Art Appreciation Part 1

 

This post is about art. Just art and nothing else.

I have taken art courses since I was a child. There was an aptitude that many artists have, a passion that non-artists dont understand as it borders on healthy obsession. I went to art school and took many courses and master classes parallel to my science studies. 

I knew early on that I did not want to make it my full time job, but also that art was an essential part of my being. I was quite good and creative, but there are artists far more talented than myself. Color theory, art history and other foundational courses gave me the techniques that were invaluable.

I focused on scientific, botanical illustration as well as wildlife. I exhibited, taught, sold commissioned work and basically had the freedom to do so when an opportunity or interesting project presented itself. 

Among the many pet peeves of mine is the art market and the constant BS around it. Curators influence collectors, who often do not understand art at all but are looking for investments and a good story. Van Gogh is a perfect example. In an age where everything needs to be 'psychologized' some art historians suggested that he was schizophrenic. It creates attention, raises auction prizes and sounds much better than well, actually he was often drunk on absinthe, and loopy.

Art is a special ability, a gift and superpower. Our brains are as different as the individuals who create it. Some artists fit the typical hippie image others do not. And many conceptual artists create the avantgarde persona that people want to see.

Obviously, we all have different tastes and what is beautiful to one person is not interesting to another.

Recently, someone asked to see my portfolio. I showed it despite being aware that I was dealing with someone without genuine interest. As she flipped through, she saw one of my butterfly paintings, she asked:"what is the symbolism of this painting?" " It means that it's a butterfly", I responded. (I doubt she got the Rohrschach reference)

She continued to flip through it, does the placement mean anything? It's a green sea turtle, for a project I participated in for an endangered species exhibit. "No, just an interesting composition". The misconception that many people have is that all art is abstract expressionism, meaning more than just a faithful representation of the object. As I said, it's a pet peeve of mine of living in a society that needs to psychoanalyze everything, even when that's not their qualification.

When a friend of mine saw my framed 'Puffins on a rock', he liked it, then asked "why do they look depressed?" Huh? Ah. "It's their marking. Like cheetahs, black reflects the sun from their eyes."

Of course there are many paintings that are symbolic, and many that aren't. The age old what if it means something or what if it means nothing applies. In the meantime, let's just appreciate the beauty of art.