Last week I took some drawings to a gallery and got some feedback. It was helpful. It was painful. It was that he could not see what I cared deeply about in the drawings I showed him. So I started thinking about what I care deeply about, and realized that I love exploring surface quality. So this week I just explored the shit out of surface quality. And here is some of what I did. It made me think about why I make art. I make art to understand something that can't be understood. I make art to do something when nothing can be done. I make art to feel something enough to heal it. I make art to make something from nothing. I make art to give something when I have nothing to give. I make art to be in this moment more fully. I make art to express the joy of living in this one moment with no idea what will happen next or what any of it means. I make art to find out what I think. I make art to make something of beauty that I hope someone else will be enriched by just a little bit. I make art to share God knows what with the world. And there are lots of other reasons I make art that I am too ashamed to admit. Anyway, I keep on making art, and I guess that's good.
12 comments:
I'm so inspired by all you share- both the art AND the words. Thank you for sharing this- I needed to read this today. If someone whose work I admire so very much struggles from time to time, then I know it's something we all are faced with.
You just keep exploring the shit out of things my friend. xoxo.
This is when I remember why I blog! Thanks to both of you.
hey... well, well, well, talk about putting yourself naked on a public square... :) good for you! you were brave to go get feeback and that alone deserves credit! one cant expect everyone to respond to one's work and that 's totally fine.. that was only one person! for whatever reason you make art, just keep making it, it speaks for itself.. so keep going my friend, As "they" say, its the journey that matters..
Make art you can live with (because chances are you will be living with it). That's been one of my mottos over the years. Go the extra mile just for your self.
Find another gallery too! It's just business; move on :)))
It's so good to get honest feedback ... it's the only way we can see our work as others do. Those are hard moments to bear. And as you know by now, just keep making art the way you need to and want to as that is what makes the best art in the entire world ... You work is unique, beautiful, astounding, inspiring, powerful, calming, transporting ...
Thank you all so very much! All true..I will return to the studio and make the art I want to make. Onward...and with wonderful friends to help me stay on track.
To be rejected is bad. But you must not take it personally. This is often easier said than done. Perhaps it is not his taste, perhaps he can not see it. But you can not be mislead, even if that is not always easy.
Gallery owners often follow even just salable art trends .....
You do what you must do, because you have to do it. It's like jumping over a large puddle jump and move on.
I like your new work (and the old anyway).
Ha ha ha! He could not see what you cared deeply about? May be that was not what your drawings were about. Tell me - could you tell what Calder cared deeply about if you saw one of his mobiles? Could you tell what Kathryn cares deeply about if you just see one of her foreclosure quilts? Most conceptual art does not show what it cares deeply about.. so why did you care so much about this mans opinion? You have a beautiful sense of colour and balance and rhytm.. that should be more than enough.
this list of reasons makes me want to cheer! actually, it's making me cheer as i type. hooray for you.
I love this blog post. I will bookmark it and refer back to it when I find it difficult to pick up the brush. So many great reasons to create art. All galleries are very different in their specialties. So be prepared to go to several before you make a valuable connection. Personally, I haven't had the guts to put myself out there yet. Thanks for the inspiration.
I am just so touched by the support you all have given me! Thank you from my heart. I needed all these words of wisdom and comfort. It's true that as artists (as anybody!) we have to get out there no matter what others think. At the end of the day it's what we think...isn't it? XOXO
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