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carrolls_art
Posts:45
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| 04/24/2007 9:43 AM |
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Retha,
Thanks for quoting that earlier entry to this subject. He's right, and tha's just all there is to it.
Claudia,
You are right on the mark too. We all have a desire to make something! Even people who say they aren't creative really are. Just not in the ways they are taught are the "accepted" creative fields. My sister, who plays the piano beautifully, always says, "I'm just not creative like you". Of course she is, just in a different way.
Thank you for your comments.
Carroll |
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Marian
Posts:183
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| 05/05/2007 2:57 AM |
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It is so interesting reading all of your comments. I guess we humans are all so alike in so many ways. Clint's comments about creating because we are created in His image are an interesting take. Everyone has said things that I have thought and felt in my journey also. I think the last one that Claudia posted made me really think, though. .................. As a teacher I never felt the need to "sell" ideas or creative techniques for the classroom to others... I gave them away and was thrilled when my students or colleagues found them good enough to try for themselves... ... As a good cook or a knitter I would never judge the quality or value of my husband's gourmet meals or my mom's sweaters on whether they sold them vs. simply offered them to those lucky enough to receive them...... Why then, should I feel I need to SELL my art for it to have value or to be considered "good". It's a strange expectation so many of us have given ourselves as artists!!
I don't know that I won't keep trying to sell or to share my work in shows but I think all of you AND Claudia for reminding me about the joy and the value of the creative process and to try not to care as much about selling or showing..... I should give away more of those paintings I have in my spare room... Maybe they will be treasures to someone else ... If not .. my pile of paintings stacked against the wall will at least be smaller. |
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Sometimes we paint to see more clearly or to feel more deeply.
Marian
www.marianfortunati.com
www.fortunatifineart.com |
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Workinforwood
Posts:17
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| 07/03/2007 2:52 PM |
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| I know that I create art because I enjoy the challenges and the feeling of accomplishment upon completion. I still consider myself an amateur, simply because I don't believe I've mastered ever possibility out there, which I guess means I'll probably always be an amateur. I sure do know about rejection, as I've been rejected from every magazine I've ever submitted too, although in live competition, I have never lost. I understand the woe's of trying to price and sell items as well. I have no idea's really on the costs of a painters materials, but I know the prices for exotic woods, and they sure are expensive. My walls are constantly expanding, just as it sounds like many of yours are as well, although I am lucky enough to have obtained a full time dealer, which does help ease wall space. You can't sell anything here in Michigan, and the better you might be, the harder it will be, because nobody has money in this state. What I have realized though, is that I just don't care. The money into the art is just money, and no price can really be put on a persons happiness. Art is not supposed to be a job, but rather something you do that is fun. So every once in a while, someone buys something, and that's great, and when they don't, it's great too. |
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onenpoppin
Posts:69
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| 07/14/2007 2:43 PM |
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| I just HAVE to!!! I NEED to make something out of nothing, no matter what medium ir is. It satisfies my soul...and if someone else is touched by it...well....I'm in heaven! |
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Linda Haney |
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onenpoppin
Posts:69
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| 07/14/2007 9:59 PM |
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| I HAVE to create! I don't feel good unless I'm doing something with my hands. Be it painting, crocheting, gardening..... something! I need the feeling of adventure that it gives me to create. |
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Linda Haney |
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rannlot
Posts:9
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| 08/06/2007 7:42 PM |
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| because all day long at work I am doing what someone else has in mind....paitning gives me freedom |
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vikingwife
Posts:878
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| 08/07/2007 10:11 AM |
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....because I spend all day taking care of my husband and the kids....and art is the only thing that I do specifically FOR MYSELF. It helps me retain MY identity besides being "someone's mom or someone's wife." Only wish I had long hours to spend on it instead of minutes here and there!
As for creating art for other people to view....it helps to bring into view places and ideas that some people might not have ever have otherwise been exposed to. I get so inspired to create when I look at some of the work on this site.  And I've found that seeing some of the subject matter of the other artists here has helped ME to find potential subjects in my area that 6 months ago I might have overlooked.
