Audio Version of the Chapters is Here.
Part I
“Writing is easy: all you have to do is sit staring at a blank sheet of paper until the drops of blood form on your forehead.” – Gene Fowler
LINK TO CHAPTER 1 – Click here to read the chapter. Thank you Ted Orland for 1) the permissions and 2) the file (so much easier!).
“The same can be said for any worthwhile creative experience, just make sure you keep plenty of rags around to wipe up all that blood.” – FKorb
“Life is short, art long, opportunity fleeting, experience treacherous, judgment difficult.” – Hippocrates (460-400 B.C.)
When we are faced with a blank paper or canvas or ball of clay we struggle with where to begin. Often it seems as though we are simply doing the same thing over and over and our work becomes stale (although… a body of work should have similarities, shouldn’t it?) You are all making artwork that, sadly, no one much cares whether or not it gets done (we care, but the world at large… not so much). That said, we still find it necessary to make art and live off of the emotion and rewards that it offers us. Talent, however, is not the “gift” that rewards the art maker but rather the hard work that goes into the making of the object(s).
In greater scheme of things talent is not something that can be distinguished between hard work. We all come into this class with the current abilities that we have, and as the AP Readers have proven to me time and time again, the “talent” is inconsequential in how they artwork is “read” and “evaluated” in the end. Hard work and effort are what really carry the artist over the bumps in the road. HARD and DEDICATED work! This means making art all the time, constantly considering the work you are putting into the world and the marks you are making on the paper / canvas / whatever it is you are making.
The chapter poses a few questions right off the bat: How does art get done? Why, often, does it not get done? And what is the nature of the difficulties that stop so many who start?
My addition to these questions is: What is it you hope to gain from being in AP Studio Art… and why?
Read the chapter, answer the above 4 questions (in full and complete sentences) or don’t, and feel free to add any of your own commentary to the response that you might want to add.
– FKorb
Art & Fear 
It’s hard to get art done when you can’t relate enough to the works you are creating. Just starting becomes a struggle and finishing does not always produce the results you were hopping for when you first started. You may start a project with the highest amount of ‘talent’ possible but there’s nothing to keep you motivated when all you see is the final product and not how to get there. It’s hard to find your own voice in your works when you lack the motivation to try something new. Art does not have to be for others to enjoy. If you enjoy your work then there is no reason for you to seek approval from others because you’ve found your reason for creation.
When I relate to this chapter, I relate to the unfinished drawings that I have made. It’s not an image of pure laziness, but a lack of confidence. If my mind won’t agree with the work, my hand will not guide me. Therefore I’m left with multiple failures and unfinished works that will never be completed. The drawings that I have made, and the capability of being able to make them is a chore. My potential is extinguished and there is a plan to master other materials and to fail and succeed with them in-hand.
Art gets done by continuously making art itself, but it doesn’t ever get done when the fear of not being good enough or a lack of perseverance comes into play. You learn how to make your work by actually making your work rather than stopping the process when you don’t feel satisfied. I struggle with this idea all of the time inside and outside of the studio because I become frustrated whenever my art does not turn out the way I want it to. Therefore, I have a hard time finishing out the pieces and never spend enough time repeatedly making art. I spend the majority of my time on one piece rather than creating multiple pieces of art in my free time, and this is a struggle I wish to overcome this year in AP Studio Art.
I do think that art gets produced with hard work, and also takes time and experimentation. I have problems with finishing my works because as I’m working, I think of a new idea, and feel the need to sketch the new one down. The sketch turns into the work itself and the process starts over again. I have found it useful for me to set up and work on multiple pieces at the time revolving around either the same or similar ideas to actually get work done. I hope to be able to further hone my focus on my works to improve my skills and patience.
The real “Nature of the Problem” is finding the motivation to create artwork that you are happy with and more importantly to create artwork that helps you grow and develop your skills. Doing those two things at the same time is very hard (in my opinion), and I feel as if I will be trying for a long time. Will I ever? I don’t know.
Art gets done by perusing and producing what you are thinking. I feel that art often does not get done because of lack of confidence or lack of effort. It becomes hard to start a project when you have the mindset that the project will end in failure. The fear of being ridiculed by the thoughts a person portrays through art can quickly destroy confidence, but I think that if you just keep making new art, sooner or later the artist will learn to accept their product and learn to appreciate the process as well. I hope to learn to accept my art more through AP and gain confidence to make sure I will want to continue making art.
“Art making can be a rather lonely, thankless affair” (5). I become drawn to this quote due to the fact that I identify with its meaning strongly. I often get questioned in my art-making motive, which I can only reply with the fact that I can express my emotions and create an aesthetic representation of an idea. I love the concept of a work created from an intangible thought. Likewise, I identify with another quote on the same page stating, “The function of the overwhelming majority of your artwork is simply to teach you how to make the small fraction of your artwork that soars” (5). I believe that he answers his own question in this statement of the reasoning for making art. The majority of the work I create is experimentation, when some of them become strong works based around the experimentation. Altogether, I can relate so some of the main concepts behind this chapter.
