Pedalling Uphill

We see a lot of stuff today in the media that is quite horrifying but somehow, just when you think you’re becoming immune to it all, something pops up that can just make you sick to your stomach!  Guillermo Habacuc Vargas.  Remember that name.  He calls himself an artist but he’s really a sicko and a possibly a psyhcopath.  Take a look at this link  http://aspcacommunity.ning.com/group/stopping and see what he considers part of his exhibition.  I think what troubles me most is that no other person stepped in to put a stop to it.  They just turned their backs to the misery.  Costa Rica should be really proud to claim this guy as their citizen.Â

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We’re often asked by friends and customers,  “so what type of art is selling out there today?”  And truthfully I tell them, Fart (Fast Art Real Trendy) is what it’s all about in today’s market.

The Merriam Dictionary defines art as “the concious use of skill and creative imagination especially in the production of aesthetic objects” or “a skill acquired by experience, study or observation”.  They seem to have left out the word ‘passion’.

Fart on the other hand is defined: “to expel intestinal gas from the anus.” 

So how do I equate one with the other?  Well, even if you go back to the early cave man drawings and throughout art history, art in it’s most simplistic form, was something that a human being did to leave behind a record of their thoughts, experiences, visions and passions.  It came from deep within their sometimes tortured souls, something that drove them on, sometimes through incredible personal physical or mental struggles, to recreate an image that would inspire or shock, like a slap in the face, or even compel people to hand over hard earned income to be able to possess a piece of that passion.  Amongst those artists, there were always a few who were lucky enough to find that their vision corresponded with the visions of the masses and very fortunately for themselves, they earned a good living from their work.

But to get back to today’s Fart… if you break down the definition of ‘fart’,  the dictionary cites expel as meaning ‘to force out’, intestinal as meaning ‘affecting, occuring’ and gaseousness, ‘lacking substance or solidarity’.  And herein lies the twist;  today, with money being the new god, people who would ordinarily not give a hoot about art but are skilled craftsmen, are producing or forcing out products lacking in substance, but being labeled art and that has affected the art market worldwide.

However, this is not meant to be a bitter observation…merely to point out that times change…when a big televison over the fireplace mantel replaces a fine piece of art;  when people want ‘big’ ‘cheap’ and ‘matching the furniture’ things to hang on their walls, the market must serve and true artists must be prepared to take a back seat.  But just like any gas, this trend will eventually run its course and we will see if the market will once again come to value that which can’t be mass produced. Â

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I just received a notice that my painting ‘The War Horse’ has been ripped off and reproduced by an L. Hunt and sold on e Bay.  Apparently she has done this many times…it’s very bizarre to see an image that has come out of your head and partly from a photograph I took of a horse while doing my OWN fieldwork and see the exact copy and someone else’s signature at the bottom.

This is becoming more and more common and some days I think I would just like to shut down my website and no longer contribute in any way to the internet.  It’s not the first time I have seen my work copied and signed with someone else’s name.  But mostly they’re students and unfortunately their teachers haven’t taught them to source their own material so they take the easier path and copy another artist’s work.

The internet can be a great tool and a lot of fun, but really, between the spammers, viruses and all the crooks and theives out there, something should be done to protect the consumer who just wants to own a computer and not have to deal with all the endless assholes looking to make a quick buck.  If cars were as dangerous to drive as computers are fraught with problems, there would be anarchy in the streets!

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September 24, 2006

I taught some watercolor art classes for adults this summer at the Tyler Place Family Resort and really enjoyed myself. I was amazed at how creative and skilled some folks are that came into the class saying they couldn’t draw a straight line. Art is so many things these days and has so many variations - no longer is it only correct to be able to draw or create something realistically. I told my students to use whatever their strengths were. If you’re good with colors, use color to create something magical. If you’re a good doodler, integrate that into your work and they did and we had some wonderful creative experiences.

If you have been thinking about painting but have hesitated because you feel you have no talent…get over it! Get yourself a box of student grade watercolor paints and a piece of cold press illustration board (art supply stores can help you) and go to work. After all, it’s not like you have to earn your living from it! You’ll surprise yourself with your hidden talents.

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