A painter's question
Let me ask all the painters/artists out there this question:
I have just looked at some work of a painter which almost made me weep, it was so sensitive and apposite (opposite of “opposite”) and it “spoke” to me. I then realised it was similar to the work of x, x and x, all of whose work I have greatly admired – and I’ll admit it – envied – in the past. What advice would you all give to me – to try to paint more in that style, to push myself, or to limit myself to what seems to be “within me” and accept its limitations?
I have just looked at some work of a painter which almost made me weep, it was so sensitive and apposite (opposite of “opposite”) and it “spoke” to me. I then realised it was similar to the work of x, x and x, all of whose work I have greatly admired – and I’ll admit it – envied – in the past. What advice would you all give to me – to try to paint more in that style, to push myself, or to limit myself to what seems to be “within me” and accept its limitations?
posted by Sheila Vaughan at 1:41 PM
20 Comments:
X, x and x have all had their chances to make apposite art, art which spoke to you, touched you and made you want to do art. Now it's your chance. The art within you has yet to be done and therefore has no limitation. How could you say no?
When my students try to copy someone else's style, one of two things usually happens: They achieve that style, but become bored with it in time. Or, their own personal style overrides the attempted copying of the work anyway, since their brains, hands and eyes are producing it. Do what you must, but your art will always be your art. Thank goodness. :-)
Hugs~
There isn't a dilemma; you can do both.
Just as you probably have old familiar friends and yet continue to make new ones, you can both work within the familiar style that you recognise as your own, and occasionally step outside your comfort zone for new, refreshing experiences.
Indeed, I'd say each type of experience supports the other- without experimentation artists become dull: yet without a clear point of departure ( a "style" they become incoherant.
Try to work out what it is about their work that affects you so and see if some of that can be incorporated into how you work. But please! don't become a copyist. Your work is distinctively yours. Let it always be so.
I agree with Tadeusz - and SamArtDog and DJ as well.
You'll be disappointed in yourself if your work becomes derivative, or trapped into what may be a transitory style or stylistic fad.
At the same time, we are all influenced by that which we love in others' art, and those influences will out - perhaps in a subconscious and less literal manner than if you "try" to work in a particular style.
If you put your heart and personality into your work, and it is meaningful to you, you can be assured that it will speak and others will be moved by your work as you are moved by those of x, x, and x artists.
Most of us have seen work by others that make us green with envy. Accept that emotion but then let it go and look at what you doing to see what you can learn from these admired artists. Everyone is influenced by someone but just as no two people have the same handwriting you will continue to have your own style because you are who you are. What is it that speaks to you from these other works? You might be able to incorporate part of that special technique or "look" or whatever into your own work. Push yourself a bit and don't ever think about "limitations." We all have some of those but pushing the envelope might take them further out than you imagine.
I'm not much of a painter, but am an artist - so I will respond.
I am moved to weep more for performance art than I am for visual art, (though have had the experience of being deeply moved by many types of art/creative expression). Recently we had the finale of "American Idol"... the second runner up gave a performance that made me weep -- it was a beautifully sung song with a deep spiritual meaning.
When I was 5, I told my mother I wanted to be a singer - and she told me in essence to think of doing something else. I was crushed, but it was the truth, I can't carry a note. Because I can not sing beautifully, when I witness a great performance I can truly admire it for what it is -- a beautiful performance; it's not for me to try and emulate, it's only for me to simply and purely enjoy.
This is not so much with visual art (especially photography). I can hardly look at anyone else's work without in a way measuring it against my own. (Some I'd like to emulate, others I want to make sure I don't emulate!). I can be chained to the "comparative" aspect of it all. I'm not free to truly and purely enjoy the work of art (photography) for what it is.
I think it always comes down to your own personal journey of which the influences of others and their great works is undoubtedly part of. Sometimes excepting your limitations allows you to more fully enjoy others work for what it is -- it isn't "yours".
I don't know about you, but no piece I've ever created is how I have imagined it... the creation takes it own course at times... to push myself for "better" seems to add a layer of control that seems to run counter to the process of creation.
My current definition of "better" for my own work is having a better "editing" eye .. for knowing what is good, and what is just novelty, but not necessarily to do something better technically, nor to do something in the likeness of what I perceive to be "better" than what I've previously produced - if that makes sense.
