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Message
Posted
I spent a couple of hours over the Bank Holiday weekend stewarding at an art exhibition, consisting of traditional paintings with a very few abstracts, in a nearby city full of tourists and visitors. Some of the comments reported by stewards outside provide some food for thought.
"Is it an art exhibition or just paintings?" From a young man.
"Not our era" From a young couple who had a quick look and left.
"Are there any abstract works or just traditional paintings?" From a young couple.
"Is it amateur or professional?" From two or three people.
The exhibition organiser got a distinct impression that an exhibition of paintings did not appeal to the younger generation who want less figurative and representational art and more abstract work, and perhaps are more interested in installations and videos etc. Together with an apparent bias against 'amateur' artists this makes running a traditional club or society art exhibition ever more challenging.
I'm not suggesting that everyone should only produce what the younger generation want but it seems the times they are a changing...as ever. Most amateur artists I know produce what they enjoy, and treat any sales or accolades as a bonus, save for the true professionals who have bills to pay and have to find a market, a problem that has existed for ever.
Let's see what the autumn exhibition produces.
Posted
I would pressume if the younger generation dislike my work I must be on the right track. When I look at what they do like I fear for our future.
I alao believe representational art is making a return slowly but surely. Art schools are realising the folly of their ways and artists seem less intent on throw paint at a canvas (all things relative but I believe the trends are changing) Art galleries on the other hand, I don't know what they are selling...
Posted
Interesting topic Stub, and not too hard to fathom the answer (I.M.O) Computer art and Deviant art etc, are what appeal (or seem to) to the brave new world pioneers. For me, just another example of living in a world I no longer understand. On my walks with the dog I regularly find pencils and cheap pens lying on the floor; these items. which I treasured as a kid are not required to operate a lap top and computer art programmes. I hope Davy is right about what's happening in the art world because I would love to see art flourish outside just the major cities and art galleries. Our town council has just spent a literal fortune on an Egyptian exhibition factor ( an important one that has been on world tour, granted) in our local museum and, in doing so reduced the space that once was filled with magnificent paintings and drawings. These now languish in storage showing only a few works that the council consider as interest to the new generation of sports scientists, I T and media moguls, personal trainers and tattoo artist that our universities produce to constitute our working class. Photography too seems to take the same if not more important interest levels than the pencil, paint and brush devotees that once were a major art focus. In short, it's all ruled by Twitter, Facebook and the outragerati brigade of brave new worlders that are today's era. It may change, we can but hope. Right, I'm off to take a selfie....😆
Edited
by Wanderer69
Posted
In truth, there an many, many representational paintings out there, and it's quite possible to become jaded with them, but leaving aside the installation type of art, which says nothing to me at all on the whole, the trend you may have identified ties in with what the millennial generation and those a little older tend to be doing to their houses - things are 'themed'; decor has to match; dividing walls are removed in favour of 'modern' open-plan; light is to be admitted through every possible aperture; antique furniture is derided as 'brown furniture', and while it's a very good time to buy it it's a rotten time to try selling it, because minimal design is required: seating must be uncomfortable to be fashionable - curtains are out, blinds are in, IKEA's ghastly furniture is everywhere...
Now much of this is old-age grouch, of course, but we are living through a phase in domestic fashion which in my opinion is soulless and miserable, and it's entirely unsurprising that the tasteless tribe of today wants artwork that matches the minimal decoration of their houses which reflects the minimal content of their brains. I hope the fashion changes again, as doubtless it will, otherwise my relatives are going to be left with an awful lot of unsaleable detritus when I die: not that I'm planning on doing that just yet - I shall see these trends out if I have to approach my second century.
Posted
I first started exhibiting with a local art society some 30 odd years ago. Therefore over the years have baby sat many exhibitions , those comments are not untypical of comments all those years ago.
I often think us amateur artists exhibit for our own benefit ,not Joe Public...and why not? a bit of self indulgence is good for the soul. The private view was always the fun bit and when most sales were made , the hanging and taking down were also good times.
