Rachel asked: Do you think anyone can be a painter if they work hard enough or is it a talent you must have in order to be great?
This is actually a pretty tough question to answer, because language gets in the way. (Have I mentioned that in addition to being an artist and a geek, I was also an English major and have an obsession with linguistics and language? There you go: another random fact about Kelly.)
So let’s break it down. Can anyone be a painter? Sure. If you have a desire and a passion to create things with paint, you can be a painter. Do you need talent to be great? The short answer would be no. But this is where things get a little sticky. What does it mean to be “great”? And who decides?
Are you great if your work is hanging in a museum? Come on! Have you seen some of schlock in museums?
Are you great if you make lots of money? Ditto the above statement.
Are you great if the critics love your work? Ditto.
Are you great if lots and lots of people love your work? Ah, we might be getting somewhere with this one.
Or are you great if people remember you and your work long after you’re dead? Maybe, but what good does it do a dead person to be “great”?
Come to think of it, the long answer is also no. Talent is nice to have, but you can probably be great without it. But passion… well, without that, you’ve got nothing.
Like what you stated, about “without passion”, then why paint, why create art?
Good post. It seems that anyone who wants to work with paint can be a painter. I’m not a great painter, but I am passionate about it, so I paint.
Debi’s last blog post..Dancing Monk
Hello, my WWAO friends! Thanks for dropping by!
@Klaire… Yeah, I don’t get it either. When it starts feeling like a chore, it’s time to do something else!
@Debi… “Great” is in the eye of the beholder, and I think your Dancing Monk is great!
I attended a student art show at a university a while ago. My friend’s daughter, who had done some beautiful etchings, told me she was worried that she would never be successful because she didn’t have a dark soul. I probed until I discovered that those of her classmates who would have exhibitions at galleries during the summer (those with wealthy parents/patrons) all had dark subject matter. It’s unfortunate that our teaching institutions fail so miseably in communicating a concept of value, no matter what the field may be.
Jack’s last blog post..There were as many different ways of producing a batik as there are Crayola crayons.
@Jack… It may be a reflection on society in general, and not just our schools. “Dark” art is exhibited because it’s what people want to see. Why? My art is more “happy and light” and people are less interested. It makes you wonder. Well, it makes ME wonder. What I’d say to your friend’s daughter is this… “Success isn’t worth selling your soul. Create the art that reflects who you are.”