Definition of an artist

chadwick · February 2014

artists are driven with a mind boggling sense of creativity. you are either insane with it or you are not. it is who you are & why you are. the mentally insane artist is brilliant. their brain & spirit race at light speeds. often (or not) they are substance abusers doing mass amounts of whatever & whipping out amazing work with their craft

it is a hoot

SD48277 · February 2014

backseatLover12 said:
Interesting discussion.

To me, if you like to create, you are an artist. That's all.

Otherwise, I really dislike labels. So I tell people that I enjoy creating lots of things.

I like this description.

I think that, as time goes on, the definition of artist, as well as art, changes. For a long time there was (and maybe still is) a debate about whether photography was considered art. Yet, there are plenty of exhibitions of photography today. Within the past ten years, or so, there have been exhibitions of amazing quilts. Maybe not considered high art, but one look at them and you realize that a lot of time, creativity, and technique went into creating them. It's probably best not to have too strict a definition of what is art or who is an artist; this will allow for cool shit to be created and for art to evolve.

hedonist · February 2014

Last night, I was listening to a bit of Mozart. Have loved his music since I knew what music was. To me, the man was beyond an artist; he was a genius. To create something so overwhelming to bring tears and the sweetest, simplest joy to some unknown across the planet and hundreds of years after composing it?

So, while listening (understatement)...I thought of this thread.

Sure, art's subjective, but...is it far-fetched for me to call bullshit on some so-called creations?

Like...painting a canvas all-black.

Or the dude who shoots paint out of his ass.

JonnyPistachio · February 2014

) oh man hedonist.. LOL...that helps to add perspective...mentioning Mozart and the ass painter in the same breath! too funny.

These same things got me thinking too -- I recall an enormous sculpture made out of old car tires in college. I thought it was terrible. But it really was art.

backseatLover12 · February 2014

Although Mozart was indeed a genius, and most of society would back that up, I still think that art is purely subjective. I don't think it should judged for award academies, I don't think that we should put an artist down for a paint splatter (even though a child could do abstract as well), I think we should appreciate that we can all create in our own way and we can call it art. Because it is.

And I've seen art made out of elephant dung. Some say it's not art, but to the person who created it, he/she thinks of it as his art. And who's to deny that? There's beauty in it all, but we choose to see what we consider to be beauty. That's why it is so personal and subjective.

backseatLover12 · February 2014

My avatar, for instance just looks like a skull. Big deal, right? Look closer and you'll see that it's too children on a dock with 2 balloons and some birds flying overhead. It's all in the what you choose to see that makes art. It doesn't mean that someone's lackluster art isn't art!

Aafke · February 2014

The conceptual artist Manzoni canned his own shit and sold it asThe Artist's Shit. Is that art? What I do question is why everyone is willing to agree that Mozart is a great artist, but gives modern art a lot less credit. Is it culture and history that dictates what we consider art? Is sometimes a society not ready for some art like van Gogh? Is that what is happening with the conceptual art at the moment?

FrankieG · February 2014

Artist (n): one who creates art.

You can define art however you want ha

hedonist · February 2014

Aafke said:
The conceptual artist Manzoni canned his own shit and sold it asThe Artist's Shit. Is that art? What I do question is why everyone is willing to agree that Mozart is a great artist, but gives modern art a lot less credit. Is it culture and history that dictates what we consider art? Is sometimes a society not ready for some art like van Gogh? Is that what is happening with the conceptual art at the moment?

Who said modern art is given less credit? I just happen to think squirting paint out of your ass (or your eyeball, as I've read of as well) may be highly creative, but I find it ridiculous and simply don't value it.

But that's me. If someone else appreciates that, or is willing to pay for it (or pay for canned shit, for that matter), further reinforces my "it's all subjective" view.

I think FrankieG up there put it best, simply so.

JonnyPistachio · February 2014

backseatLover12 said:
My avatar, for instance just looks like a skull. Big deal, right? Look closer and you'll see that it's too children on a dock with 2 balloons and some birds flying overhead. It's all in the what you choose to see that makes art. It doesn't mean that someone's lackluster art isn't art!

oh, thats fucking cool. I never noticed that!

Empty Glass · February 2014

Artist: one who entertains me

backseatLover12 · February 2014

hedonist said:

Aafke said:
The conceptual artist Manzoni canned his own shit and sold it asThe Artist's Shit. Is that art? What I do question is why everyone is willing to agree that Mozart is a great artist, but gives modern art a lot less credit. Is it culture and history that dictates what we consider art? Is sometimes a society not ready for some art like van Gogh? Is that what is happening with the conceptual art at the moment?

