Ask MetaFilter questions tagged with artist

I want to forget about her, but she's famous now

Anonymous — Fri, 17 May 2013 10:43:17 -0800

I wish I could forget about the girl who broke my heart when I was a teenager, but it seems the world doesn't want to let me, because she's famous now, while I'm struggling. How do I deal? Apologies in advance for the novella-length question, but with any luck there's enough angst within to keep you engaged. Anyhow, here's my tale of woe:

I am a 28-year-old man. Back when I was 12, I met a girl and fell for her hard. It was my first love. We had similar personalities and interests and creative drives. We were close friends for years, and she often confided in me and showed me affection, but she never wanted to be my girlfriend.

In my adolescent naivete, I thought that if I remained her loyal friend, she'd eventually decide she wanted to be with me and not the guys she was dating. But that never happened, and while we had some good times together, I remember our friendship primarily as a source of crushing disappointment and depression over the next 6 years. By the end of high school I was tired of feeling used and miserable, we had a falling out, and we haven't spoken since. Looking back now, I wish I had done a lot of things differently, spent my time on something more productive, and saved us both a bunch of drama and anguish, but I was a kid and didn't know better.

It's been 10 years since then, and I have grown and improved myself immensely. I've been in a great relationship with a wonderful, beautiful woman for the past 4 years, and we're very much in love. I'm very confident and happy with myself these days. But one of my primary aspirations remains, as it was when I was a teenager, to achieve recognition and success as an artist. (I was into acting back then -- I make music now -- but it's the same desire. I need to create and I need an audience.) And while I've managed to find a day job that pays the rent and gives me free time to work on my music; and while I've produced some material which I'm extremely proud of; I haven't built much of a following or a career to speak of, even though I've been trying for years and I feel strongly that my work merits it. And that's very frustrating, but I'm still young and talented, so there's nothing to do but to keep working.

But here's the stinger: The girl I was so heartbroken over back in high school, who I would be happy to never think about again, is well on her way to becoming a celebrity. And every so often, and I fear with increasing frequency, she intrudes into my life in various ways. I see articles and photos of her on web sites that I read; internet strangers discussing her talent and charm; mutual acquaintances assuming I want to chat about her latest doings; people digging out old photos to prove that they knew her (which photos might have me in them too, but who cares because I'm just some guy); etc.

This causes me some anguish. While I've matured and improved so much since high school, and hearing about her doesn't affect me as much as it used to, each time I do it re-opens those old wounds a bit. This is a person whom I associate with a lot of painful memories and negative thoughts about myself. And whenever I hear about her, it's about how successful she is in pretty much the way I am trying to be, but am not. Living well is supposed to be the best revenge, and I've lived very well; but when I hear about her I feel like she's lived even better, and I'll never catch up. And it seems like there's no way I can avoid hearing about her.

So my question, such as it is: What strategies can I use to try and cope with this situation productively? I know I shouldn't compare myself to anyone else; it's been a long time and I should move on; I should let go of my resentment. I wish that I could. I don't like to talk about this with people I know because I feel like it's such an old, tired story already. I doubt she's thought about me in years. I have this idea in my mind that I'll be able to truly let go only once I achieve a level of fame that causes my name to barge in on her world the way hers does on mine, which would somehow amount to vindication. I hate that she can still get to me from a distance without even trying, and there's nothing I can do about it. Sometimes that thought motivates me to work harder; I've written some truly excellent songs inspired by all these feelings. But when those songs don't make me famous overnight, it's like twisting the knife, so that source of motivation can be a double-edged sword.

Sometimes it feels like I'm living inside a script, like the universe is playing a prank on me, and I'm the only one who can see the whole narrative and appreciate it. I try to find the humor in all of it, but it's not easy.

Finally, a note on therapy: I've done it at several points over the years, including quite recently, and have discussed these issues at length. It's been a little bit helpful, but the basic issues remain. I may get back into therapy in the future, but I'm between health insurance situations at the moment, so that's not going to be an immediate solution.

I know there's no simple solution, but I'd appreciate any wisdom you have to offer.

Do artists often get scammed into projects?

picklenickle — Fri, 03 May 2013 14:45:18 -0800

When I get an email from someone asking if I'm interested in doing a big long-term project, how do I know if they're legit or if it's something worth my time and effort? So I've always been a small-time digital artist doing personal commissions as they come, usually by people I know or individual strangers over email. Usually the commissions are just one or two pictures and I have a nice system to prevent fraud and such.