The time for art in my opinion is a low priority. My Priorities are, in order; Family, Health, school, work, friends, and then art. Although some art is homework, then I don’t enjoy it like I used to. Over these last 4 years I have found my incentive to make art decline to the point where now I don’t do it in my free time (which I barely have any of anymore).
So how does this statement relate to the chapter or better how does the chapter relate to your current point in your art making career? I read this as a throw away set of thoughts and leads me no deeper into the challenges you are facing as an artist right now than I think it leads you. You are certainly not alone in feeling this way about making art – so are you at the point of stopping or quitting (am I in the right chapter)? Stopping happen all the time, quitting happens once. You need to (if only for the class) reinvest yourself in the art making part of your life. Read this book CAREFULLY (or at the very least invest the time in LISTENING to it and see how it can guide you through the thought process of making art (or not).
I think art making isn’t a talent but a skill and putting in all the hard word makes [yo]u stronger as an artist. I think making art is much harder than it was back then because now we have to invent something new to make other than all of painting the Mona E[Lisa]. I think to some people who view art they see it as a finished product as something to look at but I am sure some of them can look at a piece and feel like it means something. But it wont be as strong as what [yo]u feel about your own piece because you know how it feels to go through the making process and you what what your piece stands for unlike those who just see the finished product. Also, what’s important is the art that was art before you get one finished piece cause you can go back and see why it didn’t work out from what you were doing before. That is why its also important to keep your old work to see how you grow as an artist.
Dakota’s Response 2.0
Art gets done by simply doing it. All you need is a creative idea, and then you just have to figure out how to put it into the real world. Art often doesn’t get made out of fear of criticism and putting forth effort. These problems can be hard for some to overcome, but if you don’t try, you can’t succeed. I mostly joined AP Studio Art for the fun of it, but it is also an excellent place to improve any art skills if need be. Those skills can be useful to me personally if I ever went into a career that involved making art, which I think would be fun.
I agree that art gets done through hard work, and that it takes a lot of time to build skills. I don’t usually have a problem finishing my work even when I have several pieces going at once. The main problem I have is getting stuck in a rut of doing similar things over and over once I find a technique I like, and I don’t think that results in a lot of growth.
In this chapter, I barely see myself in the text. I figured out that to complete an artwork that fit my expected, will take a long time. Also, I found myself have a fear of cannot complete my work, and l having a trouble of focus on one piece of work and leave the other one to the end when I ran out of time. The fear of time is the biggest problem seem to appear in the chapter and in my life. In addition, the strength and motivation of the completed art also driving me crazy. As I’m making art, I always want to finish the artwork, but sometimes when I finish and look at my artwork. I did not see any meaning or strength from the artwork. But if I focus on the strength and meaning, I will run out of time. my problems just fit with the text in this chapter. I think the matter of all is the completed artwork.
I think you are well within the ideas of this text. The fears and responses you seem to face are there…
Artwork is created through hard work, frustration, and a lot of confusion. There is a lot of frustration infused into the art making process because of not knowing where to go next. However, there is also a lot of joy that comes with artmaking because of successes. People will definitely stop making art if they doubt themselves or if they let in the wrong kind of criticism. Constructive criticism is the only kind one should really accept. I want to learn how to improve my drawing skills as well as my watercolor skills.
I’m working on applying what I’ve learned in art to my everyday life. Hard work gets things done. I have to remind myself that a lot. I have plenty of ideas and things I want to do, but it doesn’t mean anything if I don’t actually put them into action. Likewise, I’m learning that I have to test out my ideas, more trial and error than committing absolutely to one idea or one piece. I have to be more open-minded, constructively critical, and determined if I want to see myself improve.
I related to this chapter a lot! In the beginning, he talks about how our work sometimes does not feel like our own, how we can be repetitive, and we restrict ourselves from mastering our materials. Often when I make art, I encounter theses problems. Sometimes I can make pieces that I am proud of, but then the question, “Who did you copy?” comes up. I feel like I’m unoriginal sometimes and just a mere copy of another artist. However, I try to push myself out of this as much as I can. I can be inspired, but how I take that inspiration and make it into art is a whole another aspect. In addition, I can be repetitive and not fully mastering my materials. Computer Illustration is my strength, yet I try to be someone I am not by using different materials instead of mastering computer illustration. He also talks about how often no one cares about our art. I am fortunate enough to have parents who support me and always made my art feel important. However, I realize in the real world, this is rare. Yet, I think people are growing to appreciating art more. Lots of famous actors and comedians reach out to their artistic fans by reposting their artwork and telling people to look at their creations. I feel art is becoming more prominent than it has ever been. The author then discusses talent. This confuses me, because he says it is just built into some people and not others. I agree with this and disagree at the same time. Art is a talent some possess, but it ranges. It is not just “You are amazing naturally” and “You are kind of good, but not like a ‘true’ artist”. Art is subjective, and I believe the talent is also. The talent is subjective. Many can make beautiful art naturally, but others who are good at it feel they have a standard to stand up to. Personally, I struggle with feeling inferior with my talent though in reality I have it, just struggle to use it to its full potential, which he also mentions. Art is a talent, but one you learn to master, which I agree with one hundred percent. Art has always come naturally, but I am still learning how to master it. He later talks about how others care about the product, artists admire the process. Personally, I like the process, but it takes long with many doubts and questions on what I am making is worth it in the end. I feel the product matters to the artist as well, but the meaning it conveys matters more than if it is “pretty” or “cool”. I feel I make lots of artworks that mean something to me, like the author encourages, but a lot of people don’t appreciate the meaning. Instead, they care about looks. Finally, he discusses how “Artist” has become an identity, which I agree with a lot. If you took art away from life, I honestly believe I would be nothing, not the same person. From the first time I picked up a crayon when I was one to now, art has helped me through hard times and forget my problems. Art also is a passion deeply impeded into me. A talent I never want to ignore or give up. Therefore, I related to this chapter in many ways with a few differing ideas.
