PROCESS IS ART

As artists we're aware that a crucial part of creating the work is actually creating the work, the process. For some artists the process is the only concept and the end product can be whatever it is. But for others the process simply the journey to the final product. This got me thinking about how we are trained to think in today's world.

Growing up the most important part was the grade on the test. It wasn't about what you learned as much as how that one letter could prove to the world that you studied well this time. The studying part was the torture, no one liked studying. But studying was the process to getting that final product that we all really desired.

This can go into other things as well, like shopping. Everyone shops. But rarely does a person actually go and think "Hey I bet these chips (or beer or really ANYTHING) were made in a really interesting factory..." The process isn't important at all, but the end product is all that matters. (Some people like to make their own food or beer or chairs and that's great. Seriously, we need more people willing to create their own items.) But have you actually been to a factory that makes potato chips? or a Brewery? It's AMAZING.

Sadly, I think most people don't really care how something is made and they only care about the end result. These people will never be artists, or understand the thought process of an artist. The process is what gives the final result meaning. Yes, sometimes when we are creating something we think of this amazing end product and that's all we want to achieve. But we forget that sometimes the human parts, or the little mistakes and tweaks that we get while struggling to make it how we want make it give the result that extra hint of amazing.

So what do I think? I think we all should take a trip and visit a nearby factory and go on a tour. It doesn't even matter what it is, just figure out how exactly this thing is made and the precision and labor that goes into it. You'd be surprised how many factories actually host tours and a lot of them are free. Visit www.factorytoursusa.com or just google it. (TIP: Beer breweries sometimes give out free samples)

Let this experience allow you to see things differently and appreciate the process a little more.

ALLOW YOURSELF TO BE INSPIRED BY CHAIRS

Recently everywhere I turn people have been talking about their Dream Boards and other similar things. Now, I don't know much about Pinterest, I already have a Tumblr so why should I set up another similar account when I've already got one, plus 3 sketchbooks I use daily (soon to be 4). But I've heard it is pretty much a Dream Board at least something along those lines. Even Ron Funches on The Tonight Show starring Jimmy Fallon says he started using a Dream Board. 

Now to break it down, there are many different types of dream boards or walls or books or whatever. You can put up pictures of things you aspire to own, or you can have pictures of things you just enjoy and inspire you, OR you can have pictures of just literally anything that you find yourself liking (from a rug, to an advertisement)

As an artist I think it is key to surround yourself in what you like and allow it to always be present that way if you ever look at it differently or have it randomly catch your eye, you'll be inspired. I have so many artist prints framed and surrounding me at most times. TIP: I've found that when going to museums it's cheap to pick up a few postcards of your favorite pieces you saw there and use them as art around the house.

But most recently, while looking through an IKEA magazine, I found some things that I was drawn to visually. Yes I also do just want to buy the stuff in the image and decorate my house exactly like how they do, BUT I also found it aesthetically pleasing. Then it hit me, I liked how this particular room was designed because of it's similarity to what I want to do as an artist. The color palette was similar, the lines and it had aspects of it that I needed to put in my work. 

I know it shouldn't be surprising or innovative to think that interior design or the design of a chair or the way that this advertisement is photographed is linked to the fine arts because I mean come on, have you walked around the MoMA? There is a whole section devoted to artistic designs of furniture and I mean their stores alone have everything and anything there but somehow it's artistic... 

What I'm trying to get at is: use your sketchbook, or the walls of your house, or just a bulletin board to put up EVERYTHING you find yourself attracted to, not just the artwork. You never know what will make you see something in your work.

Related Post (with Artist References): http://artotterblog.blogspot.com/2014/03/inspiration-can-come-from-anywhere.html
Here's the Ron Funches video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=slrgBNOmhTI

CUTTING PAPER IS AN ART

There have been times where I've seen something posted on Tumblr of gorgeously intricate hand cut paper. And I think "Oh that's pretty cool, I bet it takes a lot of time" and that is it. I never really think about it again. Well, more recently I keep coming across these artists who cut paper and create these incredible and I mean INCREDIBLE pieces of art out of the shadows and the holes and it blows my mind. So naturally I looked more into it...

So Paper Art or Papercutting originated in China from the 6th Century Six Dynasties period called Jianzhi. They would be used as health, prosperity, or decorative purposes and would often include symbols from the color red to the Chinese Zodiac. 

Example of Jianzhi

A lot of the more notable artists to come out of the Papercutting scene were more Dutch and American artists. One you probably have heard of is Kara Walker, who creates these wondrous silhouettes confronting many issues such as race, gender, sexuality, and violence . But they don't always have to be just 2D designs, many artists in contemporary art have voyaged into 3D sculptures of paper such as artist Nahoko Kojima.

