So, last night - a good night if you measure it by the number of beautiful redheaded women whose company you enjoy - I got into a discussion, actually it was more of a lecture by someone who knows me through someone else...although this person did not know me at all.
I was told that he had seen a couple of paintings I had done for someone and then went and looked at others and came to the conclusion that my pieces lacked depth, the eyes did not work, and some other stuff which I either could not hear or tuned out due to a state of partying which I had found myself. At least that is what I recalled.
Needless to say, at the time I was a bit annoyed. Not by the fact that someone thought my art lacked depth...of course it lacks depth! I'm new at this, unschooled, barbaric, etc. I have time to work on it. No, I was more put out by the fact that someone would think that I would not know this about my work, that I lacked the self-reflection or self-criticism to make any constructive assessment.
Personally, I like my stuff, and unless they are all lying because they feel bad for me or just want to encourage me to paint, I know others who like my stuff, and a few pieces have actually hung in a gallery.
So why do I bring this up?
Painting to me, the act of painting itself, is a process, a therapy almost, a liberating process through which I have escaped a bit of an emotional hell and downward slide in the fall of 2007, after returning from Chicago. I was in a state, off the fluoxetine (a small dosage, but enough to keep me uncranky and less broody), thinking that there were those in my life whom I loved and for whom I cared would simply abandon me - especially when times got tough. It was not a good time.
But like the protagonist in the Velvet Underground, I was set free by the act of painting, by the linking of the physical and the spiritual and the intellectual, from mind to heart to hand to brush to canvas. Or to push the envelop on VU songs, I listened to that fine fine music and my life was saved, metaphorically speaking, by rock and roll.
So perhaps I was annoyed because something I thought was a positive thing was criticized - that would be the external approach.
Internally, I was more bothered that someone who does not know me decided to judge me and tell me what he thought, not thinking that I was aware - if not more critical of my own flaws.
Of course, this person was probably drunk too, and I guess slightly adds some amusement to it all.
So this primitive will move forward playing with the fire he just discovered and do his paintings on cave walls, whatever the outcome. And will continue to feel free...if not, perhaps, a bit deluded.
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6 comments:
I honestly can't believe someone would do that. It's rude and uncalled for to criticize someone like that unless you've asked. But remember that your work is not about its reception. Some critics will like it, and others won't. You have to find some objective peace with it that stands above all the other voices. Sounds like you have.
i would have to disagree with both you and your critic ford. your work does not lack depth. it simply lacks the expertise that you mention that you do not have time to personally possess. i quite liked many of them and sense at least a point (and thus depth) beyond what the eye can merely initially intuit.
the worst thing about critics is that they are quite often critical. blech and patooie on them.
Thank you, beautiful Marcelle and mysterious Princess Electra (do i know you, and if not, how did you find my site...always curious about how people come upon the site).
Both your comments are sweet thoughts, and I am touched.
fpr
At the same time, when one puts ones art forth, one must expect it to be criticized for good or ill. If you don't want the commentary, be more selective of whom you show the work to.
Criticism of the work is not criticism of the person who creates it. Unfortunately as artists, our art is deeply personal. And we bind ourselves to the work. It's near impossible to separate the two at times.
Everyone's entitled to an opinion. Sometimes its the discussion spurred like the one here that ultimately give art its depth.
Keep painting...just remember there is a healthy dose of salt to swallow.
Thanks again for the comments.
The funny thing about the anecdote is that I did not personally share the art with this individual...he saw it through a friend.
But the point about being able to take the criticism that comes with sharing work is well taken.
I'm a bit of an exhibitionist and a song and dance man. I can take it.
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