Who are you as an artist?

This past weekend a friend called my reputation as being an artist into question. He told me that I am not up to his level as an artist. He informed me that I could never get into a high-end gallery like he has. Egotistical nastiness and comparison was in his voice. He continued to tell me that if I could not see that, then I had a problem.

Okaaaay……..   and Ouch!

So now I am questioning who I am as an artist. Why am I going to art school? What do I expect to achieve through my art and with my art? How far do I really want my art to go? What kind of deep commitment level am I really ready to give to my art?

Do I want to see my art in a museum? Do I want my art to be represented in Santa Fe, New York, Los Angeles, or any other hothouse of art activity?

Or do I just want to paint and not worry whether it sells or not? Is it important to convey some sort of meaning or message through my art? Am I doing art for my own sake and sanity? Does anyone else even care if I do my art?

In a way this is beneficial to where I am right now. It is always good to question who we are and what we are doing and why.

How about you? Who are you as an artist? Where do you want your art to take you? Where do you want to take your art? Do you want to be famous locally, at the state level, national or international level? Do you want to sell your art or just create it?

Above image: Triangle Fire, mixed media on wood, 36 x 36 inches. Available. Collectors and galleries, contact me if interested.

Is Creativity Learned?

Is creativity something you can call forth? Do you need to believe that you are creative to be creative? Is everyone creative or is it something that you are born with?

I believe that the creative spark can hit when we are receptive in some way. I seem to be most creative when I am full of wonder and curiosity. The questions that arise from this state seem to invite the bubbling forth of ideas. That seems to really get the creative process rolling.

When I begin a new painting or painting series, this is what happens. First, I begin noticing my current interests and intrigues. That leads me to curiosity and wonder about those subjects. I begin researching which leads to more questions. The process can be quite lengthy at times until the questions subside. Then there is an incubation period where all of this research and the answers coalesce. This is a space of the unknown or gestation. I just let ideas percolate and come to the surface. Then, these new ideas run through my filter of what I know about these subjects. The juxtaposition of what I know and what I just learned churn the creative process and bring forth something new.

What do you think about creativity? How do you get the juices rolling?

Image shown here: Number 3: Quintessential Creativity, 24" x 24", mixed-media on wood. ©2011 Mary A. Gravelle. Available. Email info@marysfineart.com for more information on purchasing this original artwork.

A New Movie: OUTSIDE IN: The Story of Art in the Streets

A friend of mine just shared the link to a new movie trailer, Outside In. I have watched many movies on Netflix about street art, graffiti, bombing, etc. It is fascinating and full of emotional mind benders for me personally. I hate it. I love it. I'm appalled at some of the attitudes of these artists. I applaud the attitude of some of these artists. As far as museums bringing it in …. now there is a huge question of motivation on that. Are they really celebrating the art and the artists? Or are they simply capitalizing on another layer in the art scene that has not been tapped?

What do you think?

Link to movie trailer.


Image at left: Initiation, tempera on paper, 36 x 96 inches. ©2011 Mary A. Gravelle