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Who is the best artist in the world?

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BeethovensThird

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Aug 22, 2000, 3:00:00 AM8/22/00
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Who is the best artist in the world? All opinions welcome.

L.v.B.

Helle Helin

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Aug 22, 2000, 3:00:00 AM8/22/00
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As far as I can see, that is a very personal thing. The best artist in the
world for you, is the one you like the best.

HH
BeethovensThird skrev i meddelelsen
<20000822011203...@ng-fe1.aol.com>...

rob...@my-deja.com

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Aug 22, 2000, 3:00:00 AM8/22/00
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I definitely agree that art is in the eye of the beholder. I like
different artists for different reasons. Of the 'well known' painters, I
like Alice Neel for her honesty, Dali for his detail and mind tricks, da
Vinci for his beautiful perspectives and sense of proportion, Bacon for
his originality and energy, Kahlo for her intensity... O'Keeffe for what
she represents to me.....Picasso for his complexity, sense of structure
and well...lots of things...
Then there's what is 'best'? Someone who is commercially successful,
critically successful,personally inspiring or a little bit of
everything? I like Maybelle Stamper and Kay Sage's work but neither of
them is very well known.

~robin

--
robin
http://www.robinart.com


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Before you buy.

Russell Chaplin

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Aug 22, 2000, 3:00:00 AM8/22/00
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There of course questions to be asked about the culture that you come
from as a consumer of Art. What appeals to a western consumer who has
some knowledge of European based patriarchial Art might not have the
same benchmarks as say an African or Asian consumer.

Myself as a practising contempory Artist living in London would
suggest Bruce Nauman. If we are talking historical then pick your
period.

The most influential Artist this century I would suggest has been
Marcel Duchamp.

Russ.

Gordon Moat

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Aug 22, 2000, 3:00:00 AM8/22/00
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BeethovensThird wrote:

> Who is the best artist in the world? All opinions welcome.
>
> L.v.B.

The person (or persons) who started it all. Unfortunately, we do not
know this artists name. All we have left are some cave paintings and
carvings.

The ability to create art is what defines us as humans, and separates us
from other animals. It is not important who is the best, only that we
have the ability to admire.

Ciao!

Gordon Moat
Alliance Graphique Studio
<http://www.allgstudio.com>


Russell Chaplin

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Aug 23, 2000, 3:00:00 AM8/23/00
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On Tue, 22 Aug 2000 17:22:33 -0700, Gordon Moat <mo...@attglobal.net>
wrote:

Gordon
That is a very limp reply please try harder :)

John Shepard

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Aug 30, 2000, 3:00:00 AM8/30/00
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In article <39A31948...@attglobal.net>, gor...@allgstudio.com
wrote:

> BeethovensThird wrote:
>
> > Who is the best artist in the world? All opinions welcome.
> >
> > L.v.B.
>
> The person (or persons) who started it all. Unfortunately, we do not
> know this artists name. All we have left are some cave paintings and
> carvings.

That makes me wonder. What must it have been like to be alive the day
art was invented? The day someone first put an animal in sand? The day
the world's first artist realized they could depict an event that hadn't
yet happened, like tomorrow's hunt? Or even an event that would NEVER
happen?

The day someone first drew a silly animal that did not exist? And had to
explain it to the tribe, possibly using a language that didn't include
the concept of imaginary things?

The day someone figured out a picture didn't have to be something you
could see? The day someone drew a picture that meant nothing until she
said "this means loud" or "this means friendship?" The day symbolism was
invented?

> The ability to create art is what defines us as humans, and separates us
> from other animals. It is not important who is the best, only that we
> have the ability to admire.

Cats and chimps wading through paint can create art. What separates us
from other animals is the ability to sell it at auction. :-)

Seriously, art means something different to everyone. What is "best" if
you and the person next to you can't agree on what's important in art?
You value skill, the next guy values composition, the next guy just
looks for beauty, and the next guy thinks it doesn't matter whether the
art looks good so long as the artist did it from the heart. One person
may say Maxfield Parrish was the best, another may say H. R. Giger, and
another may say Jackson Pollock - and that assumes all three people only
know the names and art of "celebrities."

There's no such thing as a "best artist" any more than there is a
perfect work of art in the world.

Or perhaps we are all the world's best artist - it is our perceptions,
our minds and souls, that render the world and all art contained in it
(even the art not fashioned by humanity). We create all the art we see,
nothing is "art" until we perceive it and react to it...

Or maybe I'm sounding a bit too "artsy" for my own good, and a true
"best artist" does exist but is destined for perpetual obscurity because
the rest of humanity aren't ready for their work. :-)

Or maybe the best artist is whoever or whatever runs our dreams.

> Ciao!
>
> Gordon Moat
> Alliance Graphique Studio
> <http://www.allgstudio.com>
>

--
| John Shepard | artist, web guy, creator of stuff | sq...@flyingmice.com |
|http://flyingmice.com/squid/ Home of the Moo Bunny message board, Squid's |
| Amiga Page & Rumor Mill, lots of other weird stuff, bring a flashlight. |
| use Disclaimer::Standard; |

rob...@my-deja.com

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Aug 30, 2000, 3:00:00 AM8/30/00
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>
> Or perhaps we are all the world's best artist - it is our perceptions,
> our minds and souls, that render the world and all art contained in it
> (even the art not fashioned by humanity). We create all the art we
see,
> nothing is "art" until we perceive it and react to it...

