Elizabeth Priddy on thu 24 nov 05
Geoffrey talked about two kinds of artists, and about
people who want to be artists.
I don't think you can choose to be an artist or not. I think
that some people are overwhelmingly compelled to make art,
including the publication of it for reaction. Those who are not
motivated in this way, cannot succeed except in the form
of weak art, like that of Andy Warhol (whose work is only
interesting in a conceptual or passing manner). People who
are instinctually inclined to be artists cannot be happy and
fulfilled (self-actualized) with other occupations. They may
be 60 before they get a chance to pursue it, but there's a hell
of a lot of other stuff to do when you retire than learn the
skills of a whole new endeavor, and a lot of stifled artists
finally get the chance almost when the jib is up.
Being an artist cannot be learned, in my opinion. It is more a
personality type than a profession. You can learn craftsmanship
and to manipulate materials, but the desire has to be there
already. One beautiful arena for this is Outsider art, the kind
of weird expressionistic work made by untrained artists with
typically found materials.
There has been a lot of talk around the pub of late of what you
make and whether you are just an average joe or whether you are
a real artist making creations. I would say that the life of an
average potter is better than most any other life at any other level.
The life of an artist can be painful. To be a crafstsman
contributing to the affordable, ready market for usable art is
an honorable life. Wanting to be superior and to be seen as
superior or higher in professional rank than others is an ugly
side of some otherwise good people. How good you are, how much
people will pay for your work, what a bigshot you are...all are
things that should be discussed in certain circumstances. But
lately, I have been seeing it at the cost of declaring others and
their work to be common and unworthy of true respect or value.
Good, happy, average potters being told that they ought not
bother with such insignificant work. Now that truly is a crock
of bull. Don't buy into it.
Value is as subjective as beauty. Gross proclamations about the
lower value of common ware should be ignored by good people.
If only the upper 10 % of all potters make the big money and get
great recognition, that leaves the other 90% who are working
potters and artists. That's not a shabby life. So for potters
who have felt bad lately because their work has been denigrated,
remember: a bad day in the life of a potter is still a pretty
good day and average common pots are dearly loved.
EP
Elizabeth Priddy
Beaufort, NC - USA
http://www.elizabethpriddy.com
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