Debs Carey’s Post

Why do artists keep making art? The authors of two new books speak with a wide variety of creative people to try and find out. “The Long Run,” by Stacey D’Erasmo, features interviews with eight individuals, including the prolific writer Samuel R. Delany, the composer and conductor Tania Léon, and the pioneering landscape architect Darrel Morrison. One big thing that D’Erasmo discovers her subjects have in common is their flexibility, the ability to change along with circumstances. Artistic survival, she says, is fundamentally Darwinian; long-term success requires adapting to the environment at hand. At the same time, artists need steel at their core, some essential private self to return to at the end of the day. You make your living where you can, while, in D’Erasmo’s phrase, cultivating “the deep stamina of the double agent,” working, first and last, for yourself. Like D’Erasmo, Adam Moss wants to understand what makes artists tick, but he goes about it in a pragmatic, proudly anti-Romantic way. The substance of his book is 43 richly illustrated interviews—case studies, he calls them—that he conducted with artists of all kinds, among them the dancer Twyla Tharp, the writers Sheila Heti, Tony Kushner, and Gay Talese, and the filmmaker Sofia Coppola, in which they each describe how a single work of theirs came to be. Of all the traits that Moss came to see as uniting the artists he spoke with—discipline, focus, curiosity, patience—the most important, he says, is endurance. “Each of the subjects was a dog with a bone,” he writes. Beneath that relentlessness, he sees something else: faith, “the bedrock confidence that you can actually do what you are trying to do.” Read about the approaches each book takes to demystifying art—and what they discover in the process: https://lnkd.in/ghuMXNDW

Artistic Entropy The Internet and the Heat Death of Art I think in a way the internet has ruined art. But it is a well crafted ruin. You don’t have regional styles developing in a vacuum anymore. There’s no more local music scene that explodes into popular culture. Everyone is influenced by everyone. It’s becoming like chain restaurants serving Southwest Eggrolls and Chinese chicken salads. People have gotten amazing at producing sameness of varying quality. I’ve heard of musicians, comedians and authors who stop consuming the works of others in their field. They do it so they don’t inadvertently borrow. With websites like Art Station, we can view the work of so many artists, and get pulled off into constantly shifting inspirations. We like the way this one guy does eyes, or the way this girl does color, and we want to do the same. Occasionally, someone comes along that has a bigger influence. Anyone who has been to CTN has seen this. An artist comes along like Mindy Lee who everyone tries to replicate. The older heroes cause trends. Mary Blair has a resurgence every couple of years. Same with Eyvind Earle. There's a very welcome trend away from photo real CG. But even that seems to be in a rut already. Of course there are exceptions, but maybe we’d all do good to go on an input sabbatical and see what our on efforts evolve into. Maybe next time you start an art project, don’t look to other artists to see how they interpreted the world. Instead look at the world and think how you can interpret it. Better than interpreting and interpretation. Maybe that's the way you can do something that a machine cannot do in your place.

Descriptive: Focus on the colors, shapes, and techniques used in the art. What emotions or feelings does the art evoke Engaging: Ask a question to spark conversation about the art. What story do you think this art is telling Playful: Write a caption in the voice of the art itself. If this art could talk, what would it say Personal: Share a connection you have to the art. Does it remind you of something Here are some examples "Wow, the colors in this piece are so vibrant! They really make me feel happy." "What do you think is going on in this scene? Is it a dream or reality?" "I wonder if the artist used a special technique to create this texture." "This piece makes me feel calm and peaceful." "If this artwork could talk, I think it would say, 'Look closer! There's more to see than meets the eye.

how to title your art ... "* Cryptic titles that do not obviously or immediately relate to the compositions or subject matters of your art can sometimes work in your favor. But they have to be well-thought-out. Good ones can intrigue viewers to the point where they spend time trying to figure out their meanings, like captivating mysteries or riddles. * Use titles that seduce viewers into taking longer looks, and maybe even ask questions. Unexpected or uncommon titles engage viewers in ways that ordinary or common titles don't. Some artists' titles are so unconventional that people look at more artworks just to see how they're titled. * Unusual words or word combinations tend to attract more interest and attention than ordinary ones. At the very least, they slow people down. These kinds of titles also have better chances of appearing higher up in search results because of their uniqueness. Be careful though. You want to use these kinds of words only when they relate directly to something about your art, and not use them gratuitously or to try and game the system."

Along my journey of artistic self-discovery, there's been moments where, believe it or not, I've had to choose between being one kind of artist or another - never both. One would think that to be creative is to be free, but even in free spaces, you are bound to be placed in a box. This phenomenon speaks to humanity's general inability to comprehend the existence of anything that is multidimensional. People and things tend to have bits of their opposites within them. They are never absolutely one thing. I think we generally have a hard time coming to terms with the fact that two polar opposites can occupy the same space, at the same time - just at varying degrees. This piece highlights my taking a stand and accepting that I am not This or That, I am This AND That. It's about embracing the polar opposites that create the whole. At this point in time, I was looking at the self as something that is binary in nature (it isn't- topic for another day) so it was a lot easier to accept and embrace the many aspects that make me, me. Picking and choosing the bits of the self that are safe and palatable, then pretending that the other bits don't exist is such a gross injustice on one's existence. What makes the human experience complex is our ability to be different, often contradictory things at the same time. What makes that experience worthwhile is taking all those parts and making them work to one's advantage. I created this piece when I had one of those full circle moments, and it marked the beginning of one of my favourite versions of the self. Title- 'Full circle' Medium- Mixed media on canvas Year- 2018 Sold

