Saturday, March 2, 2013

Art is Hard Work

Smoke & Mirrors - Weiner

Artists have known it for centuries: Art is hard work.


     When artworks are completed and hung on a wall or placed on a podium -- displayed in all their glory -- few people would guess the work's 'back-story' and what went into making the art.

     Clean and dressed up for a public exhibition, the Artists look like 'normal people.' To look at us, few would guess how hard making art is or how much effort and expense (not just materials, but time, thought, energy,...) goes into each piece of art. Some of us get really messy when painting. We often agonize over each step in the creative process. We go to bed and wake up thinking about it. But would we change anything about our path as artists?  Never! Art is our choice, our vocation, our way of life.

     These quotes by some of my favorite painters and sculptors help explain the idea of Art as work and a life-long and often tumultuous journey:

Henry Moore: "There's no retirement for an artist, it's your way of living and there's no end to it." [UK]
Constantin Brancusi: "Create like a god, command like a king, work like a slave." [French]
Richard Diebenkorn: "Of course, I don't go into the studio with the idea of 'saying' something - that's ludicrous. What I do is face the blank canvas, which is terrifying."
Pablo Picasso: "Inspiration exists, but it has to find us working."

                                                                         Have a wonderful and creative week!
                                                                            Yours in Art,
                                                                                Elaine


Moore

Diebenkorn
Picasso

Brancusi


4 comments:

  1. This message so resonates with me! I have been painting a lot, some dreaded series'. As you know, it is a joy and a torture! Thanks so much for sharing your blog.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. You are very welcome, Alicia!
      I am so happy to have shared something meaningful for you personally... Thank you so much for letting me know!
      I'm so glad you are still painting and growing in your own unique way.
      My best,
      Elaine

      Delete
  2. Yes! "How long it takes to paint" is only a small fraction of the time put into the work. We obsess over coffee and when we driving and as we put away the dishes, it never ends....thank you for your beautiful post!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks so much to you, also, Kellee! I am so happy that my post resonated with you! People need to know that for every hour spent physically painting there is probably anywhere from 3 to hundreds of hours spent THINKING about it!
      I am so glad my words could help.
      My Best,
      Elaine

      Delete