I am not an artist but I play one at work?
August 24, 2012 8:30 AM Subscribe
Employer is holding a staff art show. I would like to participate but I am not an artist. Is this a horrible idea?
I wouldn't be posting this question if I thought my participation in the staff art show was a total lost cause. I have taken pictures, painted watercolors, and drawn with charcoal before and the results weren't the worst things ever. My husband has hung a few of my pieces in our home (though somehow he picked the ones I like the least). I have been meaning to get into painting again and think this might be a good opportunity. And my supportive husband is encouraging me to participate.
I enjoy taking pictures but I wouldn't describe myself as a photographer. My camera is a mediocre digital. I have photographs from some interesting places that might be okay subjects. I also enjoy doing watercolor paintings, usually simple flowers but I could try a still life from a picture. I think charcoal is my favorite medium because it's so dramatic but it's probably the one where I would be least likely to produce something that's good.
Naturally the deadline for samples is in a week but I talked to the coordinator and she's flexible. There's an art supply store near my office. My "plan" was to get supplies and sit down with them this weekend, or try heading out with my camera, and see how it goes. Backing out is still totally an option at this point. I think I would be happy with myself if I put together a couple of small things that were not embarrassingly bad.
Is this a bad idea or the worst idea? How can I make this easier on myself? Can you make me an overnight artist? Are there other art ideas I should be considering? Is this insulting to the "real" artists I work with?
I wouldn't be posting this question if I thought my participation in the staff art show was a total lost cause. I have taken pictures, painted watercolors, and drawn with charcoal before and the results weren't the worst things ever. My husband has hung a few of my pieces in our home (though somehow he picked the ones I like the least). I have been meaning to get into painting again and think this might be a good opportunity. And my supportive husband is encouraging me to participate.
I enjoy taking pictures but I wouldn't describe myself as a photographer. My camera is a mediocre digital. I have photographs from some interesting places that might be okay subjects. I also enjoy doing watercolor paintings, usually simple flowers but I could try a still life from a picture. I think charcoal is my favorite medium because it's so dramatic but it's probably the one where I would be least likely to produce something that's good.
Naturally the deadline for samples is in a week but I talked to the coordinator and she's flexible. There's an art supply store near my office. My "plan" was to get supplies and sit down with them this weekend, or try heading out with my camera, and see how it goes. Backing out is still totally an option at this point. I think I would be happy with myself if I put together a couple of small things that were not embarrassingly bad.
Is this a bad idea or the worst idea? How can I make this easier on myself? Can you make me an overnight artist? Are there other art ideas I should be considering? Is this insulting to the "real" artists I work with?
Why would it be a bad idea? Go have fun.
posted by corvine at 8:33 AM on August 24, 2012 [1 favorite]
posted by corvine at 8:33 AM on August 24, 2012 [1 favorite]
If my office is anything to go by, you can be an extremely unaccomplished photographer and still enter many images into the work contest with pride. (Seriously, some had the neon time/date stamp in the corner).
I hope you don't put too much pressure on yourself to produce a masterpiece. I hope you do the art because you find it fun and relaxing!
posted by cranberrymonger at 8:37 AM on August 24, 2012 [3 favorites]
I hope you don't put too much pressure on yourself to produce a masterpiece. I hope you do the art because you find it fun and relaxing!
posted by cranberrymonger at 8:37 AM on August 24, 2012 [3 favorites]
Sounds like you are an artist, even if you're not a professional one. I would go for it!
posted by mlle valentine at 8:38 AM on August 24, 2012 [2 favorites]
posted by mlle valentine at 8:38 AM on August 24, 2012 [2 favorites]
Anyone who would think less of you or denigrate your art for participating in an amateur art show is a boor and an embarrassment to civilization. Make your best art, and if you are at all happy with how it turns out (and probably even if you are not), display it with pride.
posted by Rock Steady at 8:43 AM on August 24, 2012 [3 favorites]
posted by Rock Steady at 8:43 AM on August 24, 2012 [3 favorites]
I agree with mlle valentine.
