Since my last few posts have dealt with artist angst and what to do when stuff ain’t working, I’ll post one more in this vein. It’s a quote. Well, only sort of a quote. I don’t remember who said it, or exactly what the wording is, or where I read this. Now that I’ve sold you on how great this quote is, here it is:
The difference between a good artist and a great artist is the size of their wastebaskets.
Which I take to mean that the great artist is more critical of her work and throws more of it away…although I suppose it could be argued that this really means the great artist is so good that he doesn’t have to discard much.
BTW, I don’t think I’m brave enough to post images of any of my rejects here. Sorry, not interested in sharing failure with the world. Rejects are in a ‘destined to burn’ pile in the basement. One small consolation: the work in my reject pile is getting better…not that I’ll pop the champagne cork on that, thank you anyway.
Tags: growth
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March 26th, 2008 at 9:25 am
I learned what a good job was and how to do it as a signpainter’s apprentice in the late 1970’s. Among the many lessons the shop owner passed on to me over the five years that I worked for him was the difference between a professional and an amateur.
First, you have to be able to see that there is a problem.
Second, you have to understand what the problem is.
Third, you have to understand what will be required to solve the problem.
And fourth, and this is what he thought separated the pros from the rest. you have to be willing to do what it takes to make it right. No excuses or rationalizations. That’s where the hard, hard work and commitment to excellence comes in. Too many artists spend too much time trying to figure out how to dodge the hard parts, like learning to draw well or really get a grip on the craft of painting. And it shows in their work. The use of computers for composition is pernicious in terms of really learning how to paint. The few who use one successfully already know how to draw. I guess it’s a time saver, but I’d still rather use a pencil and tracing paper.
Vis a vis the wastebasket- I just gave about 30 old canvases to a developmentally disabled persons art program, on the condition that the images be obliterated by sanding and re-priming before the students use them. I couldn’t bear to waste all those stretcher bars. That’s a follow-on to the 40 or so I cut out of the stretcher bars a couple of years ago. Gave the bars to a student to reuse. It was very liberating in both cases to get that old stuff out of here. I have photos and that’s enough.
March 26th, 2008 at 9:26 am
Oh, and I scraped out the elk’s head this morning. One….more…..time……
March 26th, 2008 at 9:56 pm
I post my rejects on my website because if i didn’t, I wouldn’t have anything to post.
Besides, a wastebasket would be too small for my paintings. I’d need a dumpster.
March 27th, 2008 at 4:48 am
My new year’s resolution was to purge my studio - again. I sat down and really looked at the piles of canvas to decide if I really wanted these paintings on the street. I felt I was stuck in a place I didn’t like. This time I glued about 75 pieces together with cad red acrylic paint and put them in the trash. A lot were just studies or workshop pieces but it was extremely liberating. Then I was consumed with the urge to replace them. Now I find I am more critical and rubbing more off than before but I am ending up with better pieces so its worth it.
By the way, my friend Marilyn won your sketchbook. I am so jealous!
March 27th, 2008 at 4:50 am
Sorry that last line does not pertain to you Julie but another artist. A senior moment I think!
March 27th, 2008 at 8:40 am
Yvonne - glad you posted that followup, I was wondering what I’d forgotten about after reading your prior comment.
Finding yourself getting more critical of your work is, IMHO, a great sign that you’re growing! Things are ending up in my reject pile that a couple years ago I probably would have been quite happy with and sent out to a gallery. And yes, it is VERY liberating to clean out your energy and discard stuff!
Susan, did you get that elk head working yet?? You are a more patient person than I - if I’m having that much trouble I usually give up and start on something else. Unless it’s minor, like I don’t yet have the strokes and shadows right on a horse’s leg and have to redo it a couple times.
March 27th, 2008 at 2:44 pm
I think I mostly have. The saga continues over at my blog, where i just posted step 2. You’re welcome to weigh in with a comment/critique. My readers would enjoy it. I’m close to that point where I’m not sure it’s right or not. I’m going to let it sit for a few days and maybe do a pencil study of the head for structure. I had done a drawing and thought I had it down, but noooo…..
I’m a plodder when it comes to re-dos, up to a point. Simon Combes told me that he never, ever gave up on a painting. He worked it until he got what he wanted. He ascribed that to his military background. I’ve had really good things happen and have moved forward technically when I’ve stuck to it. If I realize that I’ve botched the composition beyond saving though, I’ll quit and start again. But I sneak up on it more the way I work than you do since I’m layering colors with the round brush and you dive in with the big brushstrokes or palette knife.
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