Pet Peeves of Artists

While I research the content for my next onslaught of posts I decided to vent a little bit. This is something I have not been able to say to the public because I have not wanted to affect my image. Being sheepish is getting me no where so here is something that really gets my goat.

I absolutely hate it when people exclaim how much they love a piece of art and how much they want to buy it, but change their mind at the very last minute. The very last!
I would prefer that people not say anything about the work. (Believe it or not, most artists have their own opinions about their own artwork!!) Artist would rather not get their hopes up or spend time talking about a sale to a complete smuck that will never happen; when real buyers are in the room.

I have discovered the problem, as have many artists; and in many cases for the most part I've noticed people want to talk shit. They want to make a connection with the artist and be seen speaking with the artist at the show/gallery because that is how status is gained, regulated and exchanged at art shows. Whom ever can hold the artists attention is dubbed significant. After people find out who the artist is, they want to be around the artist and feel as if they have contributed something to the art. It may sound indulgent, but I have been to hundreds of art shows and watched the way people interact. The funny thing is most artists would skip the exhibition if they could. Just to avoid stupid questions. Oh the questions* Art shows are not like a class room, THERE ARE SUCH THINGS AS VERY STUPID QUESTIONS! Before you ask an artist, try saying the question outloud to yourself or ask an artist you don't care about offending. (Now that is solid advice.) The array of inquisitions either remain at the same level of audacity or get worse every rip- I go through great lengths now to miss as many of my own art shows as possible. Even if that means losing a sale here and there, at least I keep my sanity! I like to see peoples reactions, but that's it. I love to paint a powerful piece and see the facial expression of a perfectly unbiased stranger, but save the advice and questions for your kids and blogs.

Let me paint a picture that I've seen about a hundred times. I will try not to exagerrate. I'll even name names to make it interesting: It's not like you know these people. Well some of you do. Well, it's not as if they'll ever read this blog...well maybe at some point...It's not as if they don't deserve this!

Denise or or GT will come up to you or call and say

"Hey what's up with that piece hanging?"

Quishenta Joans: 'Well it's for sale, like the rest of them...'

"Can you hold it for me? I want it! I love it! It's great!"

'Well you can buy it now, or just pick it up when you're ready.'

"I love it, can you hold it for me?"

"Well I don't live here, it's for sale. Anyone can buy it anytime."

'But I need it! It goes with my new apartment!'

"Well this usually ends badly for me, but I'll try to keep it off the market..."

'Thanks so much! I want it! I'll come back with some of the money at the end of the show!'

"Hi, the show has been down for a week, I have to store the work, even though I may have had another potential buyer I held it for you. Can you come with at least half of the money by Friday?"

'Um, I don't think I can get it anymore. Thanks for calling I love your art, I want it, it's great...'

I get this every show. Every show. I shouldn't complain though, because almost every show, some piece gets stolen or some Morgan, or Jordan or Laura will never come back with the rest of the money, or it will get broken by the HillTop Studio people hanging the work. Or Nolan will lose it. It's always the uninsured piece too. What's even worse though is when someone like Todd asks you to change a piece and then doesn't ever buy it.

Would you put up with this in any other business? Ask yourself if you would accept this type of behaviour from your clients after fixing their car, or house or clothes, or food, arm, taxes...? Most of you don't understand how difficult it is to make money in this art game. First of all, it's not even easy being an artist, because we view the world in another perspective. So the next time you get upset at some weird art type, just remember most of them have plenty of reasons to be a little pissed off in general.






& about the names of people who blew me off, screwed me over on some art that I omitted, I just want you to know I forgot your names, because frankly you are that insignificant to me.

Quishenta Joans 1- Fakers 17

The Art of Dog Food

Due to high rise in costs of oil, some painters have looked at other mediums; such as Kibble.
I don't want to think about this anymore. It makes cat people seem normal. When Alpo is turned to art, you know it's a dog eat dog world.

Dune: 1984

Back to the 80's. One of my favorite years is 1984. It was a golden year in Chicago. It was also a great book. But it was also very bright at Churubusco studios in Mexico. That was the location of the epic intergalactical sci-fi classic by David Lynch. This film was based on Frank Herbert's novel and went through production hell from 1971. I'm glad they got delayed, because the timing was perfect for Toto to contribute to the epic score and soundtrack. Speaking of music, Sting even has a starring role. The plot is very messiah based like most films of that nature. The "Chosen One" is called the Kwisatz Hadirach and is played by Kyle Machlaus as Paul Atriedes.

The casting is stellar: Linda hunt and Virginia Madsen. If that weren't enough reason to watch; there's Patrick Stuart, Max Von Sydow and Jurgen Prochmon. It also has Big Worm, but not Faison Love.
The sets are fantastic. If you can get past the gloomy droll space craft interior, and then the bland acres of dessert you will enjoy this production. Just pause the movie and inspect the detail of the designs in the space ship and the costumes...Spectacular nes pas? Normally I do not enjoy Victorian takes on futuristic design, but just one scene makes you certain you are in another galaxy. Or a 'Bizzaro 14th century England" This movie is creepy and out of this world. In my opinion Star Wars really pales in comparission. Where else would you find out about cat milking?

Green Cars

The hybrid race has gotten grass roots.

Digesting Art

Here is some art you can sink your teeth into. I know it's lame, but I had to say it. The first one is chocolte syrup. The Mona Lisa is Peanut Butter and Jelly. Delicious!

New art exhibit is A-Glow-Glow

Vicinity Pics: Chicago, Norway, Haiti

Chicago train rides have been spreckeld with imagery.
In Norway, the walls are alive and functional.
Haitian children collaborate on a group art project.

