A friend of mine is working on a manuscript to publish to a best selling novel, and I wonder.
How much is he willing to spend in time and effort to get his words read by the masses?
This is true of all artist who can create their inner emotions and thoughts on canvas, clay, metal, and paper.
The effort satisfies the desires of he artist, but to put this expression out to the public for viewing, perhaps purchase is a different matter.
An artist must become a business professional.
Shows, contracts, fees, reviews and interviews are all part of the presentation of a work of art to the public.
Artist are suppose to be introverts, but this process of reveling art to the public must be an extroverted campaign.
Will the writer, painter, potter, print maker, dancer, singer, musician, writer.... become a prostitute for their art?
Present the art, then have to explain it to the media.
If you don't believe it, look at what actors have to do for a movie.
So put this thought in your portfolio and prepare for the lights if you want to make a buck.
Tuesday, March 23, 2010
Wednesday, March 17, 2010
Variations of a theme
Where is the mermaid?
Every piece of art, whether painted, photographed, written, performed, played, thrown, pressed, etched.... has a story. That story relays the artist or performers to present a emotional snapshot of internal or external reactions to time or space.
To present this expression, the piece is given a name. This name is to describe to the world what the meaning or feeling of the art represents.
The name or title can be an abstraction of mental anguish, or a road map to the effort put forth to create the piece.
Sometimes the viewer understands what stands before them with the name or title filling in the void of confusion, then other times it causes a disassociation with the piece.
So, I heard an artist say he had put an element into the work that, if presented to the viewer, would cause a deeper examination of the piece.
It is a sort of signature to the presentation.
Carol Burnett did it with a tug on the ear.
Imagine you are viewing a painting, complex with swirls and mixed colors, layers of motion, trying to figure where the eye should grasp the piece.
Then you hear the artist in passing ask, "Where's the mermaid?"
To present this expression, the piece is given a name. This name is to describe to the world what the meaning or feeling of the art represents.
The name or title can be an abstraction of mental anguish, or a road map to the effort put forth to create the piece.
Sometimes the viewer understands what stands before them with the name or title filling in the void of confusion, then other times it causes a disassociation with the piece.
So, I heard an artist say he had put an element into the work that, if presented to the viewer, would cause a deeper examination of the piece.
It is a sort of signature to the presentation.
Carol Burnett did it with a tug on the ear.
Imagine you are viewing a painting, complex with swirls and mixed colors, layers of motion, trying to figure where the eye should grasp the piece.
Then you hear the artist in passing ask, "Where's the mermaid?"
Sunday, March 14, 2010
Stretch Yourself
Do you feel comfortable in your art?
Have you settled into a style or media that expresses you?
Are you reproducing the same idea over and over and over again?
Then stretch yourself.
Start your next project with a different media.
If you normally are a painter, use pottery.
If you are a potter, try photography.
This will take you out of your comfort zone.
New materials will create a new approach and ultimately new ideas.
Many of us have used different media before, but have settled on what "we" feel we can best capture our thoughts. That's bull. "We" settle on what "we" think looks the best, and in many cases, sells.
Get out of the rut and shake things up baby! You are an expressionist of your times.
And those computer junkies get out of PhotoShop and shutdown. Get your hands dirty with pencils or pastels. Wipe some paint or ink around a textured background and you will feel it.
This how we explore. It's an adventure and it is available to you, so go for it.
Plus you will better appreciate others using these media for their expression.
Have you settled into a style or media that expresses you?
Are you reproducing the same idea over and over and over again?
Then stretch yourself.
Start your next project with a different media.
If you normally are a painter, use pottery.
If you are a potter, try photography.
This will take you out of your comfort zone.
New materials will create a new approach and ultimately new ideas.
Many of us have used different media before, but have settled on what "we" feel we can best capture our thoughts. That's bull. "We" settle on what "we" think looks the best, and in many cases, sells.
Get out of the rut and shake things up baby! You are an expressionist of your times.
And those computer junkies get out of PhotoShop and shutdown. Get your hands dirty with pencils or pastels. Wipe some paint or ink around a textured background and you will feel it.
This how we explore. It's an adventure and it is available to you, so go for it.
Plus you will better appreciate others using these media for their expression.
Learn Art 101
The next time you go to the museum or an art gallery or exhibition, learn from what you see.
Many of us go to shows, wisp by pieces of time and effort, to evaluate with our limited knowledge, speculate the reason for the expression, and personalize an opinion on what art is.
Here is a recommendation: Stop and look at the painting or pot or weaving or drawing or photo with unabashed freshness.
Someone had the thought, desire and motivation to create and present it to you.
Now that you have stopped, examine the color, texture, contrast, angles, shapes….
If you can find the creator, ask some questions about the feeling inspiring it's creation. Every piece has a story.
You will come away from the experience much richer.
Many of us go to shows, wisp by pieces of time and effort, to evaluate with our limited knowledge, speculate the reason for the expression, and personalize an opinion on what art is.
Here is a recommendation: Stop and look at the painting or pot or weaving or drawing or photo with unabashed freshness.
Someone had the thought, desire and motivation to create and present it to you.
Now that you have stopped, examine the color, texture, contrast, angles, shapes….
If you can find the creator, ask some questions about the feeling inspiring it's creation. Every piece has a story.
You will come away from the experience much richer.
Monday, March 8, 2010
Consumption on Demand
The human spirit is rewarded by consumption. Food, and drink, and pleasure… It all fills an inner need in our being.
To realize and profit on this basic need, the artist must create a need or desire for the art.
When a sporting event like the Olympics are in the front of mind, present illustrations or paintings that mimic what the audience has been viewing on television.
If the mood is going to vampires or wizards, show mystical works.
