loving too much and whats up with everything being so conceptual???

[Dreamnra]

Here's my problem when it comes to art. I love it all! Drawing, painting, pottery, sculpting, mixed media, photography, and so on and so forth. What I notice is that there are so many artists who are amazing......but only in one area...an area they concentrated in. I like and do everything....the only problem is...I have no theme, no concept.....my art does not look the same from one image to the next. I could show you three different artworks of mine and you would think it was from three different artists. I just hate the art world and wanting a body of work that looks the same, or holds the same theme.....I like to create art to just create it......sometimes with no theme, no concept, or no reason except to just look at, find pretty, and enjoy it. Why is everything so conceptual now? Drives me crazy. Wow I just went on a rant...my apologies.....just wanted to get that off my chest.

[Anid Maro]

I like and do everything....the only problem is...I have no theme, no concept.....my art does not look the same from one image to the next. I could show you three different artworks of mine and you would think it was from three different artists.

Some would say you lack consistency and focus.

It's not that these artists who are so concentrated in one area cannot create any other sort of art, but rather that they have identified precisely what they want to do and have pursued it. I'm sure every one of us loves art in all of its forms, but the world of art is too vast and huge to be taken in its entirety. Therefore we must pick and choose.

[Black Spot]

It’s just that we all have our preferred method of working; that place where we feel more comfortable. Just because you don’t see different forms of art from some artists does not mean that they can’t, or are not interested, in exploring other mediums. Time is also a big restraint if you don’t have loads of it to experiment.

[DavePalumbo]

most artists appreciate all sorts of art styles outside their own and I hear painters all the time talk enviously about other artists styles which are radically different from their own. Many also do sculpture, photography, music, etc. in their off hours. Some even have pseudonyms for alternate styles or subject matter. The thing is that it's very difficult to make a living without a clear identity or brand, so we focus in on what we enjoy most and feel most comfortable with. If making a living isn't your concern, then it shouldn't be any problem. If you do want to make art your primary income, you may need to narrow things to one focus for the business stuff and keep everything else under the "personal work" umbrella.

[Zirngibism]

I think that with illustration for the commercial world (like much of this site especially), people have to be able to predict you based on your portfolio.

For example, if an art director is looking to hire you for a certain project or an author looking for a book illustrator with a certain "look" in mind, and every piece looks like it was done differently, they might be afraid of not knowing if what you'd be doing was your strength, and that you might deviate from what they have in mind.

But I also agree with you about the fine art world. Scholastic art contest, on the national level, strongly favors people with a consistent portfolio entry for their top prize, while the more eclectic must come off as "not having found their voice yet". I suppose they see this as a measure of artistic maturity.

And the question of meaning reminds me of an essay by Susan Sontag called "On Interpretation". It's a little wordy but you might enjoy it.

[Mirana]

Uhm. How old are you?

[waranghira]

your making a big problem from nothing at all.

and what's your hating about conceptual? if you don't like it, your better off with a photocopying machine.

We are visual communicators; we communicate trough visuals. How do we do that without concept?

[dcorc]

I think you may have confused "conceptual" with "concept"...

"conceptual" is Tracey Emin thinking "I wonder if I can get away with installing my unmade bed in an art gallery"...

"concept" is "this is what the new characters, sets, and props should look like in the next 'Pirates of the Carribbean' movie".

[waranghira]

I think you may have confused "conceptual" with "concept"...

"conceptual" is Tracey Emin thinking "I wonder if I can get away with installing my unmade bed in an art gallery"...

"concept" is "this is what the new characters, sets, and props should look like in the next 'Pirates of the Carribbean' movie".

well either way, they are fine artist.
And if there's something more to it for them and their fans, then where's the problem?

[Dreamnra]

hahaha well I am 25 years old. I do appreciate the advice. I would say my strength would be in drawing and painting....but then again I am one of those artists who can draw anything I see, but can't draw from my head. I guess I lack confidence in my art work. As for my conceptual rant.....I butted heads with many of my professors at school where thats all they wanted. I do not make a living off my art, I teach it. I mainly give my art away to my friends because I know they will take good care of it. I have never showed my work in galleries outside of school and have only sold two pieces. I guess its more of a hobby for me that I would like to turn into another source of income.......just don't know where to start...and lack inspiration right now. Which is why I am here. Hoping to get in touch with other artists and gain perspective and inspiration. Thanks for the replies.

N

[tensai]

Although many artists keep within a certain medium or perhaps style, there are quite some people that use different media and styles and concepts for different projects or different series that they are doing. Eg - Hirst doesn't do only sharks in formaldehyde, Armleder certainly doesn't only draw, Gerhard Richter switches back and forth between painting and photography, and a contemporary Japanese artist like Aida Makoto uses crude drawings, sculptures/installations, photography, animations and painting for a whole range of unrelated topics/themes and uses it to his strength (his book has all the art organised on colour instead of medium, or theme, or year made).

Apart from that not everything needs to be included in your 'work' if it doesn't fit (or stand out) in a good way. Do what you want to do.

[dcorc]

well either way, they are fine artist.
And if there's something more to it for them and their fans, then where's the problem?


I think you misunderstood - I wasn't responding to your post, I was trying to clarify word definitions with/for the original poster. Sorry, I should have made that clearer.