How do you become an artist?

percepts said:
Come on guys you know its just a lifestyle choice. Haven't you noticed how many people metamorphose into a "fine art photographer" the day after they take their pension.
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percepts, one thing is joking, and a very different one talking seriously about how a person ends up being a real artist... Some of them have been honored in life, but a few of them have not, and were respected after death, so art has no real relation with public opinion...

I've heard and read many real artists' opinion regarding what they do: they use to say that their art was not a life choice, but a need so strong and out of their control as to put any other value below their art, and sometimes they even speak of being slaves to their art: they could never do any other thing with their lives even when they have wanted to, or even talk about art for them as a tyranny; although some of them enjoy success, inner suffering has always been related to art that transcends centuries...

Cheers,

Juan
 
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Juan Valdenebro said:
percepts, one thing is joking, and a very different one talking seriously about how a person ends up being a real artist... Some of them have been honored in life, but a few of them have not, and were respected after death, so art has no real relation with public opinion...

I've heard and read many real artists' opinion regarding what they do: they use to say that their art was not a life choice, but a need so strong and out of their control as to put any other value below their art, and sometimes they even speak of being slaves to their art: they could never do any other thing with their lives even when they have wanted to, or even talk about art for them as a tyranny; although some of them enjoy success, inner suffering has always been related to art that transcends centuries...

Cheers,

Juan
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Juan, all good points. Our own here on RFF can relate to that. I know Richard did and stated so many times before his passing.

How many times does a photographer find himself either not happy with his results and strives to make it better, or, more often than not, just HAS to treat the image-making in a certain way. I know of many who just HAVE to express themselves with photography. Whether anyone ever sees it or calls it art makes no difference. It is a matter of the heart...it is in his/her soul.:angel:
 
Have connection with art institutions, education within and contact with mainstream art world. Otherwise roughly described as Outsider artist, not accepted by the mainstream art world and generally not respected fully by it. Eg. Jack Vettriano.
 
robklurfield said:
if you want to make this discussion complicated, contentious and endless, lets start by asking: what is art?

when everyone has settled on a single definition, give me a holler and I'll rejoin this discussion already in progress.

if you make art, by definition, you are an artist. right? so, what is art?

as Orson Welles asks in F for Fake, "It is pretty, but is it art?" the movie is a great charade within a charade within a charade. it asks, but doesn't exactly answer the question of what is art. In the movie, one of the great art fakes of all times is depicted as creating fake Picassos and Modiglianis. Some of his work, and that of the father of the actress who is central to film, Oya Kodar (sp?), have works signed with the names of others passed off and hung in museums as if they were authentic. Are they art? If curators and other "experts" have opined that fake Rembrandts and Picasso are genuine, does that make them art?
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What you say is not really about 'art' but money and deceit.
 
You beat me to it! Everyone knows that an all black outfit is not fancy dress but uniform for real artists. Black T shirts with black jeans is also OK, even if you look ridiculous... because as an artist, you make the rules. People also need to spot you in a crowd (like at openings) and know not to ask sensible questions as they would any normal person.

I also recommend a ridiculous bicycle. A Penny Farthing would be ideal, but due to the risk of serious injury to the untrained, a beaten up old bicycle from the 60s with bent mud guards and at least 50 different layers of worn through paint (all apart from the original must be of conventional paint applied with a large paint brush as if painting a house). This if for when the Mercedes G Wagon would be impractical or undesirable.

Stop eating. You cannot be built and be a real artist as an emaciated frame is evidence of your suffering. Having actual muscles (beyond those required to operate the above bicycle, G-Wagon power steering, or a paint brush) is inconceivable.

Cease all efforts at financial control. You must spend money as if you have no concept of the difference between a dime and a $100 bill. Blowing your month's food allowance on something ridiculous for your flat (that you hate a week later) and then starving all week is perfectly rational stuff for a real artist.

Don't plan anything and always be late. Even if it matters.

Spend most of your time in your own world. Make people realise that normal conversation is tantamout to expecting a coherent chat with a fish in a desert... that they are dragging you kicking and screaming back from the fascinating place your liberated (yet tortured) mind inhabits.

A fixation with death (preferably your own) is optional.

Never be comprehensible or predictable to others, so never do any of the above.

Rgds





Steve M. said:
Buy a beret and dress in black. That should do it.
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Juan Valdenebro said:
percepts, one thing is joking, and a very different one talking seriously about how a person ends up being a real artist... Some of them have been honored in life, but a few of them have not, and were respected after death, so art has no real relation with public opinion...

I've heard and read many real artists' opinion regarding what they do: they use to say that their art was not a life choice, but a need so strong and out of their control as to put any other value below their art, and sometimes they even speak of being slaves to their art: they could never do any other thing with their lives even when they have wanted to, or even talk about art for them as a tyranny; although some of them enjoy success, inner suffering has always been related to art that transcends centuries...

Cheers,

Juan
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The point is that it has become fashionable for a lot photographers to call themselves "Fine Art Photographer". I beleive the reason is becuase of the web. When people decide they must hve a website to show their images they look to see what everyone else is doing. What they see is some people calling themselves "fine art photographer" and consider their work to be of a similar vain so they call themselves fine art photographer too. It has nothing to do with art and all to do with wanting to be in the club. Of course that doesn't apply to serious artists but the problem is that for evry serious artist there are a 100 who are just jumping on the wagon as it passes by. That's unfortunate for the serious artists. You better just hope that the public can tell the difference and aren't just looking for some pretty wall decor to brighten up their living space if you want to be taken seriously.
On the other hand you could just call yourself "photographer" and then YOU don't have to intellectualise what you do. You can leave that solely to the discretion of the viewer/purchaser.
 
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I would agree. Leave it up to the viewer. Fine Art anything, is just a pinned note, to make acceptable something that may otherwise, not be so.
 
All of you guys are artist! just some of you just don't realize it yet. Might be some will never come to the realization. There are some great female artist here too! Here is one of my favorites. http://www.flickr.com/photos/helenartemishill/ Only similarities we have is in sharing the same last name but that's where it ends. Helen is way out of my league therefore I'm only a snapshot artist!🙂
 
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