If the hot topic is fashion, then select colors to compliment.
This may sound like “commercial art”, but all artists need to sell their wares to survive, and yes, that is a commercial effort.
So realize the human spirit and create your visions to accommodate your ideas and be welcomed by the new visitor to your view of the world.
To realize and profit on this basic need, the artist must create a need or desire for the art.
When a sporting event like the Olympics are in the front of mind, present illustrations or paintings that mimic what the audience has been viewing on television.
If the mood is going to vampires or wizards, show mystical works.
If the hot topic is fashion, then select colors to compliment.
This may sound like “commercial art”, but all artists need to sell their wares to survive, and yes, that is a commercial effort.
So realize the human spirit and create your visions to accommodate your ideas and be welcomed by the new visitor to your view of the world.
Venue (Presentation Part 2)
When an artist or writer or any creative type is about to present their interpretation of their ideas to the public, must realize where the presentation will take place.
Here is an example.
The Virginia Wine Expo is a great venue to show examples of your creative ideas, but think about whom your audience is.
The people in the room have come to sample wine. They are showing their culture and taste.
So your presentation to this crowd must match their expectations.
Painting of wine glasses or bottles will fit the venue, but the tipsy customer must buy and carry the art that they had not prepared acquire.
In the interactive world, would it be better to show a slideshow of ideas on a computer screen. This method allows the viewer to select from a variety of ideas and even match with a room color or decor scheme.
If a sample is necessary to show the texture or style, bring it along, but show samples without carrying huge works.
Also remember the nature of the viewer.
If it is an Art in the Park venue, bring simple easy to carry samples of work, tourist attractions, sell on the story and move the product.
If it is a Wine Expo prepare to become an artist to be commissioned for future works.
And dress appropriately.
Here is an example.
The Virginia Wine Expo is a great venue to show examples of your creative ideas, but think about whom your audience is.
The people in the room have come to sample wine. They are showing their culture and taste.
So your presentation to this crowd must match their expectations.
Painting of wine glasses or bottles will fit the venue, but the tipsy customer must buy and carry the art that they had not prepared acquire.
In the interactive world, would it be better to show a slideshow of ideas on a computer screen. This method allows the viewer to select from a variety of ideas and even match with a room color or decor scheme.
If a sample is necessary to show the texture or style, bring it along, but show samples without carrying huge works.
Also remember the nature of the viewer.
If it is an Art in the Park venue, bring simple easy to carry samples of work, tourist attractions, sell on the story and move the product.
If it is a Wine Expo prepare to become an artist to be commissioned for future works.
And dress appropriately.
Brain Storm
The effort to create an idea usually requires several observations and input.
Gather a bunch of objective people in a quiet room and prognosticate an idea.
This used to be called creating a “Think tank”, but in reality it is getting different perspectives on the same problem.
Research and Development was the corporate development for a solution.
The goal is to come up with a solution to a problem.
Committees or commissions or focus groups can be formed, but the real objective of new ideas must be free spirited no-holds-barred, throw-it-on-the-table, out-of-the box, thoughts and wishes.
New ideas cannot be blocked by corporate politics or personal objectives.
Take a goal, wipe the board clean, and let the thoughts flow. There are no wrong views.
This process can take many turns and several days to complete, but if openly realized, new and possible profitable ideas can be discussed and details formulated.
Gather a bunch of objective people in a quiet room and prognosticate an idea.
This used to be called creating a “Think tank”, but in reality it is getting different perspectives on the same problem.
Research and Development was the corporate development for a solution.
The goal is to come up with a solution to a problem.
Committees or commissions or focus groups can be formed, but the real objective of new ideas must be free spirited no-holds-barred, throw-it-on-the-table, out-of-the box, thoughts and wishes.
New ideas cannot be blocked by corporate politics or personal objectives.
Take a goal, wipe the board clean, and let the thoughts flow. There are no wrong views.
This process can take many turns and several days to complete, but if openly realized, new and possible profitable ideas can be discussed and details formulated.
Sunday, March 7, 2010
Type
Words, sentences, and thoughts are pecked out on the keyboard, but how they are viewed relates the story.
Today there are millions of type fonts available for the taking. Weird shapes for expression, variations of old familiar styles, and readable favorites.
Type design used to be a painstaking effort to create. After the Stone Age, and the hot metal age with it’s limited range of characters and styles, came cold type or computer design.
Many fonts were copyrighted and their manufactures fought the new wave of designers creating new type fonts based on years of drawing on paper with ink and pen and t-squares and triangles and French curves.
Arial, Futura, Palatina, Century Schoolbook challenged names like Helvetica, Times Roman, and Bodoni, and even Goudy brought new styles using press type rub on letters. The variety increased by imagination and the ease of slight changes in the width or height or italic made a new font.
Techniques, such as kerning, baseline shift, or leading fell by the way as the ease of the computer moving and shifting type to the eye of the typist.
An entire industry was overcome by technology.
Today there are millions of type fonts available for the taking. Weird shapes for expression, variations of old familiar styles, and readable favorites.
Type design used to be a painstaking effort to create. After the Stone Age, and the hot metal age with it’s limited range of characters and styles, came cold type or computer design.
Many fonts were copyrighted and their manufactures fought the new wave of designers creating new type fonts based on years of drawing on paper with ink and pen and t-squares and triangles and French curves.
Arial, Futura, Palatina, Century Schoolbook challenged names like Helvetica, Times Roman, and Bodoni, and even Goudy brought new styles using press type rub on letters. The variety increased by imagination and the ease of slight changes in the width or height or italic made a new font.
Techniques, such as kerning, baseline shift, or leading fell by the way as the ease of the computer moving and shifting type to the eye of the typist.
An entire industry was overcome by technology.
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