Wednesday 11 May 2011
Ears 'n' Holes
Friday 6 May 2011
"Anyone can take a photo, it takes skill to draw"
Tonight I was shocked by a conversation turned nasty argument with a former Grays School of Art Painting Graduate ' Jonathan Shearer' (graduated in 1993).
www.jonathanshearer.co.uk
As I'm sure all artists do, I constantly have to fight my corner for choosing to study Art at University. The term 'Micky Mouse Course' has been thrown my way a few times and has stuck in my mind. To be undermined by another artist and told what I am devoting the rest of my life to is not art, is quite frankly unacceptable. I'm ashamed that this way of thinking is a product of the University that I love to be a part of.
It is not a requirement of my degree to be a skilled painter or drawer although, when appropriate, these skills can be exercised. I do occasionally use drawing as a tool to better convey my ideas/resolutions and due to the nature of my chosen course, if I felt it was right to do so, I could submit paintings, sculptures, written works etc. This is not to say by any means that myself, or anyone else that chooses to pursue a career in photography, film or audio does not have a talent for these things.
The requirement of drawing to be awarded the title of a 'real artist' is an archaic and utterly ridiculous and narrow-minded way of thinking. So you're a landscape painter, yes this requires technical ability, which I grant that you have, but the content of the work is documentary at best. If you can learn to write, you can most definitely learn to draw or paint. One of the turning points for me considering myself an actual 'artist' was when I was taught how to convey an idea through visual language (the content of the work and it's connotations). This to me is probably the most important stage of art-making (within my field). This is complex and very difficult to perfect. On top of that of course there is technical ability, just with painting and drawing it takes a lot of time to get these skills under your belt. I don't want to make art for arts sake and become commercial, I don't really care if I make money or not and certainly don't feel I need financial gratification to be deemed 'successful' in the art world.
I have always considered Grays School of Art to be an unpretentious and open learning environment that nurtures not only technical ability but also the minds of the students, teaching us how to see the world in different ways and to penetrate a deeper level of meaning and perception. So to hear from a former student (especially so close to the looming hand-in) that what I do, what I love to do, is not considered 'art', I'll be honest got me quite angry indeed! Although I may have to thank you Jonathan, you pissed me off so much with your condescending bullshit that I now have the energy to get everything done and to prove you wrong.
www.jonathanshearer.co.uk
As I'm sure all artists do, I constantly have to fight my corner for choosing to study Art at University. The term 'Micky Mouse Course' has been thrown my way a few times and has stuck in my mind. To be undermined by another artist and told what I am devoting the rest of my life to is not art, is quite frankly unacceptable. I'm ashamed that this way of thinking is a product of the University that I love to be a part of.
It is not a requirement of my degree to be a skilled painter or drawer although, when appropriate, these skills can be exercised. I do occasionally use drawing as a tool to better convey my ideas/resolutions and due to the nature of my chosen course, if I felt it was right to do so, I could submit paintings, sculptures, written works etc. This is not to say by any means that myself, or anyone else that chooses to pursue a career in photography, film or audio does not have a talent for these things.
The requirement of drawing to be awarded the title of a 'real artist' is an archaic and utterly ridiculous and narrow-minded way of thinking. So you're a landscape painter, yes this requires technical ability, which I grant that you have, but the content of the work is documentary at best. If you can learn to write, you can most definitely learn to draw or paint. One of the turning points for me considering myself an actual 'artist' was when I was taught how to convey an idea through visual language (the content of the work and it's connotations). This to me is probably the most important stage of art-making (within my field). This is complex and very difficult to perfect. On top of that of course there is technical ability, just with painting and drawing it takes a lot of time to get these skills under your belt. I don't want to make art for arts sake and become commercial, I don't really care if I make money or not and certainly don't feel I need financial gratification to be deemed 'successful' in the art world.
I have always considered Grays School of Art to be an unpretentious and open learning environment that nurtures not only technical ability but also the minds of the students, teaching us how to see the world in different ways and to penetrate a deeper level of meaning and perception. So to hear from a former student (especially so close to the looming hand-in) that what I do, what I love to do, is not considered 'art', I'll be honest got me quite angry indeed! Although I may have to thank you Jonathan, you pissed me off so much with your condescending bullshit that I now have the energy to get everything done and to prove you wrong.
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