But recently I did a little side project that got a lot of attention, and now I'm getting emails from people asking if I'm interested in doing large paid projects, like illustrations for books and graphic novels and such. They would presumably be temporary projects but that require a lot of full-time work. I've never had experience doing anything like this. Do artists often get scammed into doing stuff only to never see a penny? I ask this because, when doing those little individual commissions, there have been times when I'll explain to my client how I work (I send them sketches, and then a full picture with a watermark and don't send them the un-watermarked image until they pay me), and sometimes they'll lose interest after hearing that, presumably because they were planning on taking the picture and not paying.

So, when I get an email from someone saying "Hey I saw your art and really liked it. I need an artist for [some big, long-term project]. Are you interested?" how do I know if they're legit or if it's something worth my time and effort?

Commissioned original art, art may not be original. Help?

Anonymous — Fri, 03 May 2013 09:43:21 -0800

I work for a non-profit organization. We applied for, and received, a grant to commission original artwork for our building. We chose an artist who proposed a mural. The contract is signed with the agency that is providing the grant, and work is set to start on the building soon. Problem is? One of the members of the Board found a very similar mural online, painted by a different person. Help. We commissioned a mural in a very specific artistic style. For the sake of argument, let's say in the style of this WPA mural. Instantly recognizable, but very suitable for our building and our non-profit's mission. The artist who won the commission did so by proposing a mural of, oh let's say a man standing in front of a local landmark, carrying a shovel. Great. We were thrilled. It's perfect.

Today, one of the Board members found a picture online that made my heart sink. It is of a man standing in front of a building that kind of looks like our landmark, carrying a shovel. He's standing in the same position and holding the shovel in exactly the same way. His hands are cocked just so, the way his jacket is waving in the wind is exactly the same.

There are differences: his clothes are a different style. He is a young man in our picture, and an old man in the one on the internet. Our mural has the local landmark in the background, the background of the one on the internet has some basic shapes that are very similar to our landmark. The style - the very specific artistic style - is so similar that it could have been done by students of the same teacher.

Some more info:

I don't know where the internet picture came from. I don't know if it is original to the era or if it is a modern interpretation.

It's not really a shovel that the person in our mural/our online doppelganger is holding; but it is a common-ish object that looks exactly the same in both. The way the object is being held by the hands, the tilt, the colors, the shading, everything.

The grant is being administered through a third party. The contract has either just been signed or it is about to be signed. Like, TOMORROW.

If we do not go with these artists, we forfeit the grant. The date for having a contract signed is May 31st, and we do not have the time to re-open the search. We did not even have a second- or third-place choice, we were so enamored with this one.

Question time:

I've contacted the members of the Board, but none of us are artists. I worry that we won't know what is "inspired by" and what is "ripped off".

What should we do?

Is it common for artists to be inspired by a historic work to the point that they're similar enough for an artistic dunce like me to see the similarities? There are more than a few WPA murals and murals in the style of the WPA of men with shovels. But this one is so dead on exact that it makes me wonder.

Can one break a contract over this? I know you haven't seen the contract, but would this sort of falsehood be grounds for dismissal?

I'd love to hear from people who work in the arts. I don't want an obvious ripoff on the wall. Time is running out, and I can't decide what to do. Help.

If you have specific questions or want to see pictures of the actual artwork (the proposed mural and the one online), please let me know at helpmemetafilter@gmail.com.

(Really, nobody's taken that name before now?)

Can I effectively protest the actions of my state tax authority?

Luke Skywalker — Tue, 30 Apr 2013 08:41:33 -0800

I'm seeing reporting that bothers me that my state tax authority is targeting artists for auditing based on what sounds like some specious assertions regarding whether their business models and expenses are appropriate. I realized I don't know what I should do to formally protest these actions. I'll start by saying the reporting I've seen has a clear bias in favor of the artists in question and I haven't seen first-hand confirmation of the assertions that this is part of a growing effort on the part of the tax authority to target working artists and not just an isolated incident. I will continue researching this on my own.