📚 Open for booking: Artist Talk and Reading Workshop with Clare Chun-yu Liu Saturday 20 July at 2pm In response to the screening of her films ‘This is China of a particular sort, I do not know’ and ‘Another beautiful dream’ in the Gallery between 16–20 July as part of our 'An Inverted Journey of Counter Archiving' film programme, Clare Chun-yu Liu will discuss her practice-led research into the European cultural heritage of chinoiserie. The discussion will delve into questions such as: How does one respond to a historical representation of themselves from a contemporary perspective? How can identity be approached within a diasporic framework while participating in the postcolonial review of history? And how can we reinterpret pre-colonial Sino-British history in relation to chinoiserie from a postcolonial and Taiwanese/diasporic Chinese perspective? Following the talk, an in-person reading session will be led by the artist. Informed by the two films, the session will explore diasporic Chinese identity, (self-)representation, and the relationship between self and other. Find out more and book your free ticket via the link below: https://lnkd.in/e_sFiXt3 Image credits: 1. ‘This is China of a particular sort, I do not know’, Clare Chun-yu Liu, 2020, 34:01 min, video still, image courtesy of the artist. 2. Portrait Courtesy of the artist.

I am always fascinated by artists. There are myths about them, how they create and need muses. Once you meet an artist, all myths are busted. Here are some things I learned and am still learning from them: 1. All successful artists have working hours and never miss a deadline. Have you ever heard about the exhibitions that didn’t open on time? Never. You don’t have an excuse either. Select a date and deliver. 2. Artists have the skill to notice opportunities for their art. That might be their childhood trauma, a snowman or wine glasses. They are curious about everything. The most interesting conversations I had about AI were with artists. 3. Artists create circumstances for their art. A lot of them invent instructions for themselves to follow. These limits let them get creative. It might be a different way of painting or the way they will perform. It’s easier to get creative when you know your limits. 4. No matter how artists create, they proudly present their art to the world at the exhibition. Viewers and their reactions are as important as art. The viewer has to get emotions, triggers, and conflicts about the art to make it alive and tell a story. 5. Average artists want to please the audience and play safe. Great artists never stop evolving. They play with different mediums and reinvent themselves. Every work is just a stage for the following work. Google what Picasso created when he was 15, 30 and 50. It was a journey, not one eureka moment. I want to invite everyone to become artists this year. Be curious, create, and present your work to the world. On time. Over and over again.

It's no secret that many artists struggle to make a living from their craft. But why is that the case? I think a big part of it is simply the nature of the creative process. When you're an artist, you're not just cranking out a product - you're pouring your heart and soul into something deeply personal. That means the work doesn't always fit neatly into what the market demands. And let's be honest, the market often doesn't have the most refined tastes. What sells isn't always what's truly excellent or meaningful. Artists who stubbornly stay true to their vision can end up getting left behind. Another factor is that being an artist often means being a jack-of-all-trades. You have to not just create the work, but also market it, network, handle the business side, and more. That's a tall order for anyone, let alone someone who just wants to focus on their art. Of course, there are plenty of successful artists out there. But I think the struggle is real for most. The reality is that art doesn't always pay the bills, no matter how talented or passionate the artist may be. The good news is that there are ways for artists to supplement their income - teaching, grants, side gigs, and so on. But it takes a lot of hustle and compromise. And that can be tough for artists who just want to focus on their craft. Ultimately, being a starving artist is a cliche for a reason. The market for art is fickle, and the demands on an artist's time and energy are immense. It's a tough way to make a living. But for those who are truly called to it, the pursuit of art is worth the struggle.

The most important thing about being an artist is not your skillset or talent. The most important thing about being an artist is being confident about the art you create. Confidence is important in art. Why?   Because it enables us to keep creating regardless of what is happening around us. Without confidence, little things can deter us from making art.   It is a fact that many people are scared to make art at some point in their lives – for whatever reasons. That’s why we all need to work on ourselves and build that creative confidence that allows us to keep following our passion happily!   In my blog post, I’m sharing 8 tips on how to build creative confidence.   If that’s something that interests you, head over there and check it out!   Follow me for more AngieG. ~ GinAngieLa,com #artadvisory #artadvisor #confidence #artisticexpression #artcommunity

Pave Your Own Path: In a world filled with countless talented artists, it can be daunting to find your own unique voice as an abstract artist. However, by pushing boundaries and carving out your own identity, you can pave your own path in this over-crowded talent pool. As an abstract artist, your creativity knows no bounds. Embrace your unique perspective and let it shine through in your artwork. Don't be afraid to experiment with different techniques, styles, and materials. By embracing your individuality, you can create art that is truly one-of-a-kind. Abstract art is all about breaking free from traditional norms and pushing the boundaries of artistic expression. Challenge yourself to think outside the box and explore new possibilities. Experiment with unconventional techniques, mix different mediums, and explore various forms of abstraction. By pushing the boundaries, you can create art that captivates and intrigues viewers. Inspiration can be found in the most unexpected places. Look beyond the art world for inspiration. Explore nature, architecture, music, literature, and even everyday objects. Keep an open mind and let your surroundings ignite your creativity. By finding inspiration in diverse sources, you can bring a fresh perspective to your abstract art. Abstract art often requires vulnerability and the willingness to take risks. Embrace vulnerability by allowing yourself to be open and honest in your art. Express your emotions, thoughts, and vulnerabilities through your work. Embracing vulnerability will give your art a genuine and authentic quality. Remember, embracing your uniqueness as an abstract artist is a continuous journey. It takes time, self-reflection, and experimentation. Embrace your inner voice, trust your instincts, and don't be afraid to take risks. By embracing your uniqueness, you can create art that is truly one-of-a-kind. #AbstractArt #ArtisticJourney #CreativeExpression #EmbraceYourUniqueness #ArtisticVoice https://lnkd.in/gFfT9dA9