Sometimes our inspirations and most influential contemplations are sparked by the most mundane or fickle of places... like a commercial for a reality show about a Pawn Shop.
For some time I've been having a very difficult time coming to terms with my process with my art. I create photorealistic paintings using acrylic paint and an airbrush, however the techniques I use are a hybrid melting-pot of techniques I've learned from classical realism, observational realism, and from both acrylic and oil painting technique. My application of edge-qualities, contrast, and color theory are also taken from my studies with more traditional or classical painting. The work I do takes me several months to complete, and the resulting image is, as far as I can tell, no more impressive than that of a portrait by Dru Blair. Although, I have to admit, I am a fan of his work, and the more I see of his work, and after short conversation, I am inspired by him even more.
But Dru Blair is one of a hundred other "airbrush" artists who take an approach to image-making that is far different from the one I take, and they end up with extremely similar results in much shorter times. For example, these artists (such as Tom Martin, Simon Hennessy, and the list goes on...) can fill up an entire gallery for a solo show within a year or less time. Yes, they work far more than full-time, but I am comprable with work ethic. They can do so because they have a method that makes the process quicker. I'm sure they won't admit that, but if I was asked to fill a gallery with brand-new work starting today, I would have to ask for a small space or less than full gallery show... ie I would show maybe 2 to 4 pieces in my current size that I like working with.
The world of art is, unfortunately, a much more commercial world than it is percieved to be. Freedoms of expression are boiled down to marketable "brands", where the bottom-line is far more important than pure self-expression. The most historically relevant works of art seem to be the ones that defy consumerism, except in cases where the adherance to, and the manipulation of consumerism and capatalism are part of the work (such as Andy Warhol). I highly doubt Marcel Duchamp was concerned with who would buy his work "Fountain" when he decided to pick up the used urinal and sign it "R. Mutt" and throw it into a gallery. He had a higher purpose- something to say. He had a point, and money had nothing to do with it -- well, at least, putting money into his own pocket, that is.
But in this world, especially this economy, money is something that absolutely cannot be ignored. Marketablility and solidity of an artists' "brand" are of utmost importance. However, I believe that it's of equal importance that the "brand" hold true to the core of the individual artist and his/her experience or expressions that they wish to share. So it really is a balance between the two. But with marketablility comes affordability... yes, quantity over quality, that way more people can buy the work, and it can start at a minimum price that is affordable, yet holds potential to grow in worth as the artist's career advances.
Sounds great, but if it was so simple, I would be on that boat already. Problem is, I have strong convictions (which could also be boiled down to being stubborn) about my art and how it should be done. I have a voice, I have a message, and I have strong convictions about how a "hyperrealistic" work of art should be. That is, how it's created, how it appears, and what goals the artist holds to when creating the illusion. I cannot simply throw away my purpose and simply paint pretty pictures of strawberry shortcake, donuts, banana splits and other delicious deserts... nor can I succomb to the mind-numbingly hackneyed subject of the female nude. Or storefronts. I cannot be "just another photorealist artist". So I strive to be something more, something different. However, I am never sure I'm on the right path. Especially because of the one reaon i began writing this particular blog.... time. My process is ridiculously time-consuming, as I freehand paint every bit of detail in an image. My biggest goal is NOT to copy shapes and colors, but to recreate the inherent forms that exsist within the objects and details of an object within a photograph. That means to hold true to my education and practice of color, form, light, hard-to-soft edges, and contrast... everything I learned about painting a simple sphere back in school I have to apply to every detail of form within the photo. I can't settle for less. And the picture has to have a meaning. Right now I'm working with the subject of life with a mental illness- the struggles, the triumphs, and the injustices. All are taken from a metaphorical standpoint. And they are all large-scale.
So far, I have been working on this same painting for 6 months. It is still not complete, even though I work overtime. But to the outsider, it may not appear any more "realistic" or impressive than the works created by other artists who use masking, projectors by which they trace the detailed drawing from, and work from light to dark with pure simple colors. My immense pre-mixed palette is only one of many daunting elements to my process.
But the other day I had a breakthrough. A glimmer of hope for the integrity of my work. It came through a commercial for a Pawn Shop reality-show where they displayed an ancient samurai sword. They held the metal work of art up and one man mentioned how it took 6 months for the swordsmith to create that one sword. And that reminded me of the true history of the samurai swords; how they are meticulously crafted to perfection through unrelenting determination and skilled craftsmanship. The sword was said to carry its own soul. And that is what I do with my artwork, or at least what I try to do. I am like a swordsmith working with paint and canvas, and instead of creating a perfect blade, I am creating an illusion of reality that expresses a message about life. So although I live in an era where productivity trumps all else, there are a rare few individuals like me who hold to the idea that quality should ALWAYS trump quantity. Besides, reproduction prints are a readily available resource. So I will hold the integrity of my work, and try to find shortcuts that do not hinder the perfecting of my craft. Which it is by no means perfect... that's another reason it takes so much time to do. I just have to stay true to myself, and always be satisfied with my work because I am not dissatisfied with the result.
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