What I'm really interested in is, assuming for arguments sake that these actions are a valid target of protest, what should I do? I can email the general contact for the authority, I can do what I can to spread the word, but these seem pretty weak. When I write my governor or representatives I know at least that they are getting feedback from a voter who has a direct if small impact on their ability to retain their position. Who's in charge of the tax(wo)man?

I understand that as an average voter and citizen there is nothing I can do that will have a particularly large impact. I'm just curious if anyone has input on what the most effective way to register protest about these actions would be.

What music should I try on Spotify?

jsturgill — Mon, 29 Apr 2013 09:39:39 -0800

What bands and albums should I listen to now that I'm finally able to stream almost anything ever made? Extended information as to my taste preferences inside. I like strings, particularly violin and cello, particularly in a rock or folk/southern/bluegrass context but also in modern compositions.

I like noisy music, such as the Velvet Underground and Neutral Milk Hotel.

I like grating vocals that are borderling a-musical but that very much work--the above two bands, the Decemberists, Clap Your Hands Say Yeah, Leonard Cohen, etc.

I like talk-singing, like in Mother Country by John Stewart and $87 and a Gulity Conscience by Richmond Fontaine.

I also like clear voices from talented singers, mostly often women. Joni Mitchell, for example, or the amazing Laura Gibson. It helps if they are strong lyricists.

I would love to find smaller bands, current or past, with interesting sounds and/or stories that I could get obsessive over, like Tim Hardin or Munly.

Will anyone care/notice if I lived in a 24 hour music practice space?

defmute — Sun, 21 Apr 2013 15:55:01 -0800

I figure if a practice space is open 24 hours it would be hard for the staff to determine if I'm living there or just practicing music alllllll the time. However, I also figure that a 24 hour practice space expects that starving artists will be trying to live there. However however, I also figure that the kinda people running a 24 hour practice space are cool with people living there and are kinda trying to say "shhhhh, don't tell nobody but this is a place where we turn a blind eye to starving artists trying to live here". I just wanna beat on my drum all day. Just in case you wanna know, I am in fact a starving artist and wanna live in a practice space because 1) I wanna play drums and scream weird things into a mic alllllll day long, 2) it's cheaper than real rent. I don't wanna live in a warehouse cause I can't afford it alone and don't wanna live with other people (I'm most productive and happy when living alone).

As far as showering is concerned, I've got lots of friends apartments I can shower at.
In terms of food, I have a mini fridge and don't eat anything that needs to be cooked.
For sleeping, I sleep on the floor.

Japanese Calligraphy Translation

gregr — Sun, 07 Apr 2013 09:06:52 -0800

In one of Toko Shinoda's prints there is some Japanese calligraphy in gold. Can anyone translate it for me? I also uploaded a higher resolution copy of the image if that's helpful.

Searching For Painter's name. Monekys and Skeletons

M83 — Sat, 16 Mar 2013 06:24:42 -0800

I am searching for the name of a painter. I am going to describe one painting I clearly remember. I saw these paintings when I was a child. The book of his works had the same theme of monkeys and skeletons involved in everyday activities. In the painting I remember, a skeleton (it may have been a couple) is in a bed with white sheets and leaning over to put out the light on a nightstand. There is a monkey or baboon sitting on the room's window sill. The images are realistic bordering on illustrations. This is all I have. And this is why I came to metafilter. Thank you for your help.

Who is the artist of this painting?

two lights above the sea — Thu, 03 Jan 2013 18:12:31 -0800

My mom wants to figure out the artist of this painting. Can you help? Here is the signature, and here is the whole painting. Can you help us read the signature or give us any clues as to who/what/when/where? It's at least 30 years old, but could be much older. Sorry for the crappy quality.

We don't think it's famous or worth a lot of money, but we're curious. Any advice?

Help identify a painter

muhonnin — Tue, 04 Dec 2012 11:54:22 -0800

Please help me identify an artist based on a few sketchy clues. 1. I think I read about the artist on Metafilter or Ask Metafilter between January 2010 and June 2012, though searching on key words such as "painting", "painter", "artist", etc. has proved fruitless.
2. A lot of the artist's paintings reminded me of Francis Bacon's Head series: paintings of people with part of the people transparent or missing.
3. I think either the artist's first name or surname began with the letter "I".
4. I think a Metafilter/Ask Metafilter commenter mentioned having recently seen a show by the artist in a gallery in California.

