Do you think an artist really enjoy his paintings?

Question

many artist say so but I realized they never are happy with the results.

Answer 1

There you touch the real essence of being an artist.
They enjoy painting.
Then the result may be surprising even to themselves (means maybe they did not enough sketches -studies- before starting with paint.
Then, a true artist is NEVER absolutely satisfied with his/her work. If they were they would not be true artists. Cezanne, the well-known French impressionist, said at the end of his life "I only I had painted an apple rightly, I would die happy"

Answer 2

I've never been satisfied at the end of a project or painting. There is always something I could have done better. I think this feeling of knowing I can do better keeps me moving along as an artist. If I thought my art was great there would be no reason to continue. It's the progression that really keeps me going.

Like the others who answered, I have too met the vain "artist" who thinks everything they do is great. They make me sick... usually because I can look at their work and see right away what they can improve upon. I personally think, these "artists" are worse off. Thinking that ones work is the greatest and needs no improvement will result in work that does not progress in skill.

Answer 3

This is actually a very interesting question.

I know some other artists who are vain enough to think everything they do is a masterpiece even if others think it's lame or amateur. Then I know a few other artists who are never satisfied with what they do even when others think it's great.

As to my own paintings the answer is both yes and no. There are some paintings I've done that I'm very pleased with and certainly don't mind looking at after wards or hanging on my wall or offering for sale. Then there are some that just don't seem to work, don't seem to say what I'm trying to say. A few of these get painted over. The ones that I think I can fix get put aside for a few weeks. Then I return to them with a fresh perspective and the hope of making them look right.

And then there have been a few paintings that turned out good, but I don't exactly like the results. These I don't love enough to consider showing. But I don't hate them enough to paint over them. What I find very interesting is that often others will love something you've done even if you don't.

Answer 4

In every painting I have an area that I’m really not happy with. It is “complete” by artistic terms and shouldn’t be touched but it just irks the heck out of me…

As for the ENJOYMENT… I love to paint. It’s a great release and you get lost in time. Even when working hard on a project…

Some paintings are REALLY complete works and fit. Everything fits.. (You know what I mean. All the basics are there. The colours are right.) But it just looks like a piece of junk.. Then you go, “Man, I understand why this is NEVER a topic you find in a painting.”

MANY painters have had artwork pulled from the trash… Even Ambrose Vollard pulled paintings from the trash of the great impressionists… Some are sitting in galleries today as works of art. And rightfully so. They are complete and look good. But the artist was “not happy” with the outcome….

Answer 5

I love them. It can be hard to let them go, especially to someone I don't know. I'll wait before I sell it. I love to just look at a new piece for a few days, first. It's a really great feeling to know you have created that thing that is so beautiful.

If we aren't happy with the results of our efforts why would we do it? Certainly the work that goes into it is satisfying but if you don't like the pieces you create you can't stand by them. I couldn't even imagine trying to sell something I considered trash. I wouldn't do it. Maybe, if someone saw it and really liked it I'd give it to them, but not for money. That's just not right.

My mom has a large collection of my less successful art school pieces. It's actually embarrassing. I fear people will see them and think they are representative of my abilities now. But she loves them so that's what matters.

I imagine we have all produced pieces we are unhappy with but those would be the minority. It's usually because we're struggling with an idea we just can seem to communicate well into the medium we are using. It happens. When it does you can't force the idea. Once I realise it's not gonna work out I'll set it aside. Maybe I can come back to it later, maybe I'll just toss it out altogether.

Experience helps a lot. Someone just starting out and learning is going to have more challenges. Once you get past that, though, if you are still not happy with your work you might do better to find something you do like.

Answer 6

Good question, It sounds like a bs answer but I can only answer it with the word: Sometimes.

It depends on what it is really. Sometimes you start out with a good idea, (Or so you think at the time.) only to find out that it;s just not what you wanted (It's a real turd sandwich!). Then you sit there and think of all the stuff you shoulda done or coulda done and that takes away from the enjoyment factor of a finished piece.

Other times though the planets align and everything falls into place and it comes out better than you thought it would so you sit back and think "Damn, that's cool!" Champagne falls from the heavens and you are the god of all art! (Until the next pice of crap!)

Overall though, despite the outcome it's the journey that gets us. Seeing something grow from a thought to something finished whether good or bad. That's where the real enjoyment comes in. Actually doing the work and getting it out of you. That's the cool part of it!

Part of the reason why most of us are usually unhappy with stuff though is because we're closest to it. We see the flaws and problems and know they were dumb moves on our part. We know it could have been better and we know that it's just not right. Kinda like Frankenstien looking at his creation asking, "What have I done?"

If someone's happy with and bragging up their stuff (All the time!) it's a good bet it sucks. Sometimes people gotta make up for the fact that they're not that good by making it sound better than it really is. (As well as themselves being better than they really are!)

Personally, anymore I'm happier doing the cheesy, hot rod cartoon stuff I've been doing than the more serious stuff. It's not that it's killer art by any means. It just is what it is, it's silly and fun! And because of it being silly and fun I'm usually always happy with the results. No pressure to be at my best, no trying to do the next great masterpiece, no having to make it as good as I can. Just having fun with something I really dig.

Answer 7

When I am working on a painting no matter the subject I fall in love with the painting...it is like it is a part of me...I will keep tweaking it to make it better...I let it rest for a while (days or even weeks) but study it ever day to see if there is something I can add or remove to make it better...but there comes a time when you know that if you make one more change it will be ruined and you realize it is time to let it go...most of my paintings are commissions so I do have to let them go...but I swear it is like letting a stranger take your baby...will they like it and care for it properly???? Yes I not only enjoy my paintings, I love them, if not what would be the point.

Answer 8

I think it is the work itself one enjoys more than the finished product though that may be satisfying. It's learning to see, and engaging with the subject whatever it is - often discovering something fascinating and beautiful in the ordinary and everyday. But it's fun to see an old painting, to see what you saw, and yourself - even if you feel you wish it was back in the store-room. After all, you have to be willing to put yourself on the line if you are to learn anything at all. And some old work can surprise you, which is grand, though that's not what it's about.

Answer 9

If an artist believes he can do no better, he will stop being an artist and become a craftsman. That does not mean he cannot enjoy the process...enjoying the results is OK as long as it is seen as a stepping stone.

Answer 10

I am never happy with mine. In fact, I just spent the last few hours painting one and I hate it!