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michellegiacobello
Joined: 26 Jul 2006
Posts: 191
Location: Melbourne
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 Posted: Sat Jun 30, 2007 9:40 am Post subject: Keeping the faith |
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As a contemporary artist, I do my own thing, and mostly I just cruise along with it, developing and progressing as I go. I am in a few galleries, sell regularly, and often get positive comments from people about my work.
So why is it that from time to time I stop in my tracks and think - what the hell am I doing. This is no good. Look what THAT person is doing. I should just give up and make bread instead.....
Anyone else feel like that?  |
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minxdragon
Joined: 24 May 2005
Posts: 2596
Location: Melbourne
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| Posted: Sat Jun 30, 2007 12:09 pm Post subject: Re - Keeping the faith |
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always, I think that little prod of self doubt is part and parcel with the creative urges. it's like the downer after an upper..
Paul Dorrell writes very well on the subject in living the artists life. Personally I will have times where I am flying and I am full of confidence and ready to embrace the rocky road ahead, and other times I just want to curl up and hide away from the world.
I fight it by painting or drawing something, that always picks me up - if it has gone too long and I am afraid or don't realize that it's what I need then my husband is always there to push me into the studio and lock the door 
_________________
'A vision's just a vision if it's only in your head, if noone gets to see it it's as good as dead- it has to come to life!'
Website: http://www.jennierosenbaum.com
Blog: http://jenniespalette.com |
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Omphaloskeptic
Joined: 23 Apr 2006
Posts: 855
Location: Merimbula
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| Posted: Sat Jun 30, 2007 12:26 pm Post subject: Re: Keeping the faith |
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| michellegiacobello wrote: |
So why is it that from time to time I stop in my tracks and think - what the hell am I doing. This is no good. Look what THAT person is doing. I should just give up and make bread instead.....
Anyone else feel like that? |
Yes, even though the doubts are just as severe, I'm starting to get used to those periods as a normal part of artistic growth. I think the discontinuity occurs when one's subtle artistic vision has evolved in some significant way so one can recognize the absence of qualities but not yet able to express or even conceive of them vision in a conscious way.
Also, not having a primarily realistic basis for one's art takes away the opportunity to compare what one has done to a physical reference which can be a comfort (or horror!) at times. |
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KimO
Joined: 06 Feb 2007
Posts: 1470
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| Posted: Sat Jun 30, 2007 1:49 pm Post subject: Re - Keeping the faith |
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I always call this my 'artists eyes'. When my artist eyes art open, I see beauty everywhere I look - these miraculous compostitions of light & colour in every ordinary thing I see. I can imagine a painting in everything I look at. When they're closed I can look at the most beautiful things & they are just flat and I know theoretically they are beautiful but I just dont feel it. At those times I feel its all hopeless, I have no talent whatsoeverand trying to paint is a waste of time & energy. I cant really controll this but I find the best thing is to not worry about it & do something fun & lighthearted, live as much in the moment as I can (and not in my head) and eventually they open again - I think its just a natural cycle because its always happened.
Its hard to get perspective on what your doing when you are doing it because you're so attached to it. There's been times I've walked into someones house and gone (to myself) 'Wow thats a lovely painting' & then I'm shocked to realize that I painted it! Time gives you perspective. But when I'm doing it, I've often no idea if its any good or not - it could be good or it could be bad & not knowing for sure I often don't know when to stop. Does my head in sometimes! Even when theres someone there & they say 'stop it looks great' I think they are just being nice. Honestly, its a wonder I ever finish anything - and then its usually due to exhaustion!   |
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michellegiacobello
Joined: 26 Jul 2006
Posts: 191
Location: Melbourne
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| Posted: Sat Jun 30, 2007 8:31 pm Post subject: Re: Keeping the faith |
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[quote="Omphaloskeptic"] | michellegiacobello wrote: |
I think the discontinuity occurs when one's subtle artistic vision has evolved in some significant way so one can recognize the absence of qualities but not yet able to express or even conceive of them vision in a conscious way.
Also, not having a primarily realistic basis for one's art takes away the opportunity to compare what one has done to a physical reference which can be a comfort (or horror!) at times. |
Oh spoooky! yes. you know exactly what I mean.
Usually I can pass it off as a cocoon time - knowing I'll wriggle out past the uncomfortable stuff and be better for it. It's taking a bit longer for me at the moment than usual though.
Nice to know I'm not the only one.  |
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Omphaloskeptic
Joined: 23 Apr 2006
Posts: 855
Location: Merimbula
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| Posted: Sun Jul 01, 2007 8:21 am Post subject: Re: Keeping the faith |
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| michellegiacobello wrote: | | Usually I can pass it off as a cocoon time - knowing I'll wriggle out past the uncomfortable stuff and be better for it. |
Sometimes I'll just work in a different realm (e.g. do a realistic piece rather than the usual non-mimetic stuff) or even read about art which can be helpful.
