Art Attack – Brave Doubt ……………
Art Attack is an opinion piece – my totally subjective point of view that one may choose to agree with, disagree with or completely ignore. It is written with an egoist presumption that there are people out there who care or are interested in what I have to say.
It’s not so different from my other role as artist. Both are part of the vanity game, where you hope people will pick up a newspaper, log on to your blog, like your Facebook post, follow you on Twitter, come out to your show, react to your art and ultimately buy something.
The above are not necessarily vital to the creative process, but can certainly help in getting your tired ass back in the studio or sitting down at your desk.
“Posy,” (insert shameless plug) is my latest series of photographs on view at the Norberta Philbrook Gallery this Saturday – flowers in vases shot in natural light.
The series came about after posting a few photos on Facebook and receiving positive comments and “Likes.” They, along with encouragement from gallery owner Raven Derge, became the impetus to create more for a show.
I am much more familiar and comfortable wearing the artist hat. Words on a page still feel foreign, yet it’s easier critiquing someone else’s work than having to highly scrutinize one’s own.
What do these images say? Are you adding anything new? Do they read beyond pretty? Questions we keep asking before signing our name to the work. That final act that says, “These words, these images, are worth your time – I think?”
There is no shortage of great writers and artists, so putting oneself out there is an act of brave doubt – something most artists share unless you are Hemingway or Bob Dylan. There’s not a trace of doubt in a single line by Picasso.
From the camera to the wall is an interesting process, filled with excitement, dread and, always, doubt. It’s the word that keeps this column going and the camera clicking. It’s the word that keeps this ego in check.
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