Kara Walker, Grub for Sharks: A Concession to the Negro Populace, black paper, 2004

Nahoko Kojima, Jerwood, Byako, paper, 2013

Many other artists have been working with this technique but are still trying to get their name out there are artists like Rogan Brown and Kuin Heuff. Rogan Brown is inspired by natural and minerals for his very intricate forms and Kuin starts by painting her faces and then cutting them.

Rogan Brown, Spore, paper, 2013

Kuin Heuff, Greta Heuff-Heg, acyrlic and paper, 2011

I think the whole technique and design aspects are very interesting and inspiring. The amount of effort plus a steady hand really is hard to come by today so I find it very exciting. If anyone knows of any other artists that do Papercutting then please share!! Otherwise, we can just sit and stare at these amazing works for another few hours (which I'm totally okay with).

Artist Websites:
Kara Walker: http://learn.walkerart.org/karawalker
Nahoko Kojima:  http://www.nahokokojima.com/
Kuin Heuff: http://www.kuinheuff.nl/index.php
Rogan Brown: http://roganbrown.com/home.html
Other Websites with cool Papercutting articles: 
http://www.mymodernmet.com/profiles/blogs/rogan-brown-paper-sculptures

GLITCH ART

Some of you may have heard about Glitch Art, others might not. Most of the time Glitch Art is referring to a part of the digital photographic process where the artist would edit the data/code in certain ways to create certain effects to the pixels of the image. Artists have used Glitch Art in video form and photographs. These forms then have inspired other artists of other mediums to create a similar pattern but with drawing or painting. 

So far this movement is not a major part of Contemporary Art but it has made its way into other movements. Artists like Nam June Paik have experimented with Glitch Art and similar techniques where it is nothing new. For instance in Nam June Paik's Magnet TV he places a magnet on top of an old CRT TV and gets a bend in the data. 

Nam June Paik, MagnetTV, crt tv and magnet, 1965

Currently there are conferences and groups of tech-art aficionados that get together with workshops, lectures, performances, and screenings. One is called GLI.TC/H. 

Andy Denzler is another artist who uses glitching techniques to get their unique look, except this time it's with paint. He has been working with his specific technique since 2004 and has really come a long way since then creating beautiful dreamlike paintings without getting too muddy.

Andy Denzler, Just Antother Day in Paradise III, oil on canvas, 140 x 120 cm, 2014

I know there is a lot of Glitch Art haters out there because it is such a easy process to do to photography in today's world, but there is a specific art form to it. Just like Modern are and Minimalism it has to be done correctly and with the placement and precise end product it can be something magical. But it is a process based art form where you have to experiment. I love it's end product especially when used with painting and drawing, it can become something new and exciting for the art world to move into.

ADVERTISING AND THE ARTIST

Now that I have been working on selling my artwork as well as my new small business of doing charcoal portraits I have really found how important it is to have a good advertisement. (And this might have something to do with the fact that I've been watching a lot of Mad Men recently)

Advertising can be an art form, it can also just simply be a tool to attract attention. Today for some reason it appears that advertising has lost it's main beauty and has succumb to simple-minded, sexist, or shocking approaches. Now, I'm not as obsessed with reading about specific tropes as some, but I can notice one when I see one, and since they seem to be repeated often, it's getting a little redundant. Now watching Mad Men has shown me that advertising was a little more competitive as it is today or at least in the creative aspects. Today's ideas don't seem as unique or original.

Now how does this relate to artists trying to sell our work or small business? We need to be better and more creative than those mainstream and overly done ads we see all the time.

1) Find something to make you stand out and that is unique to only you. Search the internet to see who else has your ideas and how yours is different.

2) Have your design be crisp and clean. You don't need to compensate because you are what you are and some people will love it and others won't, that's just life. Plus you don't want to confuse the consumer, let your work and words speak for themselves.

3) Know who your audience is. If you have mainly older people who want to buy your work then use slogans and words that they pick up on. 

4) You are the best, act like you're the best. Don't make a cheap design, use a new and powerful one. It's like the whole "dress like you have your future/aspiring job" idea except with advertising.

5) But, don't push your ego. You may be the best, but don't put down others that are trying just as hard as you are. Like I mentioned before, they might have a different audience, people that like your work might not like theirs anyways.

6) Use your work but don't force-feed it to the viewer. Make them want more.

You are an artist, you already think differently than those around you and will be able to think out of the box. Take your time and when you have the perfect idea you will know it. You can also find a group or test your work out on friends and ask them what they think. Don't forget that critiques are always welcome. Another great idea is to look back at previous artists or advertisements that really stand out (Henri Toulouse-Lautrec, or watch an episode of Mad Men when they are creating an ad, GEICO ads are actually pretty great too). Now don't copy what they do but get inspired and get your creative juices flowing from seeing some great work.

Check out this website to see what tropes there are and what you see often: tvtropes.org

There is more to come about this subject and some great artists that can inspire your work.

AFTER GRADUATING... NOW WHAT?