Jess |
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zansongs
Posts:3
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| 08/10/2007 6:55 AM |
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| I'm a painter, woodcarver, cabinet maker, songwriter, and luthier (guitar builder) I don't know why but I just have to be creating to be happy. It seems on days when my job keeps me from my crafts, I get pretty frustrated. The muse gets bottled up and I can get pretty grumpy. Just ask my family LOL |
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eyecandy
Posts:162
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| 08/13/2007 10:46 AM |
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I understand where you're coming from and I too love to create paintings of portraits and landscapes. I try to create what I call "eyecandy". No political messages, only a window into something beautiful. And I too have a closet full of paintings and my walls are covered with my art. I've sold some works and given some away. However, I've learned that it is not wise to give your art work away. I you give it away for nothing in return, in most cases, that is what it will be worth to the recipient and will end up in a bin in their basement or attic. If I were younger (I'm 83), I would have the strength to go out and make a real effort to exhibit and sell, but I no longer have the strength for that, so I try to use the internet for my forum. I might add that I am just learning about this forum thanks to a recent article in "The Artist Magazine". Good luck to you.
Phil Sydell (eyecandy)
phil-4a@comcast.net
http://paintingsofphilsydell.spaces.live.com/
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Phil Sydell
Boynton Beach, Fl
phil-4a@comcast.net or phil4a@msn.com |
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The Red Hatter
Posts:5
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| 08/23/2007 8:49 AM |
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| Art isn't optional. You can try and bottle all those emotions inside you, or you can share them with others. Art is a way of affirming our humantiy and validating our emotions. We place our soul where others can see them. That's why selling art is sometimes like making a deal with the devil. You sell your soul. But you have to. You can't not paint, once you've done it. No matter how good you are or how much time you have. Art is mandatory. Art is a child standing next to you, shouting in your ear. You can ignore it, or you can just do what it says. |
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Larimar Osprey
Posts:60
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| 08/23/2007 11:33 AM |
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| It's a need, an urgent, pressing need to portray character, emotion, mood. To explore lines and colors in all their infinite variations. To create things of beauty, even if that beauty is not apparent to most. For example, recently I was studying a rainy windshield at night, with the red lights of the preceding cars glowing on it. Painfully beautiful. |
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http://mistywolf.deviantart.com |
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Jill
Posts:3
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| 09/04/2007 4:31 PM |
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Would you believe I paint mainly because I believe God gave me the talent, and I feel it's my responsibility to use what He gives us? I actually wish I had the passion for it that I had as a kid. I'd be a much better artist if I did. I do really enjoy parts of the process, but I'd rather LOVE it like so many of you do. I think someday the "I've got to be painting" feeling will return. What do you think?
Jill
jpwatercolors.com |
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joemir
Posts:3
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| 09/11/2007 2:58 PM |
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For whatever reason we all create art it has to be the adulation of those viewing our creations that keep us going, whether or not we profit financially (which we'd all like to do) I think the gratification of knowing that we have pleased someone other than ourselves makes us happy. I too like most of you have given away works as gifts (Christmas and Birthdays, etc) but if really feels good to know that someone else appreciates our work. I started drawing as a yougster, thru high school and although I never attended a formal art school I have continued throughout my adult life. I had my first show at the age of 63 and have sold very few works but I'll continue as long as I am able to paint.
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Quantumluxuries
Posts:15
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| 10/04/2007 12:30 PM |
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Carol, If you work at a church then I think I can speak freely about God. I believe god is wanting to express Himself thru you and your art and id you can believe then your art can be purchased. There is a fabulous book called Travelers Journey that will give you some thing to think about. When it all comes down to it you just have to believe Jesus when He said "Ask and it shall be given to you IF you believe you have already received it." A very strange saying indeed But every successful Guru says the same thing.Even the book The Secret and the law of Attraction, even though they don't totally have it right they are pointing people in the general direction. Start to study these things and you will get it. There is a freebie book online called The Science of getting Rich" that is fabulous and is people paying you fairly for your work and you giving them more than they pay your part.
I think God has great plans for your art but are you moving in that direction daily as if you are already successful. Are you each day taking a step as if your art was selling. Part of you is that keeps producing more.Don't stop.
I do have an idea of what you could do with all of these. Can I see any of them online?
