2010 - RUBE - 20x30 - mixed media
They say an artist never retires... that's supposed to be an upbeat statement, I suppose... we work for our own enjoyment/passion and are beholden to no one. Many's the story of the famous artist continuing to create well into later years, and in the case of deKooning, befuddled with dementia.
Okay... I'll give you that and, rest assured, I've no plan to retire or even slack off! But the business of creating is a far cry from the business of, um... business. The wheeling and dealing with those who wheel and deal for you has nothing to do with the process of painting other than to interfere with it.
Now, I really like my reps... some have become good friends while others show promise. But they are all on different pages as far as what they expect from me. This has me going in circles in the studio... too much focus on consistency (as defined by others) and not enough time to just explore and enjoy!
9 comments:
Beautiful piece. Warmly, Karen
well stated, Karen. Great piece, btw, whether from playing or fulfilling expectations.
I love this piece, and you putting into words such a constant, tickly, weighing of choices and intentions...
Thank you both... playing is important to keep from going stale, I think.
Hey Saradel... you slipped in along with my comment! ;)
Interesting thoughts. And really quite a wonderful piece.
Hi,
Gregory Kirschenbaum here :)
(www.aspiretogreatness.com)
I share your situation...reps, agents, publishers, blah blah blah. It's the exact same thing I have been going through. Then they want 20 of this or 20 of that...etc... Well, it is certainly a balance. Stay true to you. That's what I'm doing. Don't let them dissuade you from the work you truly want to be doing. Money is good. I agree. But are you an artist for the money? LOL!
The reps are in your life more because of who you are and what you represent as person than for your paintings. That's what the whole "industry" crap is really all about. And the Commercial art industry is merely price and decoration...so to hell with them anyway. Paint for the customer. Paint for you. It's your work after all, and it's the customers' home or office etc... The reps and brokers and dealers and gallerists and publishers and ALL of them need us way more than we need them. They're more like stockbrokers than art people. Think Basquiat... They're all just trying to make a buck off your paintings. And by the way, you are a delightful abstract expressionist. I find your work to be genuine and earthy. Don't let them steal that from you. Otherwise let them go to the Chinese artists who sell wholesale for $10 and $20 for a 24 x 36! YOU are not a production house. You are an artist. Claim that power. Michaelangelo yelled (often) at the Pope. Remember?
Peace and Love,
Greg
PS - I was invited to see the Broadway show, "Red" about Rothko with Al Molino. Sat behind Alec Baldwin and was invited so I could be introduced to my very special friend's best friend from childhood...the co-curator for the biennial at the Whitney here in NYC...and her husband...another co-curator there. Throughout this exceptional show that was raging with passion, they sat motionless while the rest of us in the audience was oooing and sighing and crying and on the edges of our seats...When the curtain fell and the lights came up I asked them, "So, do either of you paint?" They replied in unison, "Nope". I shook their hands and quickly left them at their seats while I bolted up the isle to the exit to have a smoke and talk to Alec.
Hello, Greg, great to meet you and your art... obviously a body of work that you are well in control of and I can't imagine anyone trying to direct you one way or another. Alec Baldwin! Wow!
Thanks for the pep talk, I think I'm over my momentary disillusionment and back to knowing what I need to do. A little down time there...
I do think it's perfectly normal to be at odds with reps while still wanting to work in sync with them. I cannot sell work on my own. BTDT and want no part of it. One of my problems is staying true to a 'look' as I'm drawn to many mediums and styles... want to do them all! If my reps didn't keep me on track (or my guilt) My painting would drop to 'hobby' status. Maybe I'd even be a better artist, but who would know?
The confusion comes when you realize that these people don't even know each other... and they have different ideas as to what they need from their artists. They create their own look via the artists they choose to represent. It's challenging just trying to read them ;)
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