Happy Art
There's an interesting article in the November 2005 issue of Art Calendar magazine titled "The Art of the Art Business: Marketing From the Creative Mind" by Jori Lynn Keyser. I found myself agreeing with much of what she said, but then later I was thinking about this suggestion to artists from the article:
"Imagine how you can make other people happy. How can you best use your good work to give people what they want? The focus here is on the people who cohabit this earth with you and what they can use that you can offer. On the one hand, this approach keeps you on a positive upward spiral that nurtures generosity and gratitude. On the other, you may find yourself discovering (or creating) new market niches."
It's the age-old question about the purpose of art. Is art a communication? Should art come from the heart, or can artists let the market dictate their work? Does art have to make people feel happy? What about art that speaks about suffering and pain?
"Imagine how you can make other people happy. How can you best use your good work to give people what they want? The focus here is on the people who cohabit this earth with you and what they can use that you can offer. On the one hand, this approach keeps you on a positive upward spiral that nurtures generosity and gratitude. On the other, you may find yourself discovering (or creating) new market niches."
It's the age-old question about the purpose of art. Is art a communication? Should art come from the heart, or can artists let the market dictate their work? Does art have to make people feel happy? What about art that speaks about suffering and pain?
posted by Cassandra at 7:37 PM
3 Comments:
Suffering and pain?
Remember, we're going to buy the paintings and hang them in our homes. We're going to see it every day. It can't be a total bummer, right?? We don't primarily install skylights to see the DARK clouds, do we?
I'm not saying we shouldn't have dark paintings. But will I buy those mostly?
Some people buy depressing art . . . like the two Ann King drawings that I bought:
http://tondro.com/2005/08/ann-king-drawings.html
I happen to like that kind of stuff! ;-)
Hi Cassandra,
I just accidentally ran across your blog entry about my article in Art Calendar, and of course, you raise a good point that I simply didn't have the space to explore in that one article.
I believe that we get what we want by giving other people what they want. How this can actually work in art, which we think of in our present society as a means of raw self-expression, is a good question and it behooves us to try it out and see. "Giving other people what they want" doesn't necessarily mean painting only images we think other people will like. It can also have to do with the activities we offer around the art (how and where we show it and what we can give through that channel is a good example). As regards the work itself, maybe we can ask questions like: "What can I address in other people's hearts that will speak to them, enrich their lives, and make them want to live with my painting?" This question gives both sides quite a lot of room to be themselves, yet find out in what deep and true place they can actually meet.
One of the major points of marketing from the creative mindset is that everyone in the transaction comes away with more than they had. This is not only possible, it's necessary for true prosperity, and I believe it's a wonderful aspect that enhances our own creative processes.
I like your work very much, by the way. Would you mind contacting me directly to talk about my using one of your images in my next newsletter?
Thanks for such a thoughtful reading of my article.
Jori Lynn
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