Artists and Painters
I've been reflecting a bit more about the art instructor that passed away last week (see my previous entry about that). He once said "I'm not an artist, I'm a painter. Picasso was an artist." It's a distinction that I think most people don't think about, even those into art. They ARE different things. Even though I'll often SAY I'm an artist, the truth is I'm not. I too am a painter. I don't generally feel the need to pour emotions or ideas out visually. Art isn't really an expression outlet for me. I like the foundation of artwork, something many artists don't concern themselves with. I like anatomy. I like color, and light, and form, and shape. I love the puzzle of it. I love the science of it. I enjoy technical proficiency. Artists don't all care about that (which explains a great deal of modern day art schools which don't really TEACH those things anymore. What they DO teach I have no clue). I'm a painter, and I love it. I use my painting ability to develope ideas that interest and entertain me (and hopefully others), but there isn't anything deep or particularly artistic about what I do. I'd consider Cynthia both an artist and a painter. She really does express what she's feeling or thinking visually through her artwork, and I think that drives her to create. The fact that she's also a great painter is something that belongs separate and is it's own unique talent, and many artists don't possess both skill sets. I think perhaps it's because I don't have that artistic need to express that explains why I don't create as often as I'd like to. I don't have that burning NEED to create. I love it. I enjoy it for sure. But I don't think I'm an artist in the larger sense of the word.