it have to be competitive? Art shouldn't have to be a sport. (I include cooking, writing, painting, drawing, needlework, beadwork, etc within the art category.)
no subject
Date: 2023-03-17 07:11 am (UTC)People who have seen my photographs and liked them sometimes ask if I have done any professional work in the field, and I always tell them that no, it's my hobby, and I do it because I enjoy it. As you know, I have routinely given away some photos to people if they came out well and involved some property of theirs (like the pics of artsy things in their gardens or decorating their homes). When I drop them off, I enclose a note that besides telling them who I am, I explain the hobby angle and specifically state in the note that I do not want any money for the photo, please don't send any.
A few months ago, there was a case when a repair customer was looking at some og my photos that I have on my walls while I was checking his repair into my shop, he lighted on one that apparently he really loved, and asked if he could buy it! I told him that, no, that one was mine, but I'd be glad to print and frame him a copy.
"How much?" he asked. I said I'd guess the paper, ink and and frame might cost me about $20.00 and quoted that.
He gave me this 'are you kidding?' look, and said, "That's way too cheap! Give me a real price." I pondered, said $35.00. He still looked dismayed, and said "C'mon, at least $50!" So I shrugged, said, OK, if you're good with it.
A few weeks later when he returned to pick up his repair, I gave him the copy of the photo, and he tossed down $75.00. I handed back $25 and told him I had quoted $50. He put the $25 back, said "Too cheap. Take it."
So, I did, but found the whole thing amusing. But he was happy, so... hey, whatever! :-)