I went to an artshow in Phx az a few years ago and it was full of people who stood around and judged. its what we as humans do.

I had no issue with this as i was also there to look at the art and pass judgement:

is it appealing?

Do i personally like it?

How is it different?

What effort was put into it?

but never did i stop to say

"is it art?"

I understand why everyone does this when they look at things that are supposed to be deemed as art but for me, i find the art in everything.

maybe my brain just functions differently but to look an artist in the face and say "what you're doing isn't art"

is like looking me in the face and saying "what you're writing is a joke."

I don't attempt to assume to know ... I just appreciate what I am looking at, whether I like it or not.

and Just because I don't like it, doesn't make it crap.

I'm just wondering...

How do you look at "ART"?

aw come on people... don't fear the topic.

i wanted opinions...

As an artist, I don't care to get the occasional bad comment, because alot of people admire what I do, but I do occasionally look at some of my own work and say, "this is crap."

Too deep for me...sorry.

Have to admit that I am pretty thin skinned when someone I haven't asked decides they can judge my creations but if I ask for opinions I really want honest ones not just smoke blown. There is a certain times when skill and techniqes can really be improved and help an artist enjoy their creativeness more. Judgeing talent is pretty subjective but I think I know when I see it or the obvious lack of it.

well whether a piece of art is crap or not isn't up for debate.

its when is it okay to start dictating what is and isnt art???

A real artist or anyone that appreciates art wouldn't take time out of their day to say it looks bad. They are only "passing judgment" and if you asked them to find good in the image, you would hear only bad. They are not open-minded and cannot find the beauty in that particular piece of work. Everyone is an artist in some way....I have been to an art show a few years ago as well and never did I hear anyone talk like that. Although, it was more of a "gallery" for a painter, but he had his reasons for why he did his work the way he did.

If anyone should say something about a piece they should at least "critique" it.

When can it be judged?

When you got the cajones to put it on public display.....or better yet, when you put a price tag on it.

Personally, I do my thing for my own pleasure. When I painted for the museum of Natural History, I developed a real distaste for some a-hole expert who would show up 3 months into a project and say, "Change this, this and that".....hated those pricks.

Now, occasionally, one of my good friends who owns an art gallery will ask me to display some pieces for our "ArtWalk"...I don't mind. I often just hang at the edges of the crowds and listen. Some comments are good...some not (I love it when the ones who do abstract make fun of my work)...the ladies with kids just hustle past cause thier kids just stare in fascination at the boobs....

What I DO find to be completely embarrassing is when my family shows up....My Dad will look at the other work and loudly critisize it...

"That is CRAP!"
"I could do THAT and I ain't a friggen artist!"
"Your work makes these other clowns look like retards"

I have told him...."Look man, you don't know if the person who made that crap is standing next to you....if you can't say something nice...make fun of it outside! But, stop insulting people that you don't know!"

thats a trip. i've seen that kind of stuff happen in showings and i always just kinda walk away shakin my head.

its like you dont know what it took for that artist to produce this and maybe you need to take into account for that.

its like the pro's make it look easy.. but really its painstaking and deliberate. what you see was done for a reason.

can you see that reason?

or is it just crap to you?

Well, its no big deal, because if I put myself in the shoes of a artist, or think of having what art I have created judged..


I imagine the worst case scenario is.. someone is reallllyyy neg.


Now.. I can look at things from all sides, and can wear many hats.. but I also know, and can spot when someone is being neg, just for the sake of neg. In that case i just dismiss.

Sometimes, we remind others of unpleasant things by what we bring about, and.. that persons experience is as real as others, but there are 2 ways of saying things..

You can say: YOURE FIRED!!!

And you can say Youre fired.

I try to be sensitive toward others. I think on the premise of subject matter, if it were disturbing, or offensive, I would choose my battle in speaking my mind, but if asked BY the artist, I would just be tactful, and honest.


As far as art, i think of it usually as extra credit coolness, unless it is made to hurt.