In this chapter, I can barely relate. First of all it it true that sometimes our work as artists may look, unfinished or overdone. Sometimes we tend to think the artwork is good with more things and sometimes nothing at all. No one dictates what is beautiful, or what is beautiful art. But, we all know that art making is complicated. You, just don’t want to do what has already been done before; it’s an artists fear. Making art isn’t talent or fate, it’s more of what you know and how you use your materials.
art that is not done to your full is’t will never get done and there will be no opportunity. They say life is short but it is not never short but what you learn maybe short and the one masterpiece you make will feel like you life is short.
I believe people find art difficult because when starting a new piece the idea is the most difficult part. For me, coming up with an idea is difficult because there are a million things I want to do. Once I pick a specific idea that somehow gets me thinking of different things I could do. Then, I have a whole new idea which I start to like, but soon start to dislike. Finally, I have to go back to the sketchbook and start thinking of new ideas. However, for others their first thought doesn’t turn out the way they wanted it to and they give up automatically. Or they start something and after a few brush strokes they give up because they believe they’ll never be as good as everyone else.
I don’t entirely agree with this chapter, but I do agree with most points made. The point about “the world as a whole not caring if art is created or not” is what I do not agree with.I think everyone cares about art whether they believe they do or not. Man was born with the ability and the want to create and procreate.The definition of art states that it is “beautiful,appealing,or of more than ordinary significance”.People create inventions,ideas,medicines,and human beings everyday without realizing that it is all art.People try to contain what qualifies as art in a small category instead of seeing the vast majority of what all fits the definition of art. Without art the world wouldn’t thrive and be what it is today. Art begins with a little spark in the mind of one being and is completed when the heart and body of that being turn that spark into a flame. Sometimes art is not created because, other sparks are fueled first or the spark dies before the heart and body can fuel it.One reason so many stop the process of creating is the fear that it wont amount to be as amazing as they imagined it. This year, I hope to gain confidence in my materials and final pieces. AP Studio art has pushed me to use new materials and old ones in new ways. I hope these materials and uses will broaden my skills and knowledge. I also hope to gain more confidence in my creations. I want to feel successful about everything I create, no matter the medium,materials,or reason for creating it.
Post 2 (I don’t think my first one posted? This is pretty similar to the first post so if you read that then don’t read this…)
I agree with everything that I read in this chapter. Do I think that this chapter touches on everything that it could? No, absolutely not, one could not expect it to do so. I can speak from self experience that you are not going to be happy with the art you are making unless you are passionate about it. If you do not know your purpose behind it and you do not know what you are trying to say, then it is going to be colors/pencil on a page in the end and every artist is guilty of it at least one time. That ties into another problem that we face of being able to execute and compose our pieces beautifully and in a balanced fashion. Anything you produce that satisfies that, and you are passionate about, should be considered a successful piece of work to you. But, that is not easy, we as artists know that.
Like I initially said, yes, I agree with everything that I read in this chapter. However, not 15 authors could write a chapter that answers the question, “What is the nature of the problem?”. To do so you would need to go to extremes and take everyone who considers themselves an artist and ask them about the problems that they face. The nature of the problem is going to be unique from person to person.
I agree with the contents of this chapter. I believe that it sums up a very important aspect of the art making process. For a moment let me speak from self experience, you are not going to enjoy making art if you are not creating art that you are not passionate about. No matter how much you love it and how much it consumes your life, if one is not passionate about the work that they are producing, then they are going to look at it in the end and at best say, “This is just okay”. However, of every piece you produce, you are not going to be happy about them all. This could be a problem that dealt with composition or execution, there are many factors in the process and it leaves a lot of room for error. Furthermore, the nature of the problem is that of being able to produce excellent art with beautiful execution and thoughtful composition, and more importantly, to be that passionate about it in the same time. Even though I agree with everything that I read, I simply do not believe that one, two, or 15 men could write a chapter about this topic that contains all the problems that apply to one another. It is too broad of a question, “What is the nature of the problem?”.
