Monday, July 12, 2010
Ay caramba lots of questions and never any answers.... just something to think about.
When we develop our different and unique styles as artists, we grow to become accustomed to our painting techniques and the place, objects, people, and things we choose to paint. These things become our habits. But do we ever get tired of painting the same things over and over again, the same style over and over again, using the same colors, the same brushes....etc. We take and learn new techniques but we only add to what we are used to. Do some of you wish to paint differently? With a different personality? With a different mindset? Many artists such as Picasso and Matisse painted still lifes, portraits, then switched to paint abstractly. Will we ever be satisfied with our art and the way we paint? I know that we have to brand ourselves with our styles so that our viewers can recognize us but as we get older will we get too comfortable in our skin or maybe even bored? Are we even allowed (by our minds) to switch into something new? Is inspiration our only fuel? How do we truly inspire ourselves to keep going?
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Big questions indeed. Lots to think about here. I certainly feel that if you get bored doing the same thing over and over then the audience will get bored also. Shifts dont have to be dramatic reinventions but I think they happen, often unexpectedly at various times in our lives alongside a general and continuous tweaking and improving that happens through our daily practice. The things that cause the greatest changes in my work are driven by content/ subject rather than by media or style. When I address new content/ subject matter/ environments I often find that my work takes a different turn, my colour palette shifts or my spatial concepts change as a response to the subject. I shall think about this some more.
ReplyDeleteMy thoughts...
ReplyDeleteOddly enough, I used to think about how I should try painting with ONE personality and mindset, but recently I have been embracing the fact that every piece of mine is completely different.
One of the reasons I feel my art wasn't well received by the teachers and staff at the Academy was because my work & style changed according to my mood. I feel strongly about using different mediums to express different feelings. During college years, teachers couldn't see any relation between my moody low-brow style acrylic paintings, realistic watercolors, childish ink drawings, and digital work. But now, my work overall is pretty recognizable as being my own, especially for only being out of school for 3 1/2 years.
Ultimately, inspiration for me is the evolution of myself. I also think that questioning the things we do, such as you have here, brings more purpose to our work. So I am totally open to more questions! :)
I definitely agree with Diana that questioning the habits and comfortableness of things we do is a big part of growing.
ReplyDeleteI also think looking at others' work as well as experimenting helps.
I like the way that I paint now, I feel really happy with the outcomes of my paintings. However, I know and hope that I will keep growing and change my style. I want it to evolve and move and drift around to a few new places. I want to surprise myself with where my art takes me and where I take it.
For me, thinking about where I want my art to go and then studying things to take it there help inspire me too.
I think knowing that I don't have anything else I want to do with my life besides paint is what keeps me going.
I am less worried (at this point any way) about the audiences reactions to any changes in my work than I am with making sure I keep expanding and broadening my work. But then again, I am still at the beginning.