Sorry it's not much to go on but any help would be hugely appreciated.

Question about artistic skills

Brandon Blatcher — Tue, 20 Nov 2012 08:42:38 -0800

There are some people who are excellent draftsmen when it comes to drawing. Their sketchbooks are full of architecture style drawings or similar, with straight lines as if drawn using a ruler and little erasing. Or they're sign painters or car details who can just pick up a brush and literally draw a straight line on the car as they're walking the length of it. No visual planning or measuring or masking off areas, they just do it. Are there scientific studies about the particular set of physical and mental skills these people have and what exactly those skills are? Are their specific differences in their brain or anatomy that enable those skills?

How do they do that? Learning about drawing and illustration...

jrobin276 — Sat, 10 Nov 2012 18:01:18 -0800

How do they do that? Artist edition... Please recommend how-to's and how I do this blogs/videos etc... I have a BFA in Photography, but am increasingly interested in drawing and illustration. I took some drawing classes years ago, and was pretty ok at it, especially since I was starting from scratch (almost no experience) and it wasn't my major.

I would LOVE recommendations of blogs, posts, articles, interviews, videos (magazines/books ok too) etc... that demonstrate different techniques or materials, that show the progression of a piece from start to finish, etc... in short, that demystify a bit "how they do that"! Not about copying - this is part educational (so online classes/tutorials might be ok), and almost entirely about making myself feel like this is something humans (ie me) can do (with lots of practice). Right now a lot of it seems like magic...

Not really interested in tours of artists' studios, but descriptions of how they work are welcome too... methods, ruts and how they get out, finding inspiration, etc. (example: I like going on long drives or walks to collect ideas. I take the pictures, make hard copies, and lay them out all over the floor like tiles - usually until the wee hours of the morning while drinking coffee and listening to Trip-Hop. I will re-work things over and over, over months; sometimes years.... etc.)

PS: No Bob Ross! ;)

Hello Austin, Where are my people?

misformiche — Sun, 21 Oct 2012 21:40:42 -0800

Hello Austin, Where are my people? I recently moved to Austin, TX from Fargo, ND (of all places). I've quickly discovered that this place is flooded with awesomeness, to a point of being mildly overwhelming. Thus, I am asking for help with finding things and people with similar tastes. I am, a maker crafts person type, I mostly sew and knit but I have a background in sculpture and some interest in learning electronics. I am also a cyclist, who loves chill coffee houses and a sense of community. I'm looking for: 1. a place to consign/wholesale goods I make, mainly plush toy monsters, before the holiday season. also craft fairs 2. a couch, or a place to find a couch (secondhand); thrift stores dont seem to have much in the way of furniture. 3. a good, non-chain, hardware/surplus store. 4. a good fabric store 5. a job 6. fellow makers

Grotesque Paintings of Talking Penises

StopMakingSense — Mon, 08 Oct 2012 14:06:02 -0800

On a deadline: Help me find the name of an amazing, bizarre, crude, disgusting artist whose childish paintings of people in extreme situations surrounded by thought/speech balloons/bubbles I saw in a Lower East Side gallery around 2010-2011. So, I stumbled into an LES Gallery sometime in the last two years (maybe near Orchard? Broome? No idea.) and there was this amazing exhibit of these fairly large paintings done in a crude, childish style. The main thing that tied them all together was the use of word balloons (thought bubbles?) that came from both the characters themselves, but also their genitals, guns, asses and various inanimate objects.

The scenes depicted tended to be orgies or gunfights or over-the-top flop houses. He also, I think, had a not-exactly-clear but definitely passionate relationship with hip-hop culture.

99% sure the artist was a man. 75% sure he wasn't American.

One painting I remember in particular had a long-haired, bearded mass shooter. There were lots of thought bubbles coming from his head ("I'm sorry!" "I'm under mind control!") and his gun. Also, from his victims off-panel ("Help me!" "I'm dying!").

It looked sort of like the work of Erik Tildemann, but I don't think it was him because I can't find any trace or reference to these thought balloons, but I can't be totally sure.

Would love it if anyone could send me in the right direction. I've come up with nothing so far.