I think this chapter touches on some good points like how we can so easily give up on a piece when we really shouldnt. I think the only way art truely get finished is if one keeps at it. They have to care about their art and why they are making it. Some times, and this applies to me, fear and maybe lack of motivation. I understand that artists need to make art constantly but if life throws everything at you, how can you focus on one thing verses everything else? Some times its fear because one may be worried of how it will turn out. I think the natures of the fears that turn people away from continueing art may be the fact of just starting and possibly being overwhelmed. I am really happy that we have such freedom in AP when it comes to what we want to do. We are given a speck and what we do with that speck is a single person’s possibilities. I really hope to gain from AP more of an understanding for how to make pieces connect and on the style that I feel im most connected with, abstract. Because of AP, I am able to find not only my style of works but also myself. I believe that that is most important.
This Chapter touches on how art making is difficult. It also tells how at the beginning of the any artists journey they feel like they don’t make art that feels like their own. I feel like that really connects to me because when I started I did not even know not to finger blend. As an artist progresses much like I have we try different things to make art that might have seemed right at the time but it was only a building block on where to step and get better. That stage was my Sophomore year when I was obsessed with drawing the same five cartoons that really were not great but I had to stop there to be able to move on in my art. Finally I found my place in art when I was in a summer art class and realized the one art subject that I might never get bored with, landscapes. From then I can touch on another part of the chapter because it says artists repeat themselves a lot. Once I found that I really enjoyed painting landscapes I did them over and over again and I am still not done or will I think I will ever be done exploring everything I can do with them. So in the end the first part of the chapter really is the part that rings true with me and makes sense with all of the things I have done to get where I am now.
-Mary Heebsh
Art gets done when artist push themselves to do so. Some may say they like to make art, but they don’t necessarily mean all the time. Some like to make art on their free time because they aren’t worried about things like finishing in time or how to solve equations. In AP Art Studio we have to come up with tons of artwork whilst studying and learning other classes. We have to learn to push ourselves to keep going and not give up. The point that we give up is when we lose our reason to continue to grow or we realize that we don’t have a goal to achieve by making art. This is when artist like to let things go and say “What’s the point?”. After that moment occurs, things start to fall apart. Quality of their art decreases, the amount of art decreases, and worse yet, they stop entirely and leave pieces unfinished. But there is hope. AP Art Studio isn’t a one-on-one class, it is a group class in which others sometimes have the same issues that you are having. As a group, artists will try to figure out solutions together and grow even bigger together. Once the classmates have figured things out they start to grow into someone who loves doing what they do, and what they do is make art.
I’ve got some big problems with this chapter (can’t speak for the whole book yet since I haven’t finished it), and I think that mostly stems from my distaste for making art–arguably the most subjective process out there–some kind of objective experience. The chapter takes assumptions and personal experience and treats them as if they’re some kind of greater truth, like the discovery is also the conclusion. At heart, it’s a collection of general artistic truisms combined to sound like something deep but covering no new ground. Maybe the rest of the book will build off of this, since it’s just the first chapter and could just be establishing a framework to build the author’s philosophy. So I can’t really say I have a negative opinion yet, but I’m skeptical as to how the rest will be presented.
Thanks India. Keep your mind open, but in the end, your response is yours. I appreciate your work, effort, and contiributions.
Work isnt done because of fear. The entire book revolves around the concept that we arent willing to take chances and take leaps of faith. I find that I have this issue a lot and am too scared to pursue and idea or style of works to work towards. I have even experienced dropping an artwork because I was scared of making a mistake when I was so far in and making all of the previous time and effort I exerted for naught. To the artist single mistakes can make or break a piece, because we irrationally view them as permanent and unable to be fixed. With AP this year I want to gain a greater grasp on style and voice in my work. I want to gain a look that says “Hey, thats Miah’s artwork”
I LOVE the ideas you area sharing here. I know of a few mistakes that have haunted you. Some of the challenges are to see beyond the mistakes as singular aspects of the work of art and look at the larger ideas that one is creating in the art work. This is a challenging part of the art making process… how can one help the artists one is around to see this approach to the making of art? This is a challenge. Please – stay in the FRONT of the chapters and be that leader you are!
Art gets done by sticking with whatever you are doing and learning from your mistakes. It gets done by creativity, planning, and then finally applying it. Art does not get done because people give up on it or don’t even try to begin with. If someone messes up, they stop working or they know that they can’t draw so they don’t try to make art. These type of people don’t know that mistakes are sometimes your best friend and to get good at something you actually have to take time and practice it. I think another difficulty is that your work never comes out they way you see it in your head. Artists just have to deal with this reality or try again. In AP art I hope to gain more knowledge about how I want to make art and how to make art that has meaning. I want people to look at my art and really think about what it means and the message behind it.
I can’t wait until later in the book when we talk about CREATIVITY. I feel that KNOWING one can’t draw is a misconception. Feeling one can’t draw (sculpt, paint, etc…) the way one WANTS to is different. We ALL can draw, etc… just not as skilled as one might want to. That is what often (and time) gets in the way of people doing it! Sounds like you get it!
