What's it Mean Anyway?
What does art mean?
Why do it anyway? What purpose does it serve?
"Spring Light" (8x10) by M Francis McCarthy
All the answers to these questions must by definition be subjective. Any artist worth their salt should have their own ready answers to these questions."Spring Light" by M Francis McCarthy
If you don't, I'd be willing to bet that you're either a commercial artist or a beginner.
The choices you make as an artist have an impact on all humanity even if your work never receives a huge audience.
I chose now to be responsible for the energy that goes into what I paint and the feelings that my work creates in the hearts of my viewers. That means I try for magic in my work, for peace, thoughtfulness and repose.
As a commercial illustrator I often had to create work that affected much different areas of feeling. Nothing wrong with that if you're working for someone else and getting paid. It's fun to play with your craft too.
Ultimately though, it seems to defeat the purpose of even being an artist. I mean, if I'm going to spend my time and energy creating an illustration of a monster truck crushing stuff, why do art at all? I could probably make more money in the business world and spend my free time doing work I personally value.
So many artists lose their way in the mad rush to trade their art and energy for money. They forget why they wanted to be an artist in the first place. Many end up like used up old prostitutes willing to do a blowjob for five bucks.
BTW, I'm not dissing those of you that are using your art to make a living. I was that and I may be again one day should no other path be available.
I do feel this world is sick with people selling what they are for pennies on the dollar. Often their compromises run so deep and long that they forget about the magic that started them off. They forget about moving people and about expressing their unique vision as an artist.
The best of course is when you are getting handsomely paid for doing what you love. That is possible and I'm trying over here to do that everyday. That is my dream.
It's not the easiest dream to actualize but if you don't have a dream, how can your dream come true?
Cheers,
A bit about "Spring Light". Hey, one reason I started this blog was so I could repost paintings I already put up once ;-) I wrote a whole post about "Spring Light" here. I like this painting. It's a great example of what I like to do in landscape these days.