I disagree also with your president. Every one interprets what they see and create in their own way. If not it wouldn't be art at all. A song sung by different artists is still art, no matter the delivery. I can use the same glass beads as another, but my creations are still art. No one can interpret a poem correctly but the original writer. It's all original art. Unless, of course, you scanned one and then reproduced it on a copier!!! Don't let this person squash your belief in your self or the others in your group. You are all artist. Good luck.
I strive for originality in my work, and it's extremely important to me. However, any work that arises from a personal painting style, individual viewpoint, inventive use of media or a combination of the three is very original, in my opinion. In my grasp of visual language, "subject matter" means the form, mark-making, structure and elemental dominance of the piece of art. The model, pose and environment from which the artist is using to abstract or depict from is the "object matter", which, in my opinion, really doesn't come into play when judging originality.
I feel that I have invented a type of mark-making that I have come to call "Pixel Impressionism" These marks took 20+ years to come about, but I was not searching for them, I was not seeking originality. Rather, my intention has always been to paint honestly, directly and with purpose. I use the word "Honesty" to mean that the mark-making arises from my reaction to the "object matter" that I am abstracting from; I'm NOT trying to make paintings that look like contemporary art. Specifically, I use video reference of people in mostion, so the "honest and true path" eventually led me to create a new mark that uses scan lines and pixels as subject matter.
"Directly" means to me that every mark that I put on the canvas is conscious; there's no "coloring in" or rendering; the marks are there to work with each other in an abstract patter, even though my art is representational. "With Purpose" means that my thoughts are converted into marks with 0% distortion; each mark conveys my emotional and intellectual reaction to the object that I am painting. This requires focus during the painting process and the development of the ability to "stop" a painting at its peak of visual dynamism.
To check out examples of my work, please go to http://www.WarrenKeating.com.
I completley agree with you Georgiegirl. What would the league president say about the fact that Picasso participated in figure drawing groups? I don't think she would say his drawings / paintings are not originals.
@redredpres - You bring up an interesting point about photos that are projected, then traced. However, that is another slippery slope argument, even the masters traced images with something called a camera obscura.
Modern Wallz Contemporary art canvas prints for your wall.
Fresh Artz Submit your art to the free online gallery and gain exposure.
I have never read anything more ridiculous. I paint with a similar group and no two paintings look at all like each other. We all have our own styles, even if their might be some similarities.
Even if you do have a tutor, unless you are following a how to do it example to the letter, it is still original work in my opinion.
People define "originality" to fit their own agendas. Those who want to derive their work from other sources will argue that their work is "different" thus original. Those who seek the "brand new" can define the word to be very exclusive. We also tend to put a subjective value on the word "art," is if were something above. There is bad art and there is good art, but it is still art, just as a crappy novel is still a novel. The fact that it can be labeled "art" does not elevate it. Let us not get caught up in labels. "A rose by any other name . . ."
An art competition is like a baseball game. You have a defined set of rules that you need to obey to be allowed in: a certain kind of ball, a particular kind of bat. If you come to the game insisting on using a beach ball or a hockey stick they don't let you play. If you don't agree that the strike zone is what the umpire says it is, tough. You're still out if he calls three strikes on you. If you want to be an artist, you can't let yourself get too wrapped up in that game because it's a control device that more often impedes your progress as an artist than it encourages it. Often, if the judge likes it, you're doing something wrong.
Robert Henri: "Throughout the whole history of art, committees and juries, whoever composed them, have failded to pick winners. . . . To cite one great instance. Take the history of art in France. Practically every artist who today stands a glory to French art was rejected an repudiated by the committees and juries . . .
" To award prizes is to attempt to control the course of another man's work. It is a bid to have him do what you will approve."
Art competitions are fun .. . . if you like the playing the game and want to play by the rules.