What I find a really frustrating sometimes is when the discontinuity happens in the middle of a painting. I can be working away for days/weeks and suddenly the very nice painting turns into a steaming pile of ####. There's nothing that can be done to save it, the very premise of the whole thing is faulty.
Oh well |
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Greef
Joined: 31 Mar 2007
Posts: 206
Location: Norway
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| Posted: Mon Jul 02, 2007 6:05 pm Post subject: Re - Keeping the faith |
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Michellegiacobello,
You and every other artist has a gift of creativity, you should be very careful what you say, for example you wrote 'what the hell am I doing. This is no good. Look what THAT person is doing. I should just give up and make bread instead'. Comparing your work with another is just your Ego talking, remember 'your work is just as valid as any other artists'. We are just all at different levels of experience and i am sure there are people who probably say the same about your work, i know i have caught myself saying ' OMG my work is better than that'...but it isnt really about that, well it shouldnt be in my opinion!
At the end of the day when those thoughts come into your head you have to stop and remember why you are doing art, is it for fame and fortune? or is it because it comes from the heart and u need to express whatever it is you have.
Being true to your own journey is what it is about, the only competition you have is with yourself but i am sure you know all this already!
I admit i use to have those fears of not being good enough or comparing my work with others and it only lead to self doubt and those exact thoughts about giving up! It wasn't until i stopped looking 'out' but rather 'in' and questions my true motivations for being an artist. it was only then i realised the importance of my own art practice and self worth in the art world. 
Be proud of your work everyone! It makes this world so much sweeter. |
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superfineline
Joined: 07 Jun 2007
Posts: 23
Location: Perth
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| Posted: Mon Jul 02, 2007 11:51 pm Post subject: Re - Keeping the faith |
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i think what i paint is at the best questionable, its more a case of me purging and the end result is a overly organised grid.
I cant control my life or what goes on around me, my tightly controlled painting is the only thing i can control.
I end up seeing relief at the finished product, im never happy with it, yest i manange to sell most of the time. |
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Steve Gray
Joined: 17 Aug 2008
Posts: 1569
Location: Geelong
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| Posted: Sat Aug 30, 2008 10:07 pm Post subject: Re - Keeping the faith |
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"All art is about exorcism" Otto Dix. So the sensation of "I'm no good" is just the brain testing, pushing and pulling ideas and testing the water. It's all about ego and at the same time it's never about ego...
Purge get the stuff on to the canvas etc... and make it happen. (I invite you to try to not do it!) |
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alchemist
Joined: 09 Mar 2008
Posts: 3
Location: Adelaide
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| Posted: Sun Jul 05, 2009 6:11 pm Post subject: Re - Keeping the faith |
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I say get the #### over it and get a life man!!! Seriously!!!
How nice that you're finally contributing to the forum, to a post that's over 2 years old no less, I'm sure Michelle did get over it!!! Jo |
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Janus
Joined: 17 Aug 2009
Posts: 4
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| Posted: Mon Aug 17, 2009 5:21 pm Post subject: Re - Keeping the faith |
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I'm new here and only twelve months into contemporary art. I attend "classes" where we work on our various projects with critiques and encouraging support of a tutor.
I did enjoy Tobiasthegreat's comment about looking inward as a newbie this sort of information is helpful.
I not long ago finished a degree majoring in sociology so transferring those concepts to art form is my challenge. Study has an outcome and contemporary art is a journey without the known outcome. A big shift for me !
Not a lot of activity on here though ? |
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Stefan Maguran
Joined: 22 Jun 2008
Posts: 2314
Location: The Outsiders Festival State
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| Posted: Mon Aug 17, 2009 11:24 pm Post subject: Re - Keeping the faith |
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People are busy painting - since you're not yet quite inside, would you like to take part in the Outsiders Festival? Registrations open until the end of the month at
www.outsidersfestival.blogspot.com |
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Janus
Joined: 17 Aug 2009
Posts: 4
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| Posted: Tue Aug 18, 2009 11:00 am Post subject: Re - Keeping the faith |
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Thanks but I am busy bending bananas and a bit far to travel !
I guess I'll just keep climbing out of my head and onto the canvas and see what happens. It seems that our heads are definitely the problem ! |
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Stefan Maguran
Joined: 22 Jun 2008
Posts: 2314
Location: The Outsiders Festival State
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| Posted: Tue Aug 18, 2009 1:27 pm Post subject: Re - Keeping the faith |
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| Could not agree more! Have fun bending bananas and climbing onto the canvas. |
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