Art means more to me than just sitting down and creating something that is pleasant to look at. Of course I want my artwork to be appealing, but I care more about the process, the ideas behind it, and what it means to me. I think the nature of the problem is finding the motivation. If you don’t make things personal and have meaning behind your Artwork then I don’t think you will succeed. Or at least be at you full potential. The thing I love about Art is that you can do anything with it and there are unlimited directions that you can go with it. The thing I dislike most about Art, is how people push it away because they aren’t good at it and they can’t see the beauty of it. I believe that it is true, that people think that Art is a God given talent. People think that if you are good then you are good, but if you are bad then you are bad. That isn’t true at all. Art is just like any other thing in this life. You have to practice and work hard to achieve what you want. A lot of the time in life, your flaws and weaknesses are rejected. In are your weaknesses and flaws can be your strengths. Art can be a way of dealing with problems and obstacles in your life. This year will be my second year taking this course and I can’t wait to see the step I take and the obstacles I will overcome. I want to gain more knowledge and understanding so that I can better myself from last year and make great gains in my concentration.
This is great. I hope that others will read and consider your thoughts. The growth you alone have had in two years time is wonderful. Keep at it. If one were to look at the amount of growth in ONE YEAR of AP Art… when the desire and time is there… it is amazing what can be accomplished. Continue to LEAD and GROW!
In my opinion, I feel art gets done in different ways. Either it gets done because there is a sense of determination, or because the piece needs to be presented for a grade, show, for someone else, etc. Which then leads to the answer of why art does often not get done. It is simply because we loose interest in the piece we are working on or need to start something else. There are many factors in creating successful art. The nature of difficulties that stop so many who start could be because we are our own worst critics. I know that I constantly get down on myself when I see someone else’s art that is amazing. However, that is just one of the obstacles artists need to overcome. Being in AP art this year, I hope to learn who I am as an artist.
I had a GREAT comment… and then my fat finger hit the wrong button. DANG. This is a great statement by one who is facing a tough wall right now. Continue to focus on the CENTRAL IDEA that you hope to carry through the body of work while also looking at the NEW and INVENTIVE ways to add to and approach each individual work. I KNOW and am CONFIDENT that your passion to create and achieve will overcome any struggle that the lack of confidence you may be having may cause. Move forward!
I feel that art gets accomplished in two ways, one for yourself, or for other people “Grades” essentially. It often does not get completed due to the fact of laziness or just because the piece isn’t reaching the artists expectations. I feel that people stop doing art when they feel they aren’t good enough or that they just are not feeling the piece. I hope to gain more knowledge about the design portfolio and better myself from last year, to truly discover myself through my art.
The fear in art is that your hands are weak. But your power is in the artists hands and you can make what you feel. The assumptions are that art making involves skills that can be learned. But becoming an artist means you need to learn to accept yourself which makes your art personal. It involves your voice and makes your art unique. Even if you have natural talent it takes years to perfect your art. I think that art comes from your heart and what you feel. It is an expression of what you are living day to day. Art is made by ordinary people. Our flaws and weakness are actually a source of strength and art can be a way of overcoming obstacles
i found it funny how in the first chapter it mentions how some people seem to believe that making “good” art is like magic. That is unbelievable I can draw. I have one friend who always just says “Oh Phelan that is Perfect” instead of really looking at my work and really “critiquing it”.It makes me feel that I didn’t do anything to impressive and it was just is “bla” to her. And people I know also say “oh I suck at art”, or “I would fail foundations”. People who don’t try to succeed at drawing never will be “good at art” as they say. Although, I understand where their comments and thoughts on their own art come from because when I play sports for example, I feel like I just suck. But it is because I never try to succeed because I hate sports. My interest is in art. Which is why I am “good” at it because I try to succeed and I love what I do. And its why I can perform the “magic” everyone speaks of when it comes to artists.
I dont just make art just to do it, I make it to enjoy it. I usually have to get inspired first.
And the BIGGEST job you are going to have to learn how to do is to make art when you are uninspired! Learn to work on your work and learn to learn from your work and learn to look at others work and learn to talk about work!
I get art done by choosing a subject I enjoy. If I am not interested in my subject matter, I tend to get bored and do not produce my highest quality of work. The problem is that it is hard for me to find objects that interest me enough to draw them. Maybe to make them more interesting to me, I could go more outside of the realistic drawings that I usually do. Hopefully I can find a subject that really intrigues me for my concentration drawings.
Part of the learning process that you are still working through is to learn to see and work on the making of art. unfortunately, some of what we as artists have to do is simply learn to work on our work. Regardless of the subject matter, we need to work and do a better than average job at it.
The job of the artist is to learn to work on their work. I feel that getting yourself into the process of making art that interests you will allow you to broaden your view of the work you make and help you to get into it more. Continue to work on the “assigned” projects but also consider how you can make it more your own take on the project. How to elevate the initial idea (much like the prints that you did). Carry On!