Exhibitions were always a good place if it was a rainy day, and usually visitors doubled and maybe four people would be visiting all at the same time .
I also dislike enhanced photographs as part of an art exhibition i don’t see a place for them.
Nothing will change in the foreseeable future us amateurs enjoy the moment and it’s a cause for celebration when a sale is made. Traditional methods will never fade away , well if they do I won’t be around to see it.
Plus we are all too fond of criticising Emin t and Hurst.
Posted
Im young (ish) and i love all forms and styles of art and can see the beauty in every one. I spend a lot of time on instagram and facebook connecting with other like minded people, and admiring their work. It does seem that the ones with the biggest followings are the abstract painters the moment. This changes all the time though. A couple of years ago it was floral paintings. Next year it could be landscapes or animals. It all depends on current interior design trends and colours too. The big thing a few years ago was purple, then grey, its now mustard but blush and rose gold colours are creeping in. Cacti are huge and vintage 60s furniture is a big thing.
If your doing art to sell you have to follow trends, if its just because you love it, then do what you love, and a real art lover will always buy a good quality piece, it may just take longer than the modern bang it out quick styles that are in fashion at the moment.
Posted
I've come to the conclusion that I'm a bit of an oddity. I paint traditional watercolours and though they rarely sell at exhibitions I do get a number of commissions throughout the year. I currently have three on the go. One is a canal scene being painted as a present for someone who is retiring - the retirement 'do' is a round trip along the canal to a restaurant . Another is wanted by a the owner of a building which houses a well know local restaurant and the third is of a house out in one of the villages.
In complete contrast to this I paint abstracts and near abstracts which do sell. However this is more by word of mouth and via the internet.. I exhibit them regularly but the problem is luring the younger folk in to look round in the first place although at a recent open studio event I did sell three contemporary works and could have sold one of them twice over.
I have to say I far more enjoy abstract work and when I go to any exhibition or look in at the gallery here at POL I look for something different and exciting and I'm sorry to say the more mundane traditional works leave me feeling a little bored even though I enjoy painting them. As I said at the outset I guess I'm a bit of an oddity.
On the other side of the coin I find that local art groups are flourishing - almost every village in my area has its own art group and they are desperate for visiting demonstrators to give demos and run workshops. The trouble is they only have small funds and can't afford the high fees demanded by most professional artists. This is where I step in - I really enjoy going round the groups and have now built up quite a circuit. Doing so forces me to experiment in different techniques etc - also I learn more in this way than ever I do working alone.
Posted
I've got to admit, the highest-priced painting in the Bardfield (home to Bawden, Ravillious (sp?) and the rest of the Bardfield artists in the 20th century) art exhibition at the weekend was an unframed abstract that looked as though as though the artist had just daubed a load of paint-loaded brushes randomly over a panel to clean them off and then let a bunch of kids smear the paint around with their hands. It didn't sell.
What was selling was art where you could look at it and see something; both traditional and pseudo-abstract, mostly priced sub-£100. So there is clearly a place for both schools.
The entry fee included tea and cake. We weren't the youngest there but neither were we the eldest.
Edited
by alang23
Posted
Very interesting thread. Bags of ideas in there...loved Sylvia's list of comments. If I see an art exhibition anywhere local I go to it, art of any kind often appeals...also art of any kind often repels. Nothing odd in that. I suppose if you really want, or need to sell, you have to have a different mindset. I draw and paint because I like doing it. But I suppose the whole point of making pictures is to get some kind of response, or you wouldn't show them at all. The classic 'looks like a photograph' is usually meant as a compliment, but it makes me cringe (luckily, I don't often get that one.) I think art is a great boon in life, selling it is another ball game. What am I trying to say? I've got no idea.
Posted
For me it's not just painting process itself - it's the whole painting experience. I love exhibiting, the commissioning process, trying out new ideas/methods/techniques, working with under-privileged, sharing and demonstrating techniques with others through demos and workshops, meeting up with other like-minded artists, and occasionally, yes, a bit of kudos and why not - after all that's what can spur us on and, hopefully, upward..
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