I think our perception, understanding and emotional attachment to a
piece is what makes it art. I think it all comes back to definition: is
it best in terms of commercial, critical or personal success? I feel a
sense of accomplishment with each painting that I complete. Of course,
some of my paintings are absolutely terrible in critical and/or
commercial terms. However, I learned something in the process. I
consider some of the pieces I struggled/experimented with to be more
important to me than some of the 'easy' ones.
I think everyone sees art which either inspires, intrigues or challenges
them. I consider those artists to be my favorite artists.
Perhaps the question should be what makes a great artist?
~robin

--robin

os...@my-deja.com

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Aug 31, 2000, 3:00:00 AM8/31/00
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In article <8oj38t$agn$1...@nnrp1.deja.com>,

No true artist paints for self enjoyment--the pleasure comes from the
enjoyment of those who see the art.No true artist paints for money.The
art of a true artist comes from his/her talent's demands to paint.

Only people can critique the art work of an artist--technique is not
the issue--true artists are not architectual engineers.

Melvin Fullerton iolinc.net/luck-5 no paintings for sale.

rob...@my-deja.com

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Aug 31, 2000, 3:00:00 AM8/31/00
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Hi!
I believe that I have been misinterpreted. I did not state that we are
the world's greatest artist; I merely agreed with the post before me
that art is related to our perception. I do believe our perception and
emotional involvement play a strong role in our attachment to particular
works of art.
Although I feel the need to create, what I choose to paint is my
expression. To me, the act of putting paint on the canvas is
enjoyable(usually!). Perhaps, it's selfish, but I don't care whether
others like my paintings or not. I was merely pointing out that some of
the paintings I consider a success(meaning I learned/achieved from them)
are paintings which would be perceived by others as dismal failures. I
guess that puts me in the un-true artist category. :)
Of course, I'd rather be in the un-true painter category than the
un-true artist category! :)

I do not believe that 'artists' (or anyone else for that matter) have to
be tortured to be good although I think everyone feels tortured at
times:) I don't paint to make money but if I make money at it, cool. I
see nothing wrong with that. In my opinion, selling out is about
compromising your ideals and 'artwork' not about making money doing what
you love in the way in which you wish.

My idea of what makes a great artist is certainly not what your idea is.
I guess that's what is so difficult about asking an elusive question
such as "who is the best artist?"
just my opinion of course :)
~robin

In article <8ok7o2$oaa$1...@nnrp1.deja.com>,

--

os...@my-deja.com

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Aug 31, 2000, 3:00:00 AM8/31/00
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In article <8okirp$51h$1...@nnrp1.deja.com>,
Melvin.I wish to reply to the first 10 lines of your post only.First NO
ARTIST can critique his/her paintings--artists are notoriously bad art
critics--next the true artist doesnt paint for a popularity contest--
Van Gogh could not sell or give his paintings away during his life
time.Yet one of them sold to a Japanese for $52 million about 15 years
ago.

A true artist knows when people-strangers in sufficient numbers-admire
the artists works--I have a bust painting of an old black male that
many people have tried to buy from me for "peanuts" in several states
where I have painted;even though it is not my own personally admired
art work.(example).

I was not trying to discourage you,-merely talking with you--sometimes
it helps to have a "stranger" clear the 'fog' from one's own mental
misunderstandings of one's Goal.

Melvin Fullerton Creative Artist-who paints the visions of his mind's
eye--and is not a scenery photog or trying to be a psuedo or hobby
artist--one cannot acclaim one's self to be anything only other people
can do that--if you build a good box so be it--if not so be that to.

rob...@my-deja.com

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Aug 31, 2000, 3:00:00 AM8/31/00
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Well, Melvin...
I definitely agree that 'if you build a good box so be it-if not so be
that to.'
I guess one day I'll find out what kind of a box builder I am...Until
then, I'll keep trying :)

robin
(snip)

os...@my-deja.com

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Aug 31, 2000, 3:00:00 AM8/31/00
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In article <8okm17$8ib$1...@nnrp1.deja.com>,
One should never quit what one has a "feeling for",-one could lose
one's self by doing such things--some times for artists other than a
creative artist,-one can chose a HISTORIC artist as a role model of
style-one should be careful not to chose one of a less difficult
style;so as not to sell one's self short.It is better to be challenged.

My personal goal is an American National Museum of American Born
Artists art works-oils-waters only,-to give American artists/our
nation's culture its own true HOME/beginnings.All great nations are
identified in history by thier cultures not thier acquired wealth/
lost wealth.

If not me maybe you?The paintings in the permanent collection to be
chosen by ballots cast by visitors.I am a firm believer in Democracy.

Melvin Fullerton Artistic friend only.

P.M.

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Sep 21, 2000, 3:00:00 AM9/21/00
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Waterhouse was pretty good. So was Millais and Van Dyke. Infact Van Dyke was
incredibly skilled. Vermeer, he was good too. I liked Boucher. I also
thought Gainsborough was really good at fizzy trees. Then there was, David,
Renoir, Da Vinci, Carravagio, Alma Tadema, and lots, lots more. Pick one, I
can't.

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