Portrait of the artist as...

ella_minnow — Tue, 28 Aug 2012 08:00:05 -0800

Name-it filter: blog of artists’/designers’ early work I’m creating a site or blog profiling the very early work (preferably high school, if possible) of contemporary artists and designers, with short descriptions/commentary from them (whenever possible) on selected pieces. I don’t want to get into too many specifics of the project here, but in addition to being really fun to look at, I think a collection like this could be a great tool for conversation (I’m in the field of arts education, but I think this could generate interest beyond that) in thinking about the development of artistic voice or point of view, and how that happens. In most creatives’ young lives, there are experiences they have or things that they make that serve as turning points in figuring out something about themselves as artists, and I’d love for this to capture some element of that for each person profiled.

So, I have the basic idea, I have some contacts to help get this thing rolling, but first it needs a name! I’m totally stumped. Any ideas?

Who painted this painting?

nancoix — Mon, 06 Aug 2012 13:54:23 -0800

Who painted this painting? I can't read the signature but want information about this artist? Rob Soba? My GoogleFu has failed me here. Photos of paining and close-up of signature here.

Looking for a book recommendation that combines art and philosophy

Chichibio — Wed, 25 Jul 2012 06:50:26 -0800

Students of art, lovers of philosophy, can you recommend a book I can buy as a gift for a friend? I'm looking to buy a very good friend of mine a book for his upcoming birthday, but I'm having a hard time deciding which one.

Here are two salient facts:

1) He's an artist, and reads philosophical books in his spare time. He has most likely read all the standard dudes that get thrown about at art school, i.e. the Frankfurt School, all the French folks since Satre like Derrida, Deleuze, Foucault, Lyotard, etc. I know for a fact that he's reading Badiou right now.

So I think a philosophy text would be great, but it doesn't have to be specifically about aesthetics or art appreciation (a la Danto).

2) My friend explained to me that he reads philosophy like one would a novel, so I'd like to buy something fresh and engagingly-written. It's not like he understands set theory, so I think he's breezing by those bits and hunting for delicious turns of phrase.

fryman's suggestion of Quentin Meillassoux is intriguing but it doesn't really click to me. I would prefer getting something that has been published in the last ten years or so, but don't hold back if you have better suggestions from the 20th century.

As always, thank you Ask!

Doomed to inactivity??

Namlit — Tue, 17 Jul 2012 09:10:52 -0800

EU artist's work visa in the US, newest possible edition I'm supposed to be playing one concert (or, planning pending, a few - altogether less than a handful) as a soloist against payment in the US. I'm German.

I've been trying to understand the accumulated web-wisdom about US visa for individual traveling musicians, especially the various types of O and P visa (it's not easy - hence my question).

I'm a bit baffled about the non-options that present themselves. Above all, it appears that the fee for obtaining the document (not even sure yet which document - likely the O - visa for individual outstanding artists. Heh yeah.), together with the train ticket (which I will have to buy to go to the next US embassy to fetch it in person), will by FAR exceed whatever I'll ever earn.

So I am inclined to skip payment and play at that place (which is professionally interesting to me) for, say, a paid night in a hotel, and in exchange for the networking opportunity.

My question: I have encountered reports that professional musicians are not entitled to play at all no matter whether for payment or not. So in this case, I would simply not be allowed to play, full stop. (amateurs, it seems on the other hand, may enter on a tourist visa and do whatever they well please.)

Is there any expert in the hall who could tell me if this is correct or not, who could inform me about the latest wisdom on the matter, and/or who could tell me me what my options really are?

(fwiw it's about a harpsichord recital in Colonial Williamsburg)

Help me identify a drawing!

demesne — Tue, 03 Jul 2012 22:07:02 -0800

Does anyone know the name of the artist who drew/painted a picture featuring a woman blowing dandelion spore presents? Saw it somewhere, was intrigued by its meaning, and wanted to do a search to see what others have said about the drawing. I can't find it in Google Images however. I'm hoping that knowing the artist who did the drawing might help.

Finding a side-career as an occasional artist

hellojed — Sat, 02 Jun 2012 13:45:23 -0800

How do I find work as an illustrator / artist? I've been drawing for years and people think I'm good enough to ask me for the occasional commission / spot illustration. I'd like for this to happen more often, and maybe get paid now and then. I have realistic expectations about being an artist, I have a solid backup job/career to support me financially. I am almost used to rejection.

