#art, Talking About Art – Chapter 5

TALKING ABOUT ART: Things to Know and Consider

Asking what is art is like asking what is life. Everyone has an answer and everyone thinks they are right. Some would say that art is something quite essential and unique to human beings, and I would tend to agree with them. Others may even think that animals are also capable of creating works of art. We have all heard about an elephant that paints, a pig, a monkey or even someone’s Pomeranian. This position I do not share. Art has to be made with purpose for it to hold the spirit of the time.

Yet, I am not one to hold an opinion that would place art apart from the abilities of everyone of us. And no, I am not going to say that we are all artists. But I will say that we are all capable of being artists, should we desire to. And that is the key. Some believe art is a gift, either from God, or nature, and I would not argue that point. I do believe art is a gift from God but not necessarily the talent to create art. The gift is the inclination towards the life of an artist, that is, the will to do art. The rest comes with training and practice. We have all been told that practice makes perfect, well talent is developed through hard work. No one is born with special talents. If we were born with genetic inclinations towards art then art would be a genetic disorder. We are born with inclinations. Talent is developed. So, clearly speaking, I will tell you that no one has talent, or is talented. Those that are have gained it through practice and hard work.

Another supposition is that art is sublime and subjective. What! Subjective? Art is purely and organically objective. To create a work of art one does not take cotton fibres from the subjective mind, weave them into a canvas, then paint with colours from the imagination. Everything about art is objective, from the canvas (or whatever support you use) to the paint, to the brushes (or whatever you use to put paint on canvas or wherever) to the easel, to the palette knife or even the rag you use to wipe off the paint from your hands. And anything you have done, whether it is a painting or a sculpture, (and I am not going to even mention conceptual art here) turns out to be an object that can be used to decorate or to, well whatever you wish to do with it.

Let us also not get overwhelmed with artists. And artists, let us not get too impressed with ourselves. I have noticed that when an artist is interviewed they usually speak “as an artist” would. They throw terms around, talk in circles, refer to history, to philosophy, all on their way towards making themselves seem important and sound so smashing, when they know it is all bullshit. Art is a subject you study at university like any other subject matter available. You shuffle yourself into the classroom, toting your canvas and your paints and you set up and begin to try to learn all about colour, composition, style, form, colour combination and how to, eventually, put your thoughts on canvas in a way that can be appreciated. Of course with good taste.

If you intend to make money as an artist, then you spend some years at art school (does not have to be at uni) earning a degree which is not really marketable as in art what counts is your production. And yes, you are producing, just like the factories or just like orange trees. A diploma might get you a job as a curator, or as a professor, and that is good. We all need to eat. But it will not get you a career as an artist. Well, unless you get “picked up” by a dealer or a gallerist that will catapult you into stardom and totally control your world and your output as an artist. If that happens, you can be sure you will become rich and famous but you won’t become much of an artist. Unless…

Unless you reach a state of financial independence where you can kiss the art dealers and art galleries goodbye because you don’t have to go to them to sell, they will come to you. And there’s the rub, as the old bard would say. An artist has to vindicate himself with every painting or with every sculpture. And this is true no matter how many examples you can cite of artists that have “made it” and that no matter what they do it becomes a smashing success. I would say those are successful because they have been placed there by rich and powerful sponsors, not because they have really proffered to the world incredible masterpieces.

Remember, art is a commodity. The old rich families of this world have always collected fine art. So, that means that all the great masterpieces of the world are taken, either by old money collectors or museums. Then, what do the nouveau-riche do to imitate their role models? They need would new Michelangelos, new Leonardos and new Picassos, but there are none. Second best thing, clever dealers create new masters out of their preferred artists or student artists. They build them up, pay incredible sums for their work, even if their work is less than average and presto, they have created the new Masters of art, the elite. Now they have to support them for if they do not then the “masterpieces” will lose all their value. And that is why you see such rubbish being sold at Sotheby’s or Christie’s at unbelievable prices. (Do not get confused with the very good pieces they also auction for such amazing sums as well).

And that is the state of affairs in the art world of the present moment, as I see it. But things are changing. The playing field is becoming larger and more democratic. With the internet all artists can become a global phenomenon without the need of intermediaries. It is not easy, nothing is, but it is doable and many have done it. I will conclude by telling you that art is a discipline, an adventure, a dream, and for me it is everything I ever wanted all wrapped up in a canvas, some paints and a brush. And if you are dreaming too, start learning from somewhere or someone. There is no such thing as self-taught. No one teaches themselves things they do not know. So take advantage of the things we have in this age of miracles and wonders and become an artist if that is your inclination. If not, support your local artists by buying original works.

CHEERS

(From the book «Talking About Art» by Francisco Bravo Cabrera – C.2025 All Rights Reserved)