This question is for Artists?

Question

My bf started painting recently after haning around an art major all summer. He will spend hours on these paintings. Then when hes done he puts them in the closet. WHY? If I could paint that good I would show them off or sell them. He told me that painting relaxes him and gives him peace of mind. He said he doesnt do it to make money or show off to people. He did hang one up in his room but other than that nothing. He doesnt like to show other people either. Several times he spent like a week on a painting then after it was done he threw paint on it and started over! I was like why the hell did you do that? He said well I decided that I didnt like it. I could easily see all my mistakes. Why not just start a new one then? Why destroy something you spent so much time on? Can some one please explain all this to me?

Answer 1

If you have problems imaging what's in a painter's motivations then try looking at it this way: Let's say he's part of a rock group. The rock group has some basic lyrics and the concept for the music. They go into the recording studio to work on and polish the song. It's highly unlikely that they will be happy with the first 'take' and use it as it is for their new CD. In most cases there will be 'bugs' to be worked out, changes to be made with some words here or notes there while they are trying to get the 'right' sound to their song. So rockers will do dozens of 'takes' before they think they've got it 'right.' Even if you thought one of the early versions sounded right to you it may not have sounded right to the band. So they keep doing the song over again until they feel they get it right.

With painters it is pretty much the same way except that it is a canvas they are working on and you can't do dozens of 'takes' on one subject on one canvas. You simply don't have that kind of flexibility as you do with a recording studio machine. If your boyfriend (or any artist) isn't pleased with the results of a painting he's worked on it's pretty common for an artist to re-work the painting. If he then thinks he still can't get it right it's also common for an artist to start over (paint over) on the canvas. Unless you and he are rich then most artists don't have the luxury of buying and keeping many dozens of 'practice' canvases.

There is also the possibility that, because he is just beginning to paint, he is keen enough and honest enough with himself and his efforts to realize that the paintings have beginner's flaws. You may not see them because he is your boyfriend whom, I assume, you are deeply in love with and you may not be looking as objectively at his paintings as he is. He probably keeps them in the closet for this same reason: because he doesn't think he's good enough, doesn't think he's reached a polished enough skill level yet, to show them to others. So he, like me and thousands of other artists before him, studies them for awhile to learn from them and then re-uses the canvases to start over on. It's all basically part of the learning process.

I will say that your boyfriend is very lucky to have you in his life. There was many a time when I wish my wife (when I was much younger and married) had cared about my early paintings and cared enough to want to keep them and show them and, more importantly, cared enough that I wanted to be, and was, a serious artist. Lucky is your boyfriend to have you in his life.

Answer 2

I'm not trying to be rude, but it sounds like this person can't paint. Honestly, it doesn't sound like a very mature or capable attitude concerning painting. With all the working artists in the world, there is no risk of this person, or any one else for that matter, "showing off". You two should go to museums and galleries together, as often as possible, to learn how to look at things. It wouldn't hurt to take an art history class either. I'm so laid back and I mean this answer in the nicest way.

Answer 3

This question has been debated in the forums on WetCanvas.com for years. Every artist has his/her reasons for showing or not showing their art. You could ask a thousand artists this question and you would get at least 999 different answers. Most of which can be boiled down to "almost every artist (writer, actor....etc.) is their own worst critic." Sometimes when you finish a piece you think this is wonderful the best I've ever done. Then in a few days you look at it and you say oh that is just crap. I should have......... Often, too, someone who isn't comfortable in their talent is ashamed to show art to anyone because of the rejection they feel sure will happen. Friends and family are usually held as suspect in their praise.

Answer 4

Artists have a very sharp eye, therefore we tend to point out mistakes that some people can't see. If it doesn't look right, it throws the whole drawing off. Not all artists destroy their paintings; mind you. Some are just...interesting like that. I can't really explain your boyfriend's behavior, but maybe that will give you an idea of how artists think.
xD

Answer 5

He is trying to improve.

He is obviously at a critical point where he has realized that his skill isn't quite up to his inner vision. He is looking at his paintings and seeing the places where he's fallen short of his own expectations. So the parts where he may have met or exceeded his expectations don't matter to him right now.

And the fact that other people think the paintings are good doesn't matter either. It's not how *he* sees them. He may think that accepting compliments for those paintings is the equivalent of saying "that's what I meant to do, this result is what I intended." And it's not what he intended.

When he's able to produce outwardly what he sees inwardly, believe me, he'll show them.

Answer 6

Some people are very self critical. Sometimes they get angry at themselves because it didn't come out the way they thought it should. Also, they may feel like they are a failure at what they are doing. I used to be like that, but have gotten over it and am sorry I don't have the things I tore up.

Answer 7

As an artist I will give you one piece of advice that I believe is universal for all artists...we are our own worst critics and our behavior cannot be explained...I say let him do what he wants and when the time is right for him, he will do what he feels is best for himself...

Answer 8

No one can explain it to you if you don't "know" what he is feeling. He has the artists heart.



g-day!