People that think everything they have ever produced is the the greatest thing ever do not make good artists. Unfortunately, they tend to show a lot of work.
People that are extremely thoughtful and self-critical about their aesthetic and conceptual works do make good artists. These are also the people that are hesitant about showing because they hold great concern about the quality of their work.
Make some art. Show it even if you're not 100% convinced it's good because good artists always think they can do better.
I would advise you to keep it simple though. Ambitions projects are great, but they never turn out right the first time and require 1000% more time than you plan for. A simple project will allow for more revisions or scrapping and starting again.
posted by j03 at 8:50 AM on August 24, 2012 [2 favorites]
People that think everything they have ever produced is the the greatest thing ever do not make good artists. Unfortunately, they tend to show a lot of work.
People that are extremely thoughtful and self-critical about their aesthetic and conceptual works do make good artists. These are also the people that are hesitant about showing because they hold great concern about the quality of their work.
Make some art. Show it even if you're not 100% convinced it's good because good artists always think they can do better.
I would advise you to keep it simple though. Ambitions projects are great, but they never turn out right the first time and require 1000% more time than you plan for. A simple project will allow for more revisions or scrapping and starting again.
posted by j03 at 8:50 AM on August 24, 2012 [2 favorites]
Response by poster: Thanks, all :) I just need a shove in the right direction.
posted by kat518 at 8:55 AM on August 24, 2012
posted by kat518 at 8:55 AM on August 24, 2012
I went to art school for a few years, and photograph and make prints, but I have a hard time calling myself an artist or photographer. I entered a huge local art show this year and it was a great experience. Challenging but worth it. I hope you go for it!
posted by JoanArkham at 8:56 AM on August 24, 2012
posted by JoanArkham at 8:56 AM on August 24, 2012
Artists are their own worst enemys. Just go do art!
posted by Jacen at 8:56 AM on August 24, 2012 [2 favorites]
posted by Jacen at 8:56 AM on August 24, 2012 [2 favorites]
Response by poster: @JoanArkham, Artomatic is one of my favorite things ever. Congrats on participating!
posted by kat518 at 8:58 AM on August 24, 2012
posted by kat518 at 8:58 AM on August 24, 2012
You should totally go for it! And you asked for practical advice, here goes: if you want to paint, paint. If you don't have your supplies anymore, you can get a nice watercolor set (travel sets are good) and some paper at the art supply store for not too much money. Do try to get something better than the cheapest stuff there, nice supplies make a difference. Get a pad of decent watercolor paper, in a manageable size (8x10?) so that you're not fixated on making one perfect picture.
I also find it easier to jump back into creating when I have some THING to focus on. In your case I might recommend setting up a still life in your house or putting a couple of nice flowers in a simple vase and painting your set up many times over the course of the weekend. Aim to make a bunch (10? 15?) of paintings, rather than just one, and it will both be less stressful and will probably lead to paintings you like better.
posted by LeeLanded at 9:00 AM on August 24, 2012 [2 favorites]
I also find it easier to jump back into creating when I have some THING to focus on. In your case I might recommend setting up a still life in your house or putting a couple of nice flowers in a simple vase and painting your set up many times over the course of the weekend. Aim to make a bunch (10? 15?) of paintings, rather than just one, and it will both be less stressful and will probably lead to paintings you like better.
posted by LeeLanded at 9:00 AM on August 24, 2012 [2 favorites]
I worked in the packaging department for a toy company. I was the only writer in a sea of very accomplished artists. I always entered the department contests because it was fun and everyone was kind and encouraging. I even won once but I think there was a little pity vote involved. (It was at Easter and we were working on toys tor Titanic and I did a diorama of the boat hitting an eggburg).
posted by agatha_magatha at 9:04 AM on August 24, 2012 [1 favorite]
posted by agatha_magatha at 9:04 AM on August 24, 2012 [1 favorite]
Sounds like you've already had your mind settled, but just one more piece of reinforcement:
Unless you work in an extraordinarily toxic space that you're not describing, I see no downside to this. I also am a sorta-techy person surrounded by artists at work, and my occasional dabbles have always been received kindly and generously. So, go for it. I'd be greatly surprised if you got any negative feedback at all, and would expect that people give positive feedback starting at "Hey, it's great you did a thing [period]," and going up from there.