Art isn’t something that can be taken and learned in a day or week it takes time, patience, and practice lots of it. Art is and will be part of everyone’s lives for both the creators and the lookers. Art is done to express emotions, to show a story, or a life changing decision. This first chapter teaches me that art is more than just color on a piece of paper or cardboard or whatever else. It’s a sign of living outside of our boxes and/or shells. It makes the expected be turned into the unexpected. Art makes reality more exciting and fun. Art isn’t boring and not meant to be. This book goes beyond the generalness of art. It brings us into a whole deeper meaning of art. It’s like behind the scenes of a movie but instead it’s of art.
Love it… Love it…
When starting this book, I really thought it was going to be a bunch of textbook mumbo jumbo and not that interesting. However even with only being through the first chapter, I see I to quickly judged a book by its cover.
Right away the comparisons of art today and in the past intriqued me. Back then, they say art was made for the church, ritual, or clan. The quote “It’s easy to imagine that artists doubted their calling when working in the service to God, rather than in service to self” was one that really hit me. To me it seem that they are trying t say that in the past working in the service of god scared them, and that they only worked in the service to god, i.e in churches or caves. Then they say that we as a society today only created art for self and self alone. I somewhat agree with this, however, whether you’re greater power is God or Allah, or whater force greater than oneself you believe in. All of theire decrees, say that everything you do should be a reflection of them and their teachings. Human nature is to do things for whatever higher powere or motivation you have. Maybe, the soul motivater in your live is self enrichment, and you don’t need to reflect a higher motive, or get praise. In which case, I commend you,
As the reading went on the talkings of the process of making art intrigues me. Everything from our flasws and weaknesses being a source of streth in our work, to the gap of our expections from reality, to how the only people who care about you’re work are those who care about you personally. I think the best thing I read was that “Art transcends what you do, and represents who you are” This idea is supported by saying that unless you accept yourself as a person, the art you make will never be good enough, I really enjoy the saying that making art that matters to you would be impossible if art didnt tell you so much about yourself, The mindset was given of art being a reflection of who I am, and I can identify with that. I have noticed that when my mood changes my mark making becomes softer of harsher, my colors become more vibrant or dull, and the total form of my piece could change whether i have had a fabulous day or a horrid one. That is how I make a lot of my art. not just to escape the reality of whats around me. But to also let art be carthatic, to let me let go of whats going on. This year in A.P studio art, I want to get out of my comfort zone of charcoal and pastel and become a more versitile artist. I also want to expierience making art just to make art, rather than to get out what I’m thinking or express myself.
All artists understand the concept of art being a gamble of self enrichment and reward. Personally, I want to be an art major in college. I want to go into graphic design and advertising. When I read howw only those who care about you care about your work, realization set in. While looking for a job after collage, I will be living the gamble between whether my work is good enough to aquire an audience. I realized in my life thus far, just like many others my age, my art has only been recieved by those who know me personally, and I have generally received only positive feedback. It made me wonder if I recieved this feedback because it was good, or if I recieved this feedback because it was mine, Whatever the case however, it has given me the encouragement to keep going. This phrase also reminded me of a conversation I had with my moms friend, Dan Dipaolo. He is an artist for hallmark, and is VERY successful. We were talking about the work he does once and he once said that he didnt start out doing these “cute drawings” its just what pays the bills. He said his “real” art is dark, and comes from the darkest part of his soul. But “no one cares about the real thing” as he put it.
This first chapter really got me thinking about what art really is. and although i interpreted a reason for creating art differently, I took so much out of this chapter, Throughout this book I’m excited to start fresh with an open mindset, knowing it won’t be boring textbook mumbo jumbo.
Cat… This is great stuff…
Personally, my art gets done by spurting an idea onto paper, then following through with it as far as I can manage to take it, while adjusting my final product in accordance to my mistakes. Oftentimes art does not get completed because the actual art does not match the artists ideal, which can be an incredibly frustrating situation. From AP Studio, I hope to experience the joy of creating meaningful art. I also want to take advantage of the school’s art supplies because there’s heaps of stuff I’ve never tried using before.
Love the fiscal ideas here… Hope I can help. More to come.
Right, so my opinion on art getting done and what it does for the artist is; art gets done when the artist wants to escape from something else. I see it more as an expression of a person rather than profession. Its a passion not a job.
I fully believe in talent as well, the sentence on page two that talks about talented peoples’ work apposed to others’. Sure skill can be acquired but talent can not. I think there is a bold line between those two traits in artists.
As for art making, I think the biggest struggle is putting what is in the artist’s mind onto paper or canvas or whatever. It is a discouraging thing to not be able to create what you long to, so there is a little extra push required. People that create art as a hobby or passion rather than a profession approach this kind of stuff very differently. The latter can make what they want when they want using as much time as they want. Rather than the profession based creators. But the one thing that both of these categories deal with is that there has been SO much art already done. Nobody likes to do whats been done.
