Gwyn Wahlmann on sun 12 aug 01
For 25 years I was a professional illustrator, 20 of them free-lance.
It was how I made a living, and my work was reproduced and sold around the
world as greeting cards, stationery, journals, etc. I still receive the
royalties. But I never really considered myself an "artist". It seemed too
lofty a term for commercial work.
To me, art is defined by freedom, self-expression, risk, imagination,
honesty, experimentation, innovation and originality. If profit interest
predominates over and limits these qualities, then the work becomes
commercial art. One can be a "professional" either way. Professional
merely implies one's primary source of income.
It has been interesting to read the running arguments between functional
and non-functional ceramicists in the Letters to the Editor of Ceramics
Monthly. I think functional ceramics certainly can be art, but if the work
exhibits more skill in profitable replication than imagination, risk and
originality, then it is more akin to the work I did as an
illustrator-----commercial art. Or in ceramics this might be called
"craft". There should be no shame to the distinction of "craftsperson" if
one has matched one's skills to a need. In fact, in a world that overflows
with useless objects, there may be more honor to producing fine functional
craft than poor non-functional art.
But I think we should speak cautiously when we speak of art. Art isn't
the product, it is the journey and the risks we are willing to take on its
path. It hardly matters what we call ourselves anyway. Those who know the
difference will make such distinctions for us. It would seem wise to err on
the side of humility.
That's my opinion, for what it's worth.....
Gwyn
(A lurker provoked out of hiding.)
tomsawyer on wed 15 aug 01
Lee,
You wrote: "If I think I am an artist, I am or, If I am not sure that i am,
am I?"
Are you asking, am I if I am and don't think I am or am I not if I am and
don't think I am not? Ammmmm!
Tom Sawyer
tsawyer@cfl.rr.com
Lee Love on wed 15 aug 01
----- Original Message -----
From: "Howard Scoggins"
If I think I am an artist, I am
or, If I am not sure that i am, am I?
To ensure affirmation for both I propose an all purpose, all inclusive, all
enabling solution:
If a second party says, in the presence of witnesses, that YOU are an Artist,
you are.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
A couple quotes:
He is able who thinks he is able.
-
Buddha
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
All sorts of things occur to help one that would otherwise never
have occurred. A whole stream of events issues from the decision, raising in
one's favor all manner of incidents and meetings and material assistance which
no man would have believed would have come his way. Whatever you think you can
do or believe you can do, begin it. Action has magic, grace, and power in it."
- Goethe
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