Hey there, Georgiegirl ! — If nothing else, your question woke us all up. This is an excellent exchange of thought. The amazing thing is that essentially most of us are pretty much in agreement.
www.paulsullivanstudio.com
Dear Bill, Don't be sorry! Humour is definitely the one thing missing in the visual arts these days. And yours cracked me up.
(The only problem with giggling while you paint though is that your straight edges aren't straight anymore!) Bernard
EASEL1 - Amen - on both your 'original' and 'humour' comments
It sounds to me like your art league president is an old fuddy-duddy. Tell him/her to get their ostrich head out of the hole in the ground. I am sorry for offending anyone, but this just irks me in the wrong way. This generic rule of not being able to enter art that was created under the arm of a teacher in a workshop is plain and simple knowledge. I`ve read it a thousand times when entering shows. I don`t do workshops, so I don`t worry about it. To misconstrue that regulation and not allow any work to be entered if it was created in an open group is rigid, ignorant and contrite. Sounds like people need to vote for a new president.
I was just painting in a large group last weekend during an open figure studio. There was not a teacher, but there were some highly accomplished artists there. I walked around and saw 25 different interpretations of this figure. It was incredible to see all the talent and original representations of the model. There were different styles, colors, brushwork and takes on the model. Some did just her head, others did the whole body. No two were alike. I do not see artists trying to copy each other but we did share little tricks and tips. That`s okay, we are all trying to grow. There was one artist who was teaching a student there, but his work was totally different than hers. We are creating original art because we have an original style.
You didn't photograph someone`s work and take it home, project it on the wall and paint it stroke for stroke. That`s not very original, but it is still your original of an original. Enough said.
comment, my name is misty gentry, 33 i'm a dsiabeled artist, i love to paint n draw i do use photographs, from places i've been . photos people have taking for me. no two paintings are exactly a like, each artist sees the same subjects differently, yes i'm currently taking classes when i can, i'm no longer attending college due to my health. my favorite medium is oils. i do mixed media acyrlic n oils depending on subject matter. my teacher diane edwards, has taught me so much in group settings, even though we may be doing same subject matter, each one comes out differntly, she may have 15 students in each class. she teaches out side of College.
i try to learn from every angle that i can think of, even when i'm not able to attending classes. my facebook page is blueladyart i have some of my art posted on the page no web site., some are orginals some we have done in class. i learn from two different angles, makes it more intresting n challenging. i like a challenge.
. misty gentry,
ms/ark
I believe you need a new art league or art league president. All art created from life like this is original. Show your work with another art league or gallery - this woman is an impediment to the success of your group.
Well, I have sympathy for you situation and agree with you. Now... would Michelangelo be able to meet this same criteria? Now, while he may not have had an instrutor standing over him, he didn't personally complete a lot of his work start to finish. He created the cartoons for the Sistine Chapel but others did much of the grunt work. The same is true of his sculpture. And in some cases his work was obviously influenced by previous master's work. Same is true of many of the "old masters." Then too...sometimes he and others had patrons directing their work. Was Michelangelo's original work?
I believe your president is wrong and you all are right. Fight it out and don't give up.
Time to replace the Art League President! Every thing that is created by you; even if as you say a plein air landscape or poorly done doodling or even painted with your feet ... is original work of art. Your President may have 'other' reasons for stating she will not accept the work because it is generated in 'the co-op studio' or 'class' work. She is incorrect in stating it is not original art. To be fair...ask for better clarification, especially about "the leagues rules" before your group sends this controling person out the studio door. Best of Luck... enjoy your creations.
I agree that art is also the artists' perspective of the subject matter, not to mention the artist's particular style of portrayal along with their use of the medium, Therefore, is an original whether they like it or not... ,same as a group of plein air landscape painting. Plus, we all see, paint or draw in our own style, just like our signature… The only way that it is not an original is when we tranfer a copy of an original...
Copyright (C) 2012 Interweave Press, LLCUse of this site signifies your agreement to the Terms and Privacy Policy, updated March 2007
