Art. It's one of the most hardest professions out there, yet I'm still eager to follow the path. Why? not just because of the job's sake but because it's something I truly have a passion for.
Throughout school teachers have planted in my head that "to be successful in art you have to be amazing at drawing, painting, anything art related. The better it replicates the subject, the better it is".
Is this the case? I think not.
Since starting this course Niall and Siobhan have opened my mind to what I thought impossible possible.
Art confuses me. I'm still unsure how pieces of art can be separated into groups of bad and good. People may look at Picasso's portraits and think "Why is he famous? What's so good about him?" or Matisse's paper cutouts, saying "My kid could do that"..well he didn't.
I guess a part of it is about the attention it gives the public. If one person talks positive about a certain person or piece it spreads and people like to join in with gossip. The same goes with someone talking bad.
Who decides what category artists are placed into? I scares me that you can't choose. Does it matter what you're labelled as, as long as you stick to what you love doing?
Jack Vettriano was the subject of the conversation. Most famous for his painting "The Singing Butler". He may be famous for his art but his work isn't accepted into the "art world". Tea towels, coasters, jigsaws and more. He's a part of the art of merchandise. The only place you're able to witness his original paintings is in Glasgow at the Kelvingrove gallery. Vettriano once said
'The art world is not a lot to do with art; it's to do
with money and power and position."
In some cases sadly this is true. Out in the creative world of music and art, you're able get amazing pieces of work by amazing artists. You're also able to get shit pieces of work by shit artists and somehow both shit and amazing artists are on the same level of income and population! Why is that? Even some amazing artists with amazing pieces of work don't get the recognition they deserve and I find that quite sad.
Starting my first year of studying art, my tutors told me to keep and open mind and never stop asking questions. I have learnt that anything can be art, even the most pointless pieces can be. They can be that bad that they're good! Which does still utterly confuses me! Who decides who gets pushed out into the open of the public?
Niall said it can be connected to who knows who and I guess that can be the case! if someone who's in the eye of the public has good connections to someone who's involve in displaying art, that could help. Also if you're an artist in the shadows and you've got good connections to artist who's known nationally or internationally, who's got good connections to people who own galleries or buy art, you could have a good chance at making it big. I guess it's all down to chance and who you're 'destined to meet'. I do believe that things work out for the best as long as you try your hardest and since this profession is so unpredictable I try and stick in that frame of mind.
Overall this post is just the small beginning of my curiosity of the art world, this post in no way can sum it all up but I'm deciding to write from my mind.
Thinking about the future of my education and career does frighten me! In high school I only enjoyed doing art as a course but I can honestly say now that I love studying it! I don't feel like I'm at college to do work but to enjoy learning and finding my path way in this never ending subject. I know it won't be easy but as Rosie said "as long as you have fire in your belly". I strongly believe that if you love what you're doing, you never have to work another day in your life and hopefully when I'm older I'll be able to proudly say that!