Marietta
hi Sheila, i love copying in order to 'get into the master's mind' as it were and it serves me well when i go back to work alone.
we are told so often to copy the masters. when do we stop? i guess before we become masters at faking paintings:)
Thanks to all you generous people. I felt it was an interesting topic for anyone into the paint pushing business but it was - and is - especially interesting to me. I shall save your words of wisdom and your wonderful stories, honestly, and they'll remind me of what it's all about. Because I think the general consensus of opinion here is that I can't help but be me - even if I would like to be someone else. So I can try out different approaches, different techniques, and in the end I'll still paint the painting that is me. Unless as Rahina says, I become an art forger :-D, something that has always held a frisson of excitement for me. But then it would take up too much time and I've got miles to go before I sleep, as the guy said. Thank you, thank you once again. Nice people.
"Don't worry about your originality. You could not get rid of it even if you wanted to. It will stick to you and show you up for better or worse in spite of all you or anyone else can do." -Robert Henri
I'm maybe a bit late to the game and going against the grain, but don't be afraid of even doing an outright copy. It's not like your style will shrivel up and fall off. We learn to paint by pushing the paint and can add to our own bag of tricks by experimenting with someone else's.
I found your blog quite by accident and think your work is lovely.
Jen, thanks. I should have known Henri would come up with an appropriate insight! As to the copying, yes, I agree, it does no harm and there's a possibility of learning a lot in the process. So far I have only "copied" the 19th and 20th century Masters, never tried to copy more recent artists - just for the practise I mean and to find out "how did they do that?"
Man, if you figure out the answer to this, then please let ME know!!
Jala, I think the answer lies in a mix of all the responses here. In a way although on the surface there appears to be a "dilemma" as Tadeusz says, there isn't really a dilemma underneath. I am finding what DJ says is true - that you can "consciously" copy someone's style but once you relax into the painting and begin to work intuitively, you can't keep it up. Your own way will be determined to express itself. If you choose to suppress your innate intuition then maybe you can become a "clone" of some other artist but few of us can or want to do that. My intention always is to tap into my intuition rather than suppress it so I can see now that asking the question in the first place was a little contradictory.
Having said that I do think that because we find one artist's work speaks to us more than another does mean that there is a reason for that, so something in us is responding to something in them (there may be some innate similarities in the approach - but that's all they are - "similarities" and not identical responses to the process of selecting, working on and completing "a painting"). I suppose it is natural that human beings should share similar feelings, emotions, ways of being and living. It's interesting, eh?
Right, I think DJ condensed it best. You can't help but bring yourself to your paintings.
I also have done a few copies of masters and a few of some contemporaries here in the blogosphere. I've seen my paintings change over time as I incorporate brushwork and change up my palette a bit. It helps me grow and shows me possibilities.
Your work is beautiful, Sheila.
Hi Mary, thanks for your contribution there. I love your marsh painting by the way!
This is a great question, and one Somerset Maugham seems to have
contemplated, re his own skills, as writer.
Supposedly he decided he knew what his limitations were, and then doggedly wrote as well as he could, within those real, or imagined,
boundaries. Personally I think one should always push those boundaries.
William, how very interesting. I don't think I ever read Maugham for some strange reason. (At university I did American literature rather than English). Well, I don't know - trying to push oneself continuously is actually quite stressful I have found so maybe Maugham had something there. Maybe if you're 21 years of age it's different but I want to enjoy the experience of painting and to some extent that means not always trying to push boundaries. Seeing much admired work of other painters can be both a blessing and a trial! Thanks for visiting and for your interesting comment.
Hi Sheila, I have been thinking about your question and I remembered a post written by another blogger, Dan Schultz, who said it better than I could.
http://www.danschultzfineart.com/blog/?p=274
Check it out and tell me what you think. BTW I LOVE your work!!!!!
Thanks Loriann - I have just checked out Dan's blog and he said something that I have never heard before in the many online conversations I have read and participated in on this subject. He said "Discover your favourite way to paint and master it". That is so simple (although, I know - you might like pecan pie and new york cheesecake both equally but hey who said you can't have two favourites, LOL). I think it's the "master it" bit which is equally important. It's taken me one step further on anyway so thank you Loriann. Thanks also for the compliment on my work. It is reciprocated. Your landscapes are sublime.
So simple, but SO important.....I guess it's just like life...be yourself. that is what will make your work unique and beautiful...like it already is.
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