ART: Painting to please (and sell to) others..

[RolandKoch]

I have been pondering an 'artist's motivation' problem:

When we create a work of art,
do we do it to please our own heart,
or is it better to try and please others?

**Are we being selfish if we create works without a thought to the possible
reaction of viewers?

**And what if our art is inspired by how we perceive others will respond to
it? Are we being thus untrue to ourselves?

Any comments will be appreciated. I must sort this out.
Thanks
Roland Koch
http://www.xlab.co.za

[Niek Sprakel]

On Tue, 3 Apr 2001 06:33:23 +0200, "RolandKoch" <rol...@netactive.co.za> typed:

>I have been pondering an 'artist's motivation' problem:
>
>When we create a work of art,
>do we do it to please our own heart,
>or is it better to try and please others?

Isn't this decided by practical issues rather than theoretical principles?
If you have too much money for instance, you don't have to worry whether your
work will sell. In that case you are relatively free to explore any preferred
artistic direction.

>
>**Are we being selfish if we create works without a thought to the possible
>reaction of viewers?
>
>**And what if our art is inspired by how we perceive others will respond to
>it? Are we being thus untrue to ourselves?

Why would you create art in the first place? Is it just an efficient way to
waste your time or can art improve your life in some respect?
I think creation and appreciation are opposite sides of the same coin like
synthesis and analysis (or self and other for that matter).