I want to get better at a passion that lets me express – Art
I dont care to go neck deep into “What is art” or “What in art. . . . “
A good beginning… I have some arguments to work on with you about the “passion”, “hobby”, and “profession”… but we will get to that in time. Talent? I strongly disagree that there is anything called talent. WHY? Because EVERYONE can learn to make art. Can EVERYONE learn to carve like Michelangelo? No! But we don’t need it… we need more of the art by regular people… More to come later!
I feel that art gets accomplished when an individual has that strive, or force within them making them feel like they must accomplish that piece. If their just doing it for the sake of doing it, it could easily sit there for years. But when you have that driving force, it pushed you to get that piece done.It often does not get done, due to the fact that, that individual might not have the time or ambition to finish that piece. I think the difficulties that make the artist not finish their work, is just the simple fact that they are not pleased with the piece, or they just don’t have that force making them finish that piece. In AP art I hope to gain confidence in my pieces, because many people may not agree with the work I do, I like to push my limits with my works, and perhaps I want to learn to push them even more.
I’m not good at this so here it is.
1) I think art gets finished when there is enough drive to get it done you have to see the finished work in your head produce it and be happy with it but some pieces may never be finished.
2) Art works often never gets finished because the artiest cant identify the problem with it or doesn’t have the means to go on with it.
3) The nature of most of the difficulties that stop me is the lack of confidence in my work as a whole.
4) In AP i hope to broaden my skills and gain confidence because that way i might be able to create good sell able works.
In chapter one of Art and Fear, the real feelings and thoughts of every artist are exposed. First off, a question is asked of how art gets done. Overall, a good work of art takes time to finish. Art is resolved through hard work and lots of time put into every piece. Completion is not possible without extensive work and determination. Often times an artwork does not get finished because a person simply does not care about the piece they are producing, or even just lose motivation to try creating a successful work. Also, when/if recognition is not recieved, an artist may feel as though their work is not good or even pointless to continue on with. I uinderstand this feeling because I have began pieces that towards the end I feel are only getting worse. However, the key to success is to have the courage to keep pushing forward whether facing successes or failures. By being in Ap Studio Art, I hope to further my knowledge about art and gain confidence in my work. I want to learn more about and understand the process of successful art. Even though I don’t want to become a fmaous artist someday, art is something I love and enjoy learning about and working with everyday.
let me start by saying this, good art takes time. making art is something that is best done in a well thought out way. sometimes art doesnt get completed due to lack of time, other times art doesnt get completed because people may be unsure of what to do. its not always easy to draw becuase you may start going one way and then do one thing that changes the entirety of the peice. if they are unable to solve the visual challeges it will be next to impossible to make good art. in AP studio art i hope to solve the visual problems i have and use different mediums along the way. i havent quite found a medium i like and maybe by trying different things and exploringand different mediums i will find one i like and one that im good at.
Chapter one of Art and Fear takes on a deeper insight of what art really is. It explains how people can portray what their idea of art is. This includes how art can make someone feel or the way it pulls and tuggs on certain emotions. This book seems to really tell what everyone really thinks of the whole process of art. Even though this book seems generic, the facts about hoe behind every piece of art is a mental process and journey, are very true. And how only once in a great while, or once in a century, a genuis is born; all of that seems very true. Today, there are not as many great artists producing great art as there once was back a few centuries ago. As time passes people change and as our generation springs up, hopefully a new artistic genuis will be born and carry on the great line of great artists there once was centuries ago.
This is great!
Art is done in a very unique style in my eyes. To me when i look at people construsctiong art that they are bringing their ideas to life. this is a hard concept for some people to do that sometimes they dont know how to bring their ideas to like. As an artist i have a real issue when starting on a project that i know where i want to go with it. With my pottery i may just start and fail but i will always start again. This has to be one of the bigest draw back to making art is those failures and drive people away me including. AP art i hope is going to help me bring the idea that failure is good for art and will make you a better artist once you have learned to accept what your failures were. So when i sit at the potters wheel i see a ball of clay and that is all i see till i start throwing the pot. I will change my mind several times over the making of one pot or sulpture that sometime it ends up ruining the whole peice. this has to be the biggest problem i face as an artist of being undecisive.
I hope I’m putting this comment in the right spot, but I’m not really sure. (1.)To me, art gets done through a variety of different means. Most prominently, art gets done through an artist being focused and working hard on said artwork. But behind that, it is also important for an artist to evaluate and decide what is and isn’t working. Without this, it’s hard to really get art done in the long-term. (2.) Often, It doesn’t get done because artists feel that they don’t have the time to put in the stressful hours needed to complete a good piece. Sometimes, and for me as well, it can also be very intimidating when you feel like you have a great idea in your head, but it’s hard to really envision it and translate it to paper. (3.) Some of the reasoning for these difficulties is that people have a difficult time translating ideas, like I said earlier, and also that they make lots of assumptions about creating art that they shouldn’t. Many people think that they just are and always will be inherently bad at art, and don’t feel that they can better themselves through practice. This lack of motivation just enhances the difficulties and stops many people from even trying to make artwork. (4.) The main thing that I’m looking to achieve from this class is to branch out and explore art and find who I really am as an artist. I’m not really sure what I want to do with my future, but I do really like making art so I want to explore it is much as I can. Also, I hope to be able to just have fun with it and have time to be creative.
