3 x 4 feet Acrylic on Canvas
Often you're asked to critique beginning work of aspiring artists. This is something, as a mentor, that I like to do. There is always something good to see in the work, something to encourage. Also you need to give a critical analysis of the work to show areas of improvement. This recently was a topic on the
Robert Genn website. Robert Genn is a well respected artist, who is the head of an online art community called Painter's Keys. As he discusses, at times people are really interested in the business side of art. They see people selling art and think that might be a great way to make a living. But they are not willing to put the time and effort into developing their work. Their work is not yet ready to present to a wider audience.
I had the same discussion with a group of my fellow artists the other day. They are potters. In order to a fantastic potter you have to spin a lot of pots. You can use the wheel to create something that might be useable, but what will set your work apart is artistry and aesthetics of the craft. That only comes with experience and knowledge. Hands in the clay so to speak. The same is true of painting. There is craft and skill in all types of painting. That is learnt through painting a lot of pictures.
It seems like a lot of people dismiss this skill and knowledge. They want to be self taught. For some reason that seems to be valued higher than those who went to school and studied art. Yet we wouldn't trust that attitude in other professions. Its laughable to have a self taught doctor to operate on us, or a self taught lawyer to represent us in court.
In the past art knowledge was acquired through guilds. Young boys apprenticed in studios when they were very young. They learnt the craft of art through the hands of the master. Presently receiving an art education, through the teaching of an experienced artist, is the counterpart. They will be able to teach you how to critically view your painting. They will guide you to ask the bigger questions about creating art. They will show you it really isn't about the product that you end up with, but the process of creating art.
Often when people profess to be self taught they are not taught at all. They don't read about art. They don't view art. They are unaware of the different techniques that are available when creating their work. They don't know about art history. They haven't studied about colour and so are unaware of colour harmonies and contrasts that can enhance the message they want to present in thier artwork. They do not have a social context for their work. Their thinking is limited and so often their work reaches a plateau that can't be surpassed. The only way to overcome this hurtle is to be taught. It that means self directed, and you have the discipline for that, then good for you. For most of us that means seeking out a program or mentor who will stretch us and invite us to a new way of thinking.
