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"I'm not an artist, I'm a painter"
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Message
Posted
<div>I'm even more confused than I ever was. I never thought that by not wishing to sound pretentious Alan, by calling myself a painter instead of an artist, that it may be considered more superior - oh dear. Still I like your term of "jack-of-all-trades as a person who dabbles in everything. A bit like me as I also do other crafts and make my own frames. So perhaps I am a crafter? Incidentally I also refuse to call my spare bedroom a studio for the same reason. I used to call it a Workroom and lately I have changed it to "The Hub" - as it is the place where everything happens (or not as the case may be). Just thought I would throw that into the mix - sorry people! By the way, welcome Gudrun to the Forum.</div>
Posted
that cracks me up when they say I am working in my studio .(back kitchen)
and I am now taking commissions ..hee hee, (next door neighbours cat ) roll me over and scratch me belly
I wish I had a studio ..and had commissions .
boo boo tears . I am struggling away on,t back kitchen table when everybody else on,t inter web has a studio ,it,s not fair
Posted
My two pence?
Think of Venn diagrams - a large circle, the top layer of it all, called "artist".
Inside are sub circles with titles like "painter", "clay modeller", etc..
(or, if you're computer savvy - windows explorer folders: the top folder is "Artist", then sub folders for each specifically refined TYPE of artist)
So - she's an artist AND a painter.
I'd say she's being a little precious though - she refines the field down from "artist" to "painter" but doesn't do the refinement properly by saying "oil painter" or "watercolour painter"
or whatever.
If you make art then yuu are an artist. -- You might be good or bad, but you're still an artist. A kid with his haqnds in the paint, making handy-prints all over butcher's paper is an artist' so is the woman who has been painting in oils for 50 years and has 17 paintings in the Louvre.
Different types, different degrees, level, abilities... but still "art" -- and that gets back to the "is it art?" debate (yes, it is art, just art I can't stand to look at)
So - she's an artist AND a painter.
I'd say she's being a little precious though - she refines the field down from "artist" to "painter" but doesn't do the refinement properly by saying "oil painter" or "watercolour painter"
or whatever.
If you make art then yuu are an artist. -- You might be good or bad, but you're still an artist. A kid with his haqnds in the paint, making handy-prints all over butcher's paper is an artist' so is the woman who has been painting in oils for 50 years and has 17 paintings in the Louvre.
Different types, different degrees, level, abilities... but still "art" -- and that gets back to the "is it art?" debate (yes, it is art, just art I can't stand to look at)
Posted
Now I love the name "artisan" philk2 but people would just look at me and say "aye"?
You have made me laugh Alan - how true!
You sometimes can't refine it down like that DD if you work in various mediums. Perhaps I shall just be a painting art technician. At the end of the day it's not going to make one bit of difference to my art.
Posted
This is a good discussion, I'm glad I asked! I suppose there's no definite answer to this. I don't think there's anything wrong with identifying as a painter, but it seems strange to deny being an artist, when painting is an art. And especially when someone is just trying to make conversation!
I mainly paint, but I also draw. I'm therefore only a painter some of the time, and I don't really want to be called a drawer. But I'm always an artist. I doodle, make wreaths out of dried grasses, arrange the contents of the fridge in pleasing ways, look at things and decide what colours I'd use to paint it, etc. I've never thought that 'artist' sounded pretentious. That's what I tell people I am. If they're interested they ask what kind of artist, what subjects etc. If not, they'll just say "Ah, OK" and I'll know to leave it at that. If they aren't interested in art they won't care what kind of art I do.
Alan I too wish I had a studio. I have a dining table, a kitchen table and an ironing board...
Kay.
Posted
that chimp who painted ,and the chap who painted with a bike wheel ,,they were all the go at one time .. was it called realism.
I am sure they are still at it .on you tube, the elephant was the best one though, didn.t they put some in an exhibition
and the pundits told us what the artist was trying to say