I've been asked to do artwork before, mostly commissions (paid or otherwise). I don't actively look for gigs because I don't really know how.

I'd like to get more illustration work, and I don't know where to look. I'd like to make stuff for publications, spot illustrations, and other things. I have no idea how this is done.

How can I best advertise my work, and willingness to work?
Who should I send my portfolio to?
How do I find these people?
Do places like the New York Times and The New Yorker just take unsolicited submissions that I can just spam?

MeMail me if you'd like to see my work.

How can I propose to my girlfriend with a children's book when I am a terrible artist?

Rodrigo Lamaitre — Wed, 16 May 2012 03:50:42 -0800

How would I get semi-professional digital artwork done on a personal income? So I think I have a somewhat unique way of proposing to my girlfriend, however I want to do it right and I am sure you folks might be able to help me out in figuring out how not to break the bank in the process. I'm not proposing until late summer, so I think I have time*.

The night I propose to her, I want to give her a small children's story that I've written about how we met with two puppies as the main characters. One dog being a wild but loving stray, the other a well-trained shelter dog looking for a home. It ends with two adult dogs lying together and watching their own puppies grow up. Cue tears.

I am writing the story myself but I am a terribly artist...especially digitally. The idea I have is that someday, this will be a book our kids can read about how their parents met and I want it to look good.

I am going to lay it out in InDesign (which I have the skills for) and have an editor lined up to help ensure the text is solid. I also have a print shop in town who'll help me out with actually printing it.

The most challenging part so far is finding an artist who would be willing to take on a little project like this. I'm looking for simple, but solid, sketches of this quality of a couple of characters and their journey through a number of scenes. I also am conflicted asking established artists for this kind of work as I know I can't afford a fair wage. What are my options?

I've thought about art/graphic design schools (not in session in the summer), or India, but don't know whether either are viable options. What would you do? My budget for this might be $1,000 as I have, you know, a ring and whatnot to buy too.

What would you suggest for getting the artwork I need to make this project memorable?

* I also know it's a yes, so there's really not a chance that this project is in vain unless something drastic happens between now and then.

Who is this Seattle eccentric?

a box and a stick and a string and a bear — Wed, 11 Apr 2012 14:01:46 -0800

Help me identify an eccentric artist that gave tours of his house in Seattle around the year 2000. He was obsessed with a number (four or five, maybe) and had many conditions for his tours that hinged upon that number (i.e. needing four people to tour the property, and tours being available in four minute or four hour duration). He might have gone by "[first name] Art".

Profiles of Artistic Courage

chara — Fri, 06 Apr 2012 13:21:28 -0800

Do you know of any good art and/or documentary blogs that profile artists or filmmakers? I'm interested in creating one myself, for local and national artists, and I'm looking for ideas and inspiration.

Raise Your Hand if You're Insured

airguitar2 — Wed, 04 Apr 2012 11:50:12 -0800

How do artists and writers in Los Angeles get health insurance? I'm going to be looking at self-insurance in the next couple of months, and I'm wondering what some good options are. I realize that with health insurance there's almost never a "good option", but I also realize that there are other freelancers in the L.A. area who must have to self-insure. What do y'all do?

I've forgotten the name of a band

The Discredited Ape — Tue, 03 Apr 2012 15:39:58 -0800

Can you help me remember the name of this electronic musician from the almost uselessly small amount of information I'm able to provide? Around a year ago I heard an album/mini-album that I'd like to hear again. Here's what we have to go on:

- single word name.
- maybe beginning with I or L. Maybe.
- odd, glitchy, semi-repetitive mutant disco.
- related conceptually and scene-wise to UK dubstep/bass/electronic people like Actress, Zomby, Shackleton, Kode9 etc.
- not Ikonika.
- I have the feeling that the word might have been a familiar word but twisted in some way by doubling up a letter. In the way that Illusion might become Illuusion by adding a surplus u. Don't get too hung up on this item though, because it might not be true at all.
- album cover was mainly black but had some interesting geometric shapes on the front in bluey grey (probably).
- definitely not Ikonika.
- going back to the third point, the music itself - I'm sure it was basically lots of old disco loops, but there was something off and thrillingly awkward about it all, as if the record kept skipping, or as if loops of different lengths were played against each other so they'd slip in and out of phase.

That's it. Does it ring any bells?