Art gets done because we have enough dedicated people to pursue their talents and perfect their skills. The problem is that when people doubt either their own abilities or their own talent, the creation of art ceases. So much about being an artist assumes that one must have confidence not only in his/her abilities, but also in his/her capacity to improve. In our era, we have reached an impasse where art creation is not only financially infeasable, but also minimally rewarding. In consequence, it is difficult to find purpose and satisfaction in art making, especially when artists find only a small percentage of their work successful. But as art and fear articulates, to be human is to be an artist: making and learning from mistakes necessitate improvement, which can in turn spawn greatness. It is this future goal for greatness that artists must envision from day one to remain on the path for success.
I hope to gain greater confidence in my own ability for greatness as I take A.P. Studio Art. It’s easy to become discouraged about one’s own work, especially when the result disagrees with the vision. With hard work and investment in my own talents however, I can overcome such a hurdle and learn to not only make successful art, but also love doing it.
I hope this is where I’m supposed to do this, so here I go.
1.) The job of getting on with your work turns upon making some basic assumptions that place the power for your actions in your own hands.
2.) Lack of inspiration, or time.
3.) Once started, if they don’t get recognition right away, they may stop and never return to art. Not everyone is going to like your art, you just have to be patient and wait for someone who will.
4.) I hope to gain more experience and skill from AP Art because I’d love to have an art-related career when I’m older.
Art gets done by putting in hours upon hours of one’s time to making a piece of art. It takes one’s undivided attention and determination to pull off a succesful piece. Sometimes art doesn’t get done because people come across a problem or an error of execution that they can not seem to resolve no matter what they do. Also, it may not get done if the artist doesn’t put in enough time to finish the piece. The nature of the difficulties include uninteresting compositions, executional errors, and time. People may find the composition they created doesn’t capture their attention enough, but they are too lazy to fix it or they just dont know how. Also, someone might just put down the wrong mark and “ruin” the piece. I hope to gain the skills and techniques of a variety of mediums in AP Studio Art. I hope to because then I can create different kinds of art with many different materials instead of just a couple.
Art making is the reflection of the artist, and what they intend to physically make. The making and accomplishing an artist’s piece confronts the emotions and intentions of the artist. This concept makes the visual creation much more than a product, but a piece of themselves. Art is done when the artist is accomplished and satisfied with their piece at the current state of time. If not, then it is unfinished, and may remain that way. David Bayles tells us in Chapter 1 that the creation of art is now facing feelings that decrease one’s confidence, self-doubt, and conflict within oneself (2). Along with these emotions, making art means overcoming these feelings and pursuing the work regardless. This is how an artist can accomplish their work.
The process of art-making is often a personal and revealing, which puts the artist in a vulnerable position. Perhaps, an artist may not pursue their work due to the lack of desire to put themselves in a position to be judged and analyzed through their pieces. Likewise, the artist may not be able to be able to accept themselves. Bayles suggests that “becoming an artist consists of learning to accept yourself, which makes your work personal, and in following your own voice, which makes your work distinctive” (3). If one who usually makes art or a person who has not experimented with artistic pieces cannot allow themselves to be shown through their work, art may not be done. Without the allowance of oneself to throw themselves into their work, the work may never be finished. Artists need confidence, perseverance and determination. Without these qualities, their art will falter and lack the strength and meaning that it is structured upon.
An artist can stop their current work due to many different factors, Largely, pieces are unfinished because what an artist envisions may not be what turned out to be on the paper, canvas, photo, wheel, or any other medium. This discouragement can lead to the ceasing of a project. Likewise, Bayles describes how the act of making art can be a desolate and fruitless task, for many artists devote their time to a product that may not be appreciated (5). Due to these factors, discouragement can be common within artists, especially when it is not a daily factor in their life. Without the need and desire to continue one’s work, it may never be a constant factor in their life.
Taking the class of AP Studio Art centers one’s focus and desire for their work, and pushes their limits in order to reach their own capabilities. When one’s limits are pushed and tested, their best pieces can arise. On the contrast, one may fail, and realize where their boundaries lay. The reason for taking this class is to learn one’s limitations and the area of focus where their work is most successful. Through these boundaries, an artist’s voice can be found, and strengthen their desire for art. Commonly, art may not be pursued after high school due to the lack in art supplies and lack in purpose. For this class, one’s work can be analyzed and critiqued for a letter grade. Outside of the educational environment intrinsic motivation is uncommon, resulting in less and less work being produced, until the artist stops. The purpose of this class is to find one’s strongest work, and learn how they can use that skill throughout any purpose of creating products.
I see it here… but I don’t see it on the page. Hmmm…