Diligence
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wahwah
Posts:8
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| 10/18/2007 9:48 AM |
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one who sees
Posts:508
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| 10/19/2007 10:08 AM |
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hoh boy is this a question and a half....phew...as multi faceted as we are....
why do i create?...its like living and breathing for me...it involves everything i am..i love nature so i try to recreate it, in my gardening, my decorating and in my artwork....
i love to read, and devour art books, bios on artists, styles techniques ect...
i love to display favorite things in my place, and when i do so i seem to use the rules of composition, contrast ect....
in other words, its in everything i do...not just my painting/drawings..
i see potential references every where i look...i see potential paintings in everything i see, be it odd or not...lol..
so in a way? i am creating in mostly anything i do...and it makes me feel whole...complete
so i strive to do more....
maybe your answer is....you must try a new medium...or style?....that you have ~leveled off~
and need to find a new direction...one that excites you more, and possibly has a better market so you CAN sell....
a painting of mine recently got great review...wont two first place ribbons...but guess where it is? on my wall....although my peers thought it fab...the general public eh...walked on by...i dont take this as failure...because i didnt paint it to sell....i painted it because the idea, concept excited me...and myabe i just didnt find the right market for it......er...yet..
you speak about creating all these pieces, and didnt post any of your work......let us see, maybe we can help?
if your not sure about a market? try picking up artists and graphic designers market, novemeber will have the new 2008 version..
marketing yourself? is not an easy task....you need to produce your work fifty percent of the time...and work at marketing it fifty percent of the time....and success rate might be? two percent!
can i pay the mortgage yet? naw...but no reason nor even a choice for me....to cease what i live and breathe to do...~wink~ |
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~I am always doing what I cannot do yet, in order to learn how to do it~
Vincent Van Gogh
www.bettyannlemist.com |
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wahwah
Posts:8
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| 10/19/2007 3:19 PM |
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I make art because it feels good. It's unexplainable but I'm okay with that. Been a musician for many years and ofcourse never "made it" The point now is to create. I cannot sing but have lots to say so I say it with the music. Now I find I can also say it with paintings.Not that I even know what I'm saying but when the painting is done I know it because I get that same feeling I get when I finish saying something. There ...That's it... I'm done. I dont try to figure out what the message is. I hope one day some people will want my paintings , not for the little bit of money I'd make but so that pieces of me are left kickin around when I'm not
I have a great appreciation for art so I'm assuming someone will have that appreciation for my stuff. I have a ton to learn as far as techniques go. I make art to reveal myself. |
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part time artist
Posts:21
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| 10/20/2007 4:36 PM |
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| why Create art? because its the one thing i do for myself and its my sanity! I work as a teaching assistant all week and its a wonderful but very stressful job..painting and drawing is the best way in the world to relax...when i am painting or drawing I completely lose myself in what I'm doing.no sense of time at all...my husband complains that he talks to me and I just dont hear him LOL |
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carrolls_art
Posts:45
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| 10/24/2007 10:04 AM |
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Wow! In the past year this has really sparked a lot of wonderful and interesting responses. Through things you all have said and my own growth, I'm less concerned now with selling and more interested in responding to my own desires to create what I see in my mind's eye. I make fewer pieces of art but spend more time on each, more thought, more prayer, and so on. I hope that the question "Why make art?" continues to strike a chord and make us think as we create. To me, that makes each work more personal and important.
A couple of you recently asked to see my work, and I thought I had some on the Welcome Wagon forum, but I can't find them. So, here are a couple or three. Also there is one piece in the Mixed Media forum under "Colored Pencil and more".
1. Colored Pencil 16x20 "Jessie"
2. Colored Pencil 16x20 "Spirit and Fire"
3. Colored Pencil and Collage 16x20 "Tea Rose"
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StillRotraut
Posts:14
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| 10/24/2007 12:40 PM |
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| Making things that live in my head - memories that really grabbed me - is the stuff that makes the later years worthwhile. The irresistable pull of curiosity - will I be able to bring out what I saw, felt, am I good enough to get really close to what I want to show? Sometimes that happens to fair satisfaction - but sometimes there seems to be a gremlin in the brushes that kicks and pushes and fights the most favoured color study, until I take it down from the clothes line and let the gremlin have its way. Those are the paintings that I scratch my head about and initially can't really like - they are somewhat disappointing, because my intense memory did not show. I take those and turn them against the wall and promise myself, not to look at them for about three months. After that time, I sometimes have great big surprises coming. When I see them again, I see them for what they are - not what they were supposed to be. Still - they often have a related feeling and the initial memory has a new perspective .... What I am trying to say, is, that living this way is really a deeply satisfying life - like I want it to be. One of the reasons that making beautiful things gives back so much |
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