(In fact: I am the only slot mathematician I know of who has actually made art that was included in a game. Granted, this is because the chosen art style was 'high school notebook,' but hey, as the lead said on seeing my meeting-doodles: 'You can't fake that.')
posted by PMdixon at 9:37 AM on August 24, 2012 [1 favorite]
Unless you work in an extraordinarily toxic space that you're not describing, I see no downside to this. I also am a sorta-techy person surrounded by artists at work, and my occasional dabbles have always been received kindly and generously. So, go for it. I'd be greatly surprised if you got any negative feedback at all, and would expect that people give positive feedback starting at "Hey, it's great you did a thing [period]," and going up from there.
(In fact: I am the only slot mathematician I know of who has actually made art that was included in a game. Granted, this is because the chosen art style was 'high school notebook,' but hey, as the lead said on seeing my meeting-doodles: 'You can't fake that.')
posted by PMdixon at 9:37 AM on August 24, 2012 [1 favorite]
Art is speech. You've been invited to say a few words. What do you want to say? Why should you remain quiet? If people laugh at your accent or vocabulary, isn't that a problem with them? Everyone is on a continuum. The measure is not location, it's detectable motion, I think.
posted by FauxScot at 10:05 AM on August 24, 2012 [1 favorite]
posted by FauxScot at 10:05 AM on August 24, 2012 [1 favorite]
Be the artist you are, and if you've created something you're proud of by the deadline, submit it, and if not, don't. The only thing you could do wrong here is submit something you're not proud of.
posted by davejay at 12:20 PM on August 24, 2012
posted by davejay at 12:20 PM on August 24, 2012
oh, and "you're proud of" does not mean "you consider perfect." Imperfection is what drives better art in the future. Also, even if it has tons of mistakes in it, don't admit that to anyone at work, especially preemptively.
posted by davejay at 12:22 PM on August 24, 2012
posted by davejay at 12:22 PM on August 24, 2012
Response by poster: I agree to some extent that "art is speech" but what if all I have to say is that flowers are pretty?
posted by kat518 at 1:49 PM on August 24, 2012
posted by kat518 at 1:49 PM on August 24, 2012
what if all I have to say is that flowers are pretty?
It's good to be reminded of that sometimes, especially when you're at work, indoors.
posted by tangerine at 2:23 PM on August 24, 2012 [1 favorite]
It's good to be reminded of that sometimes, especially when you're at work, indoors.
posted by tangerine at 2:23 PM on August 24, 2012 [1 favorite]
You know how many people look at some "great" painting and say, "My 3 year old could have drawn that"? Well, that tells you how many people can't judge if a painting is great. So, as long as you draw as well as a three year old, there will be people who appreciate your painting.
Note: people can judge if a painting is realistic, so do some that aren't trying to realistic just to mix things up a bit. In fact, I would highly recommend that you make several deliberately "bad" examples. You may or may not end up liking them in the end but in any case they will help free your playfulness and creativity.
posted by metahawk at 6:40 PM on August 24, 2012
Note: people can judge if a painting is realistic, so do some that aren't trying to realistic just to mix things up a bit. In fact, I would highly recommend that you make several deliberately "bad" examples. You may or may not end up liking them in the end but in any case they will help free your playfulness and creativity.
posted by metahawk at 6:40 PM on August 24, 2012
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posted by griphus at 8:33 AM on August 24, 2012 [18 favorites]