It's very difficult.?

Question

It's very difficult being an artist these days. Everything that you want to make seems to have been made before, and better.
What do you do to make your work unique?

I don't really think you unerstood the question "sunshine" so "crap" is a bit strong.Yes, I am a proper artist, I have been painting professionally for over 20 years now

Answer 1

Hi Jas,

I feel you. Sometimes I feel like "what's the use?" myself. It is true that there are many things that have been done before our time. As artists we feel that we can never improve on a Picasso, a Michelangelo, or a Da Vinci. This is true. But then again they just created what they saw, in the way that they saw it. For example, they all worked on the human figure. Then again, so did the Egyptians and the Greeks before them. That did not discourage them from creating. In fact, they were intrigued and inspired by these works of art. They were turned afire with inspiratrion by them. Then using their brains they were able to make improvements on the way the human figure was depicted!

These artists did not create to make us feel insignificant or incapable. Quite the contrary, their goal was to document the human condition of their time. They created for two reasons: One, because they had to (their own drive and desire) and Two, to add on to the human conversation. In the process of doing these two things, they became inspiring and gave us something to aspire to as human beings and artists. Not to be exactly like them, but to find our own voice and share it with the rest of the world. You have yours, just keep talking in your own manner and language.

It is our responsibility as artists today to become the link between our generation and the next. As they find their own voices and develop their own inquiries we are here giving them a place to jump from.

Your work is pretty unique and very interesting. You have much to say. Continue the conversaton that you started 20 years ago between yourself and the world around you! Stop comparing yourself to others. Don't worry so much about what others can do, have done, or will do. Focus on the gifts that you have been given. On what YOU have done, can do and will share with the rest of the world. Draw your inspiration from your own soul and show the rest of the world what you see through your eyes. Share your vision and continue the conversation.

Good Luck and God Speed!
Lourdes


Actually, I will take this advise to heart and get off the computer and work on something creative myself.

Answer 2

I have been painting a long time (look at some of my work in my Live Journal Painting Link) and I can tell what has worked for me.

I try to stay away from being influenced by any other artist. Although there have been many I admire I won't let myself paint anything that even slightly resembles something I've seen. The only exception (one no artist can avoid) is with the portraits. But even with these I still try to add some signature style that makes it mine alone.

http://unmired.livejournal.com/

Answer 3

The difficulty is the carving out of time and still covering your expenses. Painting should be easy. Try adjusting your scale, your medium, what you paint on. Shake it up. I find I can get out of myself working large, but when working small I tend to over intellectualize it.

Are you really an artist? I find your comment strange "everything that you want to make seems to have been made before and better". That is total crap. Does a Van Gogh landscape look like a Magritte landscape? Or a Salvador Dali landscape?

Answer 4

Art is about creating from within. If you are a good artist, you should allready be able to realise ideas and expressions which are within you. There is no such thing as original; only degrees of originality. Everything under the Sun, and that kind of thing. You need the maturity to possess self-assurity, and to know that where you are going is right for you; and confidence that what you do in your work is going to be valid.YOU ONLY NEED TO BE SINCERE IN YOURSELF, DO NOT CONCERN YOURSELF WITH THOSE THINGS THAT HAVE BEEN DONE BY OTHERS. Too many artists nowdays attempt to make art for the shock value and the novelty. This art is no longer shocking because we are on sensation overload. Everywhere we are saturated with images and information; not just in art galleries,but on tv and in the media. We are becoming indiferent and zombie-like in our everyday reactions because we are so used to information and pictures. One wise chinese guy once said;'' I think and so I am''. Try to be charming, try to get deep into your own private world and dig out sincere ideas. Maybe you can connect your thoughts to a screen via this new technology thats just arriving that amazingly can write what a person is thinking. I have seen it demonstrated on a tv doc. But now this won't be art because it's somebody else's idea (mine). Painting and expression is now coming back into the realms of respect and admiration; not fashion though. Fashion is for the facile and vacuous beings that promenade the top art galleries because they think it's a place to be seen. Those types of person are not interested in art,they are just interested in themselves. They are the most uninteresting people for this reason.

Answer 5

If it were easy there wouldn't be much value to it. Think about what what you like, dislike or are ambivalent about (war, abortion, cloning, landscapes, cars, nudes...) or what has always been a mystery (love, Universe, computers) or any other concept that has laid in the mind, and translate that to an image, and don't worry about whether it will be good or bad, just make some marks and work towatd a visualization of that thought, Voila...something to hang on the wall and study: How to make this more clear, technically more strong, Oh, I like this area, or this spot can go. Then go paint 20 more each one an improvement over the previous.

Answer 6

There is a difference between 'art' and 'commerce.' As long as you are painting for yourself first, it is 'art' and will be unique, in one way or another. The problem for most artists (I sculpt and paint), is that we struggle with creating work that can pay the bills, so we try to make the work more accessable, therefore it becomes like other work that's been done.

Don't know if that helps, but good luck.

J.

Answer 7

the best art always arises from the promptings of the soul--it arises out of the "unconscious. therefore it is often archetypal and has great appeal. so the important question is how to access those levels of being. classically, doing a lot of meditation helps. why not give that a try. also, that level is often reached in dreams, so watch those carefully, and try to remember them on waking. some good images and ideas could be present. take a look at www.sahajayoga.com on meditation, and there are many online resources concerning dreams and their dynamics. good luck

Answer 8

there is only one way to make your work unique and that is to paint what you want and not what every body else want you to paint, don't look at other people . Create work to the best of your ability. Be professional. Work on your craft every day and take it seriously, if you take it seriously so will other people.
good luck I hope it helps.
P.S. check out my web site http://www.piotrwolodkowicz.com

Answer 9

I agree. But I get inspiriation from the strangest of places. I think you just have to paint with your heart and if it's not original, who cares? As long as you like what you paint, that's all that matters.
Good luck

Answer 10

Be yourself. That is what makes artists and artists' work unique.