I know I normally stick to posts that can interest non-students as well as students, but for this one I will be talking to people who have recently graduated, or will be graduating. I have recently graduated with my BA in Studio Art. And even though the last year has been filled with what to do in the real world and how to sell your work and how to be professional, I keep finding myself looking around at my fellow students and thinking 'what the hell are we supposed to do now?' (sidenote: I'm going to stick to my art friends and not broaden into everyone that I know that has graduated, since after all, this is an art blog).

So, we went from having a studio space, being productive and creating pieces for a final show, writing artist statements, reading about how to sell our works to sitting in our parents home with part-time jobs that have no relation to being an artist at all. Now, I know people from previous years that went on to work for Photo Magazines, Photo Portrait Studios, moving to India, etc. But still what the hell are we supposed to do? How can we move into the real work without losing some of the drive we had in school? I guess that's apart of it though, some people move on and never continue their careers they chose for themselves in college. My thoughts? If you were passionate about it to begin with, and it wasn't some sort of easy way out or fun for the time being sort of thing, then you will be dying to make creating your work apart of your career. Now how to go about doing that? I'm not fully sure yet.

As an artist, and former art student, all I want to do is create and somehow have magical money come out of it that I can live off of. So personally, things I am going to look into is my local Art Community/Organization (which some cities they take the summer off so try in the Fall) and I am going to start taking in commissioned work. Which I guess is a perfect way to mention that I will be adding onto the Art Otter name. Within a few months I will be adding a 'store' where anyone can have a drawn portrait made. I know there are a lot of people that already do this, but I assure you unlike some other people, these portraits will have my full attention, I love portraiture, some say I'm obsessed, it's what I love and I want to continue creating them so why not? If you are interested or want to know more I will add a post shortly with information.

Now that I am doing slightly broadcasting myself. If you are a someone who just graduated with a Studio Art degree and don't want to find yourself comfortable in a part-time job and aren't yet ready to go to Grad School then find a way to still spend time creating. Make it apart of your life and don't let yourself forget about what you are passionate about. Even if you attend local drawing seminars or beg your friends to go to a painting class with you or even set up shop in your apartment or house somewhere, just keep going. Don't stop until you have found your happy medium with work and passion.

If anyone has any other advice, it would be GLADLY appreciated so don't be afraid to comment. (and don't forget you can comment anonymously and it won't be tracked to you at all so really there is nothing to lose)

SELFIES VS SELF PORTRAITS

Now that I'm back, at least for a little, let's talk about something very prominent in conversations today: selfies.

The idea of a selfie isn't exactly new, it's just mainstreamed so much recently that we feel like it is new. Technology today is literally programmed to take selfies, I mean what else would a front facing camera on your phone do besides take pictures of yourself? But before we had cameras selfies were still relevant. A self portrait is the artistic term for selfie, so let's think back to some of the more aesthetically pleasing selfies...

Even though self portraits date back to some of the earliest pieces of art, they became more prominent during the Early Renaissance. This was during the mid-15th century, when mirrors became cheap enough for most people to buy. One of the earliest self portraits is thought to be by Jan Van Eyck's Portrait of a Man in a Turban painted in 1433. Even though it cannot be proven that it is a self portrait.

Jan Van Eyck, Portrait of a Man in a Turban, 1433, oil on panel, National Gallery, London

Sometimes artists when they would paint mythical or religious scenes would put commoners' faces or their own in as some of the many background people. If you think about this in a Contemporary manner, they are in a way Photoshopping a selfie of themselves into an image of their favorite story, which is really quite humorous.

The first prolific self-portraitist, or selfie obsessed artist was Albrecht Durer. His most well known self portrait being his Christ-like selfie when he was 28.

Albrecht Durer, Self Portrait in a Fur-Collared Robe, 1500, oil on linden wood, Alte Pinakothek

However one of the most well known artists to create numerous self portraits was Vincent van Gogh. Vincent created over 35 self portraits in his time, many after he cut off his ear. One of my personal favorites it this self portrait:

Vincent van Gogh, Self-Portrait, 1890, oil on canvas, Musee D'Orsay, Paris

In a way these self portraits/selfies are very important in the development of artists over time not only because it is a way to work with a cheaper model but also because it shows their specific style as well as show their face (when most people are generally not aware of what artists actually look like but just know them by their name and most famous works). Artists can go on without anyone knowing who they are, which is good and bad. They should be recognized for their beautiful pieces and the viewers should be aware that a person did it instead of some anonymous artistic machine.

I've always had a personal interest in self portraits and find it very intriguing how artists portray themselves.  I suggest looking up artists and seeing if they have self-portraits, most Contemporary artists don't seem to do selfies (which is ironic) but many 18th Century and the centuries preceding have many artists that do.

I'm curious as to what other people think and why Contemporary artists don't create as many selfies as before, let me know by leaving a comment or tweeting at me!!