Mike Barr Art Blog
Staying true to yourself
by paintingsuccess , June 16, 2009—12:00 AM
I know this sounds like somewhat of a cliche, but staying true to yourself as far as your artwork is concerned is good for the soul and your work.
I know I'm not the only artist in the world to be downright annoyed at some of the aweful work that gets the nod at big-money events. I'm not just talking about the winning paintings, but stuff that gets into final 100 or so.
Recently, entries closed for this year's Waterhouse Prize in South Australia. A very big art event that is held every year at the museum. Every year amazing works are seen at this exhibition, but there is always the shocker. The work that no one can understand the reasons why it made the cut. Last year was no exception! Have a look at the link here http://www.thewaterhouse.com.au/page/default.asp?site=1&page=cat1_final&year=2008 and look at some of the amazing paintings on show. For the point of this blog piece though, scroll down to the plain light blue panel. Yes, it took two artists to paint a plain blue canvas, and, it made it into the final few out of hundred of entries. Can you imagine the look of horror on artist's faces as they saw this work hanging there?
Some artists vowed to boycott the next show. Others suggested they paint a black canvas and call it 'night'. Some wrote letters to editors and others wrote articles in art society newsletters about it. As for me, I determined to paint something completey silly to see if I could get acceptance that way. And I did paint something that just wasn't me. An abstract moonlit night. It looked aweful and it didn't give me any sense of achievement. I knew I couldn't enter the painting in good faith.
The next evening I turned the work into a more traditional one and in my style. It's the painting shown at the begining of this blog. It still didn't make it into the show, but I was happy with the way it turned out and in the end I knew I had been true to myself and will be happy to show the work in my next show.
There are times when we just have to put the blinkers on and not be distracted by what seems to be the flavour of the month. Do what you do best - your own work! Painting for judges is a one-way ticket to disappointment.
We need to be comfortable with putting a signature to our paintings, after all, it is our seal of approval and we can't truly do that if we paint something we really dont like!
Happy painting!
COMMENTS
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07/10/2009 * 10:43:32
'BLUE SKY' is a conceptual artwork and as a consequence it is a 'polarizing' work. You either get it or you don't.
Unlike the majority of works selected for the Waterhouse 'BLUE SKY' identifies just one element in nature and natural history. The clean beautiful infinitness of a clear blue sky day.
Unlike the polluted skies that choke our industrialised cities, 'BLUE SKY' is also an environmental statement.
Full credit to the judges who selected 'BLUE SKY' for the Waterhouse as they have helped to open up the exhibition to conceptual artists whose main concern are not based on literal representation.
Westley Tully
of a beautifulland on one particular day in South Australia, hence the artists statement 1-1-08.
I ac
And rest assured there is no trickery or gimmickery to this work.
06/21/2009 * 18:15:26
Hi,
I really enjoy reading your blog and find some of the discussions very stimulating!
I'm a young artist and I've found a new website that's pretty exciting. The company is called ARTMOLE and it offers an online forum for artists, academics and art-lovers to come together and share ideas, artwork and conduct business. This art portal features several art forms, including photography, digital art, drawings, batik and mixed media. I think its a great idea, and you all should definitely have a look! Available at www.artmole.com
Regards
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06/18/2009 * 22:37:22
Mike,
I'm sorry but I simply must play the other side of this debate and point out that it is entirely possible that Fiona Barber & Westley Tully were being entirely true to themselves when they conceptualized and painted Blue Sky. There is no denying that the painting is not a work of demanding technical profieciency. But we need to be careful that we don't only judge artwork by the perceived level of difficulty involved in creating it. The truly wonderful thing about art is that it ALL is valid. It can certainly be frustrating when work that is drastically outside our own comfort zone receives more attention than we believe it merits. But it is important to remember that there are as many different forms of expression as their are people.
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06/18/2009 * 21:11:57
I just went to look at the entries... I think my rag would beat that! Positive. At least more time went into creating my rag than was put into that painting!
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06/18/2009 * 21:08:14
It's funny this came up on FB tonight as I was holding a wiping rag I use when I oil paint and I told one of my students that I should put this on canvas stretchers and enter it into a competition. I bet it would get in. Now, no one steal my idea!
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06/18/2009 * 16:41:45
Mark, thank you for this. Your work is uplifting in case no one has told you that yet and it is very important at this time in life for one to stay true to their style.
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06/18/2009 * 15:27:36
Mike--
I see what you mean -- what's the song, "different strokes for different folks?" You're right -- in the end we have to be able to face ourselves in the mirror and like what we see, including the parts of our self we put into our artwork.
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06/17/2009 * 11:09:00
"If I only had a dollar" for all the questionable art that gets fawned over and sells for big bucks, "I'd be rich." The calligraphic world suffers from the same disfunction, as I suppose so does the sculpture world and so on. It is very hard to see other artist get recognition when you know full well that your work is as good if not better.
One thing I learned in studying art is not to look to the person to the left or right of you. If they are better, than you will lose confidence. If they are not better, then you get too comfortable. You cannot compare yourself to others, you're not qualified to make an objective comparison. If you are doing what fulfills you and doing it to the best of your ability then I recommend a good set of blinders.
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06/17/2009 * 09:56:54
HI Mark, I truly agree with your blog. So many times I have entered a certain show here at a Museum. It's a yearly show. I have entered it almost every year and got accepted a few times. When I go to the grand opening and they give out the awards for "Best of show "and other awards--well I am always amazed at what they choose. I guess it all amounts to who the jurer is---and they always get someone who is "far out ". I still try anyway. It's a hometown event. I send in what I like of my work. I guess people's taste change with the years. Your work is great and keep it up--in spite of it all. Millie
Mary Lawler ( homepage )
07/23/2009 * 15:47:26
I hear what you are saying Westly, and I can see what you are saying too. Go out on a clear cloudless day and look up at the sky. What do you see? Blue sky. nothing but blue. In many ways the painting is asking us to remember the simplest of things. Everything in our physical world is not complex, is dense or has form. The sky doesn't have a shadow, or depth or dimension. It can change color and it can entertain clouds and birds and planes. However, viewed alone it looks exactly like the painting has depicted it. I don't know whether to be angry or envious.