Hey where are the paintings?

[shant...@aol.com]

I believe most artists struggle. They can't seem to get down their
vision of what they want or they don't know what they want, (they'll
know it, if they see it). I think this struggle is part of the process.
It's too bad because of this constant push/ pull it sometimes seems
not to be worth the effort. It's the reason some people give up
doing their art. Also, I see people giving up their art because they
don't have enough buyers. Buyers equate "good artist". No buyers
(not counting family and friends) means not a good artist. This
definitely is not the case.
We live in an age when people will buy a Persian rug for their
dining area, cover their sofa in silks, and import tiles from Italy to
decorate their home tastefully and expensively, yet these same people
will have pictures of art rather original art on every wall in their
house. They will pay more for a custom frame and mat then for an
original piece of art. Go into any model home these days, same thing,
prints everywhere. Most from 18th and 19 th century artists. I guess
they feel pretty good or safe rather, that this art cannot be denied as
good art. It has stood the test of time. The truth is... I think
people don't trust their own judgment when it comes to choosing art.
They need someone to tell them what good art is. But who? Do you trust
Gallery owners? Especially when they are getting 50% of the profits?
Do you trust your own decorator who is going to choose a piece of art
because it matches a sofa? You have to admit; even I may not pay some
of the high prices for some art, especially when it appears to have
been painted with a stick and a rag. People don't like to be taken
advantage of and they don't like to admit they don't "know" art. The
other problem is a simple one, people don't appreciate original art in
the US as much as in many other cultures around the globe. Now as in
the past, Art was OK as long as it was something to do as a hobby but
not as a career. It isn't real work. We have a very strong work ethic
in this county and some parents often put creativity in the back seat
while encouraging productive hard work, left brain thinking.
So, if we don't buy original art and we encourage our kids to do
anything but become artists, and we don't support the arts in schools
what we are we saying?
Its no wonder today's artists may feel as though it isn't worth the
effort, that the struggle to produce good art is just that, a struggle.
As an artist I'll remind you, of a few important things.

1. Its takes a very long time to become proficient at something as
complex as art. Be a lifelong student; don't plan to figure it all
out right now. It really is about the journey not the destination.

2. Don't take the advice from lay people.

3. You will set yourself up for a big fall if you measure yourself as
an artist by sales. Do whatever you enjoy doing, even if no one buys
it. Hey, it's cheaper than therapy.