Mickey Nice 05 Jan 2007

There two sure ways to find out if you are a true artist. The first way is to take your art and leave on the curb for about three days before trash day. If it's still there on trash day and no one has taken it let the trash people take it because it's most likely just trash anyway.

The second way would be to donate some of your art to Goodwill or St Vincent DePaul's. If people tend to buy it then you are a very fine artist indeed, if not, and the work stays on the shelf or walls for months, well, you know.

Mickey

Carson Collins 06 Jan 2007

Mickey, I'm confused. Am I a "true artist" if somebody picks up my painting from the curb, or am I a "true artist" if it stays there until the trash men pick it up? Just a question...

Mickey Nice 06 Jan 2007

Carson,

Many years ago a professor and friend of mine was keeping much of his work, large paintings and sculpture, in various storage sites. He finally had to make room and hauled much of his art to the trash. On trash day he and I waited to see what would happen when the trash removers came. To our wonderful surprise they stuffed as much of his work as they could into the cab of the truck for themselves. True story. He was truly a a true artist, at least in their eyes.

Mickey

Carson Collins 06 Jan 2007

Yeah but I prefer it if the art lovers have a little bit of money to spend. After all, I have to pay my rent as well. I get about 12 fan letters to one person who's willing to spend so much as $35 for a signed poster...

Marianna Di Santo 08 Jan 2007

I think what makes someone an artist is just to try to turn a feeling, something untouchable, into something that is real and that can show that feeling" i always tried to do that when i have been drawing...i think that you don't have to be esclusively in the mood to draw, well at least for me it doesn't work always that way...and the best inspiration came at night, it's a perfect time to think.

Lea-Anne Cunningham 08 Jan 2007

is there even such thing as a "true" artist. Art is very subjective, and what people feel translate into their art. I think mood determines the piece, but not weither your an artist or not.

Besides In my opinon an artist is someone who can step back from their work and actually critique it- with out just saying they don't like it :)

Cheryl Singleterry 08 Jan 2007

I do that too... if I create too much, I have to recover for a couple days and decide on something else to do... but I don't feel I'm any less of an artist, you have to dedicate yourself to GREAT art, not be able just to throw something together and call it art, at the drop of a hat... I feel that a TRUE artist believes in what they do, and that belief should never be turned off... Dedication and time, and true talent makes a true artist. Great post though! :-)

lilia estrada 08 Jan 2007

Hello Carson,,,,this is Lilia the switch on switch off artist...I have a complete passion for art. I do "not" make the excuse that I have not time to create. You see when there is a will there is always a way...I can tell you I have created so much art even being a single parent of three boys plus I have a full time job at a law office and I teach a confirmation class at our church on Sunday....I have trained my mind so that I am able to create at a given moment. I work in serveral mediums and love inventing new ways to work with mediums. I was recently filmed for a national show that will air sometime this year that shows me working with serveral mediums....My specialty is acrylics in which I have created my own style....Also my work does not depict my mood but I do beleive it depicts my character...I believe all have a creative seed within but need to work on helping it bud. My seed just happens to a "Mustard seed" ... I also believe all can train their brain to create no matter their mood...

Carson Collins 08 Jan 2007

"I have trained my mind so that I am able to create at a given moment."

Yes but if you'll forgive me for being completely honest? Your work (anyhow what I've seen so far) is quite formulaic.

I can come up with a good way to build a prop or paint a backdrop - in any given style or period - on a moment's notice, given a tiny budget. No problem.

What I'm talking about is doing really GOOD work, according to MY standards... It's just not that easy. It takes time, and thought. One has to suffer for each one. And it shows.

Maybe not to you, but it shows.

Not everyone gets it. It's not for everyone.

lilia estrada 09 Jan 2007

Who am I to judge my own work Carson,,,Maybe the three times my work was displayed at the Dallas Museum of Art here in Dallas, or maybe when they Patricia Meadows (Meadows Foundation and biggest philantropist of Art here in Dallas) became a collector of my work , and "nternational" known artist John Nieto ( look him up ) bought my work they were not realy looking for what you may judge as "Good Work"???? :) perhaps you are an expert at judging work???? oh yes and perhaps when the National show chose me to interview and do a story of my work it was because it was just okay not Good???Or perhaps when my work was featured on "Hispanic" (national magazine) I could keep going but you get the point Please do not judge on your stardards and yes my work is formulatic but guess what I myself (inlike many artist ) came up with the formula not copied it from others....By the way is that the only medium you work in???? Also my work comes from Joy and pleasure not Pain as you suggest it should cost....which thakfully the many, many , many people who have purchased my work Love knowing..