Who said modern art is given less credit? I just happen to think squirting paint out of your ass (or your eyeball, as I've read of as well) may be highly creative, but I find it ridiculous and simply don't value it.

But that's me. If someone else appreciates that, or is willing to pay for it (or pay for canned shit, for that matter), further reinforces my "it's all subjective" view.

I think FrankieG up there put it best, simply so.

But hedonist, you said earlier, that "Sure, art's subjective, but...is it far-fetched for me to call bullshit on some so-called creations?"

If it's purely subjective, then let's agree that even a black painted canvas that someone painted can still be his art, regardless of being judged. He created it, after all.

I agree with FrankieG's definition as well.

backseatLover12 · February 2014

JonnyPistachio said:

backseatLover12 said:
My avatar, for instance just looks like a skull. Big deal, right? Look closer and you'll see that it's too children on a dock with 2 balloons and some birds flying overhead. It's all in the what you choose to see that makes art. It doesn't mean that someone's lackluster art isn't art!
oh, thats fucking cool. I never noticed that!

I like it too.

rgambs · February 2014

Look up Shelley, Keats, and Oscar Wilde for edifying reviews on the subjectivity of art and criticism, and on aesthetics in general. There are many people who would argue that "professional art" is not art at all as the selling of it cheapens the value of the expression... i wouldn't argue this point but I see the logic, I almost feel as though my poetry has greater nobility if it is never read lol.
I definitely think money has nothing to do with the definition of an artist, that is a narrow view that excludes probably millions of amazing visual, aural, and written word artists whose work was never noticed.

PJ has very mature opinions on art, Ed and Jeff are inspiring in taking their art seriously. Blood holds a very special place for me for this reason

How does that Ament quote go?, on PJ receiving a grammy for SBC, something like this...
Jeff: .You're gonna give an award for art? Like, what the fuck does that even mean?

hedonist · February 2014

backseatLover12 said:

hedonist said:

Aafke said:
The conceptual artist Manzoni canned his own shit and sold it asThe Artist's Shit. Is that art? What I do question is why everyone is willing to agree that Mozart is a great artist, but gives modern art a lot less credit. Is it culture and history that dictates what we consider art? Is sometimes a society not ready for some art like van Gogh? Is that what is happening with the conceptual art at the moment?

Who said modern art is given less credit? I just happen to think squirting paint out of your ass (or your eyeball, as I've read of as well) may be highly creative, but I find it ridiculous and simply don't value it.

But that's me. If someone else appreciates that, or is willing to pay for it (or pay for canned shit, for that matter), further reinforces my "it's all subjective" view.

I think FrankieG up there put it best, simply so.

But hedonist, you said earlier, that "Sure, art's subjective, but...is it far-fetched for me to call bullshit on some so-called creations?"

If it's purely subjective, then let's agree that even a black painted canvas that someone painted can still be his art, regardless of being judged. He created it, after all.

I agree with FrankieG's definition as well.

Absolutely fair enough, backseat. His art, but not mine - by my admittedly personal standards.

But still, in the end (no pun intended with my earlier refs to ass-paint!), you're right......art is art indeed. In retrospect (and with subsequent reflection), it's not my place to say what is art, but what I perceive is art.

Aafke · February 2014

As I stated earlier, I don't think there will be a definition off art or artists we will all agree on... But hey, there would be no fun in such a discussion.

For me the artist is someone who has craftsmanship in his own unique way. He has his own signature, but also the freedom to find new ways to express his or her emotions in his/her art. I don't think getting paid for it means a lot in this discussion, because as many of you stated before, just a few lucky ones get the chance to make a living out off their art, but that doesn't mean that the ones who can't aren't artists.

For me it's to simple to state that that art is all subjective so you can't make a definition out off it. Yes, I do agree that it's subjective, but everyone for themselves can have his or her own definition and i like to hear them, so I can sharpen my own one...

chadwick · February 2014

nothing else matters, all bullshit disappears & the focus is on their creation. after some time of this kind of living you become a mental case. artists are bat shit crazy. end of story.

chadwick · February 2014

definition of an artist
in this case he is a musician
his name is... neil young
he is greatness

brianlux · February 2014

Does "Bullshit Artist" qualify as an artist? If so, I would have to say that this forum has a plethora of artist including yours truly.

Aafke · February 2014

I don't know does "bullshit artist"qualify for you?

Definition of an artist

Comments

Categories