Tuesday, April 6, 2010
The artist's motivation
In Daniel Pink's recent book, "Drive", he discusses, in general terms, the effects of intrinsic versus extrinsic motivation in our 21st Century culture. This is of particular interest to me as an artist and teacher. I believe that the excessive emphasis on financial gain (extrinsic) by beginner and mid level artists has created a decline in the quality of their work. It appears to me that these somewhat inexperienced painters are searching frantically for styles and subject matter that will fetch a few dollars at venues that exhibit the work of these artists. I believe the reasons for this attention to sales is a result of our becoming overly materialistic in our culture. I am not attempting to drag up the old bromide of art for art's sake. I wish that artists could make lots of money from the sale of their work. My concern is that their growth as artists is being arrested by this narrow focus on the market place before their work has reached any level of aesthetic relevance.
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I enjoyed your post on "The Artist's Motivation," Joe. It is sad but true that too many artists are motivated by conventional measurements of success -- recognition, approval, acceptance, and money. Human nature is understandable,of course, and one cannot broadly condemn any artist who seeks to financially support his or her passion. For true art to emerge, however, the artist must be able to fearlessly express something that is found within, something that demands expression without regard to how it will be received by others. I find that element in most of your paintings, particularly the abstract work.
ReplyDeleteDitto, being an artist is not for the faint of heart when one is scraping out a living with their work.
ReplyDeleteWith that said and the fact that I have not received recognition, approval, acceptance nor money from my peers (those Easton photographers), I must well be on my way to success.
ReplyDeleteLike most people who studied under and/or got to know you, we all came away a better artist by your straightforward approach and analysis of our endeavors.
I hope to see you (Anne?) in Easton in a few months.
CARL
I have always felt that the "work" comes first. Everything else is horseshit.
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