Marty Yokawonis 09 Jan 2007

I work slowly so I am definitely not someone who can "crank it out" however lilli I have to say that you do have a good point. I would call it art as a discipline. For instance there is a big movement going on called daily paintings or painting a day and they actually discipline themselves to work every day on painting. I have to say that I am so slow as I develop an image because I do a lot of looking and dreaming as I paint. But I know some really fine artist who create amazing works - in one day - even oils. Karen Jurick, Peter Yesis, Duane Keiser, Neil Hollingsworth, just a few of the daily painter aficianados I have seen. There are hundreds more. The cool thing is that you develop new creative muscles the more you discipline yourself to practice daily. One of my 2007 goals is to try and paint consistently and work up to daily maybe even finishing something in one day (which would be a miracle in itself for me.)

Marty Yokawonis 09 Jan 2007

I also have to say that I see Carson's POV too. For most of my life creating was a real struggle because creating an image was wrapped up in my heart mind soul and spirit and if the image didn't succeed then I failed as well. It was absolutely an, "agony and ecstasy" type of environment internally. I finally overcame the torment when I turned to watercolors. I don't know why but watercolor painting forced me to relate to creativity differently. I couldn't manipulate the medium as much so I had to study color theory extensively which forced me to understand and relate more positively to paint. Because WC is transparent the properties of each pigment had to be clearly understood or it all turned to mud. My brush was a very sensitive mark maker. I had to consider each stroke which slowed me down and helped me to calm down while creating. My brush became part of my arm. Acrylics or oils are opaque and have a heavy body so there is a feeling of weight , of pushing and pulling when you create with them. Watercolors have no such feeling they glide smoothly and effortlessly out of the brush hairs.

I'm painting in oils again after many years of watercolors but I have the joy and excitement carried over from my watercolors now not the bitterness associated with my past efforts.

Carson Collins 09 Jan 2007

"three times my work was displayed at the Dallas Museum of Art here in Dallas"

Yeah those Texans sure know their art.

Hootenanny! Hullabaloo! Yee - Haw!

I don't know nothin' about ahrt, but ah sho no whut a likes!!! On the positive side, I encourage you to visit the Rothko Chapel on the campus of Rice University in Houston.

lilia estrada 09 Jan 2007

Carson I guess that is why they say ignorance is Bliss...is that true???? I encourage you to open your eye to other forms of art not just Sea Scapes,,,once you've seen on shore line they all tend to look just alike...Boring....On a positive note I just sold a few more paintings oh yeah not the Good stuff just my little ole formulated works...

Marty Yokawonis 09 Jan 2007

well well Carson look at this the Dallas Museum is hosting a show with Rothko's work and Pollock. Gee doesn't look like a hootenanny to me. just because they also show decorative work as well as Van Gogh, Rothko Pollock Monet etc.

Marty Yokawonis 09 Jan 2007

Rothko - January 25th. if you're in the area in your nomadic travels you would probably enjoy the show

Carson Collins 09 Jan 2007

"ignorance is Bliss"

maybe. anyhow GROSS IGNORANCE = 144 TEXANS!

Mayme Crouse 09 Jan 2007

every artist works differently......to say a person is not a true artist because they do not create at the drop of a hat or the turn of a switch is unfair..........I believe as artist we are always looking at the world for inspiration and in that sense we are artist all the time.

Carson Collins 09 Jan 2007

Yes in that sense we are all the same, except for those of us who are making pompous pronouncements about being "true artists" Give me a break, why don't cha?

Bonny Dune 10 Jan 2007

To be a true artist one must be able to tell good lies and never paint any nipples which are very offensive, unless, however, they are covered by rectangles, which to me represents not only good manners but delicate style and great sensitivity.

Bonny