Is Making Art Really Work?

Peach Roses

Oil on Canvas
16 x 20
2008

The common perception that art is not really work is sometimes perpetuated by accomplished artists who make creating beauty seem effortless. I am not so sure keeping that myth alive is a bad thing.

Most people, even those who believe artists are slackers, are amazed at what we do and think we are somehow touched by the gods in order to do it. They are unaware of the deep thought and discipline it takes to make the magic happen.

Creating art can be, and often is, frustrating, and emotionally and intellectually challenging work. But I want my audience to believe that my work is a natural extension of who I am and how I see the world. I want them to believe that my painting simply flowed out of me naturally. I certainly want to believe that of other artists. But I know better - it is hard work.

But what wonderful work it is! When I am painting and am truly in the flow of the work - when time stands still; lost in the moment; the magic happening, seemingly, from outside of my control - IT ROCKS !

Those are the moments worth all the sweat and tears that mastering our craft requires.

Thank you Stacey Peterson for prompting these thoughts.

Support the House Artist Deduction Bill

OK. This is a repost. But this issue will not go away until congress passes this bill.

Most artists are generous people. They often give their time and talent to others with little or no reward. But current tax law discourages artists from donating their art to non-profit organizations. The U.S. tax system accords unequal treatment to creators and collectors who donate tangible works (e.g., paintings or manuscripts) to museums, libraries, educational or other collecting institutions. This severely effects public art collections and non-profit fund raising efforts. While collectors may take a tax deduction for the fair-market value of the work, the artist may deduct only their "basis" value—essentially the cost of materials such as paint and canvas.

For example, I recently sold a small painting, "The Rugged Vase," for $900. If the collector now donates the painting to an educational institution he could deduct the $900. Had I not sold that painting but donated it to the same school, I could deduct only $30, the cost paint and canvas.

On March 13, 2007, H.R. 1524 - The Artist-Museum Partnership Act was referred to the House Ways and Means Committee.

Please urge your congressperson to co-sponsor H.R.1524, which would allow artists to take a fair-market value deduction for works given to and retained by nonprofit institutions.

It is easy to do. Americans for the Arts Web site has more information and a simple form that enables you to quickly write to your congressperson.

Please spread the word!

Does Art Matter? Listen to Milton Glaser!

I have always felt in my heart that art and beauty mattered. That maybe beauty alone can help change the world for the good. When I listen to Beethoven or Mozart, art and beauty matters. When I see paintings by Vermeer or Chardin, art and beauty matter. Milton Glaser sheds some light on the truth that art not only matters but might just help stop us from killing each other. Glaser is an amazing designer and artist whose nearly six decades of changing the world through his work bring wisdom that no artist should ignore.

Future Vision?

I was recently reminded of my grandfather's good friend, Alan Dunn. For over twenty years, Dunn was a very successful cartoonist for New Yorker and known for his sophisticated humor and coarse charcoal drawing style. My grandfather told me about Dunn's other side. He and Dunn would go on watercolor expeditions. He knew that Dunn deeply wished to also be know for his watercolor paintings. His watercolor work was exquisite and subtle, having little in common with his cartoon work. The public wasn't interested in the watercolors. They wanted what they expected from Dunn and nothing else.

On the other hand Picasso was able to work in several visual languages a time and find an audience for them all.

It is fascinating, and frustrating. There are no hard and fast rules in what makes art appealing to an audience.

I hope that learning my craft, doing the best work I know how, and being true to my vision will bring coherence to my body of work. I do have to make choices in the subject and approach. That means choosing some things over others in order to consciously guide where that body of work is going.

I wish I could say that that conviction is leading me to a solid vision of what that body of work will look like in the future. It does not. But that is part of adventure. And whether the market will be embrace or reject the work - well, I will do everything that I know how to let the world know my work it there. The rest is in God's hands.