Encouraging myself...Srsly.
Serious Artist by Robert Genn June 19, 2009
I'm out here on a rocky Donegal foreland. Below, on the beach, one of those smart-looking black-and-white Irish farm dogs is running loose. With no master in sight, the dog has a tennis ball she tosses in the air, chases and sometimes catches. Hit or miss, each attempt is announced with a joyful bark. She's telling me something: "Come on, Bob, loosen up. Put joy into that stuff. Get a life. Don't take yourself so seriously."
Everyone has heard of the "serious artist." The term has a lot of different meanings. To a person who paints only on Sundays, one who paints every day might be one. An artist whose work is difficult to understand may consider those who paint understandable things "not serious." On the other hand, realistic artists sometimes consider modernists to be only wanking the public and therefore not serious. Some think serious artists are those who deal with serious subject matter--poverty, war, politics, injustice, etc. Except for a bit of irony once in a while, these folks don't generally think humour has its place in art. You may know of artists who take themselves so seriously they become significant hazards at dinner parties.
Hey, it's okay to be serious about honing technique, learning the ropes and trying to understand the muse.
When I was younger and much more idealistic, I used to worry I was not serious enough. In my studies, I eventually got around to the critic Bernard Berenson and was relieved by his idea that art ought to be life-enhancing and not life-deprecating. I figured it was okay to please, both myself and others. Anger and angst were just fine for anyone else.
Further, I've always thought that in an ideal state people should do only what they love--perhaps an impossible, hedonistic position. I'm sticking to it. The pursuit of personal joy is serious business.
To experience joy one has to consider play. The British writer G.K. Chesterton said, "Children's play is the most serious thing." Unfortunately, age and accumulated wisdom tend to interfere with play. It's a human condition. Or is it?
That dog down there is seriously immature, but she has a wisdom that is worth looking into.
Best regards,
Robert
PS: "We have an infinite number of reasons to be happy, and a serious responsibility not to be serious." (Maharishi Mahesh Yogi)
Esoterica: "God," said Voltaire, "is a comedian playing to an audience too afraid to laugh." Obviously, some folks think all this seriousness is a byproduct of a great cosmic joke. And these little stretchy things--these canvases and the stuff we mark them up with--are truncated playgrounds of the human soul. In the end, it is we who can become the master jokers. "It is not necessary for the public to know whether I'm joking or whether I'm serious," said Salvador Dali, "just as it is not necessary for me to know it myself."
Current clickback: Just a reminder looks at the ways creative people can keep in touch with one another, and the value of the Sisterhood and Brotherhood of artists. Lots of artists wrote on this one.
Read this letter online and see a range of opinions on the serious business of play. Serious readers can also write directly to Robert at rgenn@saraphina.com.
Please take a look at our newest feature The Painter's Post. Links to art information, inspiration and unmitigated fun.
If a friend of yours is trying to subscribe to the Twice-Weekly letter via Constant Contact, please let them know that as well as subscribing they must confirm their subscription. This is to prevent it going to people who really don't want it.
Featured Responses: Alternative to the instant Live Comments, Featured Responses are illustrated and edited for content. If you would like to submit your own for possible inclusion, please do so. Just click 'reply' on this letter or write to rgenn@saraphina.com.
Get serious! A Premium Art Listing in the Painter's Keys Art Directory is the most effective thing an artist can do to be tastefully and respectably noticed. This listing--really a mini web page--costs $100 per year and we do all the set-Just a reminder looks at the ways creative people can keep in touch with one another, and the value of the Sisterhood and Brotherhood of artists. Lots of artists wrote on this one.
Read this letter online and see a range of opinions on the serious business of play. Serious readers can also write directly to Robert at rgenn@saraphina.com.
Please take a look at our newest feature The Painter's Pup. Find out how well it might work for you.
ETA: I tried again to make an LJ cut and it decided to work today?!?
I'm out here on a rocky Donegal foreland. Below, on the beach, one of those smart-looking black-and-white Irish farm dogs is running loose. With no master in sight, the dog has a tennis ball she tosses in the air, chases and sometimes catches. Hit or miss, each attempt is announced with a joyful bark. She's telling me something: "Come on, Bob, loosen up. Put joy into that stuff. Get a life. Don't take yourself so seriously."
Everyone has heard of the "serious artist." The term has a lot of different meanings. To a person who paints only on Sundays, one who paints every day might be one. An artist whose work is difficult to understand may consider those who paint understandable things "not serious." On the other hand, realistic artists sometimes consider modernists to be only wanking the public and therefore not serious. Some think serious artists are those who deal with serious subject matter--poverty, war, politics, injustice, etc. Except for a bit of irony once in a while, these folks don't generally think humour has its place in art. You may know of artists who take themselves so seriously they become significant hazards at dinner parties.
Hey, it's okay to be serious about honing technique, learning the ropes and trying to understand the muse.
When I was younger and much more idealistic, I used to worry I was not serious enough. In my studies, I eventually got around to the critic Bernard Berenson and was relieved by his idea that art ought to be life-enhancing and not life-deprecating. I figured it was okay to please, both myself and others. Anger and angst were just fine for anyone else.
Further, I've always thought that in an ideal state people should do only what they love--perhaps an impossible, hedonistic position. I'm sticking to it. The pursuit of personal joy is serious business.
To experience joy one has to consider play. The British writer G.K. Chesterton said, "Children's play is the most serious thing." Unfortunately, age and accumulated wisdom tend to interfere with play. It's a human condition. Or is it?
That dog down there is seriously immature, but she has a wisdom that is worth looking into.
Best regards,
Robert
PS: "We have an infinite number of reasons to be happy, and a serious responsibility not to be serious." (Maharishi Mahesh Yogi)
Esoterica: "God," said Voltaire, "is a comedian playing to an audience too afraid to laugh." Obviously, some folks think all this seriousness is a byproduct of a great cosmic joke. And these little stretchy things--these canvases and the stuff we mark them up with--are truncated playgrounds of the human soul. In the end, it is we who can become the master jokers. "It is not necessary for the public to know whether I'm joking or whether I'm serious," said Salvador Dali, "just as it is not necessary for me to know it myself."
Current clickback: Just a reminder looks at the ways creative people can keep in touch with one another, and the value of the Sisterhood and Brotherhood of artists. Lots of artists wrote on this one.
Read this letter online and see a range of opinions on the serious business of play. Serious readers can also write directly to Robert at rgenn@saraphina.com.
Please take a look at our newest feature The Painter's Post. Links to art information, inspiration and unmitigated fun.
If a friend of yours is trying to subscribe to the Twice-Weekly letter via Constant Contact, please let them know that as well as subscribing they must confirm their subscription. This is to prevent it going to people who really don't want it.
Featured Responses: Alternative to the instant Live Comments, Featured Responses are illustrated and edited for content. If you would like to submit your own for possible inclusion, please do so. Just click 'reply' on this letter or write to rgenn@saraphina.com.
Get serious! A Premium Art Listing in the Painter's Keys Art Directory is the most effective thing an artist can do to be tastefully and respectably noticed. This listing--really a mini web page--costs $100 per year and we do all the set-Just a reminder looks at the ways creative people can keep in touch with one another, and the value of the Sisterhood and Brotherhood of artists. Lots of artists wrote on this one.
Read this letter online and see a range of opinions on the serious business of play. Serious readers can also write directly to Robert at rgenn@saraphina.com.
Please take a look at our newest feature The Painter's Pup. Find out how well it might work for you.
ETA: I tried again to make an LJ cut and it decided to work today?!?