Slang in the street: Featured Artist of June

Legend. I have to concur. You hear things about people that have paved the road for you while you are growing up. Sometimes you wonder how much of it is true and if you'll ever get a chance to meet them and tell for your self. Well Slang lives beyond the hype. Way beyond it.

Let me highlight some of my time with him, because it was too overwhelming to record or even speak at some points.
First of all, Slang has a strong work ethic. He is not content with the accolades and where he is currently. (Although I don't know many artists that don't envy him.) The picture of Slang painted by some of the young guys is he is on top and chill'n. He left the Chi and he is milking up his rep in NY and at ease. Far from it. Slang is a hustler. He is hungry and he wants the world. The Art world that is...He is constantly working! He stopped to talk a couple minutes in the interview, but mostly he is reworking two or three peices at a time. In his head he must be refining at least seven or eight.

The work in his studio is ground breaking and thought provoking. Full of political and sexual content. But his work is detailed and full of perfection. It's not over the top and abstracted out of recognition. It's subtle and strong like him. He has his own style dress, talk, and walk. He is a true individual. Legends don't try to emulate anyone else and his persona shows in his painting as well.
He puts in time to support his friends art and he finds time to go to shows. He is very aware of all the art coming out and he takes it all in. He is even more focused on his family. His children are his biggest motivation and sense of being. They take priority over other phone calls, interviews, the countless people that stop him in the street; all have to get put on hold for a phone call from his daughter. He talks about his paintings like they are people too. Each piece has a special meaning, story and personality and life of it's own for him. I think he might actually talk to the work when no is around. (I do.)
He reminds me of Common Sense and Phil Jackson mixed with Quincy Jones and Picasso. He is part of the earliest sign of the Hip-Hop culture/movement in Chicago. He is not just a graph artist though. He is an artist that changed and contributed to graph since it came to the Chi. He is very Zen and meditates on life while creating it in his own imagery. He is in tune with music, musicians and can work a crowd into a frenzy with a brush. This dude has so much style and flair...
A walk with Slang is food for your brain too. Knowledge gets dropped on you in every sentence and he listens intentively. I truly see how his work can reach so many people, because he listens to so many people. I could not show you a lot of his work due to copy rights and because I don't want to. Biters- You have to see it for yourself.

Many big names have contracted Slang for work and related projects, it is almost insulting to just list some, but I 'll throw the monsters out: Disney, Marvel, Ecko and what else do you need to hear? I saw a painting of Beyonce (it used to hang in the walls of Mtv) that Jay-Z would never let out of his sight if he ever saw it in person. I saw a sketch for a gym shoe design that would have Jordan paying top dollar for.
His mastery of lines is so seductive your eyes seem to reveal in his sketches. He enjoys it I think. He is too busy to notice anyhow. To him, that's just his soul manifesting. He is working on his own animation project after collaborating with Disney. He is designing a Hulk* with a twist for some clothing label. He has posters out and he wants to get his suitcase full of sketch books out of his head and on to canvas/wood what-ever asap! He is in a group show here, there, everywhere. Slang is taking Chicago by storm, now that he's back.

The most surprising thing about Slang's genius to me is how humble he is. I think he is really shy or just really comfortable being modest. He lets his work speak for him. It screams out "I Am Legend!"

Gustave Klimpt: Golden Boy

You may recognize the close up piece from Oceans 13. It is right behind Terry Benedicts desk. That is gangsta! I know the real Terry Benedict's sister. Yes, I'm dropping names...do ewe you know her? That's what I thought- Anyhow,
I hung a print of his (Klimpt's not Terry's) work for our kitchen. Almost every college student gets a Klimpt book mark or postcard or poster freshman or sophmore year. The gold is so recognizeable. His stuff is on fridges and office desks world wide, but hardly anyone knows his name. He is one of those classic artist that made a great impact and can now even be reguarded almost as pop art and classic style. I looked him up years ago...After reading about him I feel kind of normal. I cut some high lights and tid bits you should know:

Life and work

[edit]Early life & education
Klimt was born in Baumgarten, near Vienna, the second of seven children — three boys and four girls.[2] All three sons displayed artistic talent early on. His father, Ernst Klimt, formerly from Bohemia, was a gold engraver. Ernst married Anna Klimt (née Finster), whose unrealized ambition was to be a musical performer. Klimt lived in poverty for most of his childhood, as work was scarce and the economy difficult for immigrants.
In 1876, Klimt was enrolled in the Vienna School of Arts and Crafts (Kunstgewerbeschule), where he studied until 1883, and received training as an architectural painter. He revered the foremost history painter of the time, Hans Makart. Unlike many young artists, Klimt accepted the principles of conservative Academic training. In 1877 his brother Ernst, who, like his father, would become an engraver, also enrolled in the school. The two brothers and their friend Franz Matsch began working together; by 1880 they had received numerous commissions as a team they called the "Company of Artists". Klimt began his professional career painting interior murals and ceilings in large public buildings on the Ringstraße including a successful series of "Allegories and Emblems".
In 1888, Klimt received the Golden order of Merit from Emperor Franz Josef I of Austria for his contributions to art. He also became an honorary member of the University of Munich and the University of Vienna. In 1892 both Klimt's father and brother Ernst died, and he had to assume financial responsibility for his father's and brother's family. The tragedies affected his artistic vision as well, and soon he would veer toward a new personal style. In the early 1890s, Klimt met Emilie Flöge, who, notwithstanding the artist's relationships with other women, was to be his companion until the end of his life. Whether his relationship with Flöge was sexual or not is debated, but during that period Klimt fathered at least 14 children.[3]
[edit]Vienna secession years


A section of the Beethoven Frieze
Klimt became one of the founding members and president of the Wiener Sezession (Vienna Secession) in 1897 and of the group's periodical Ver Sacrum (Sacred Spring). He remained with the Secession until 1908. The group's goals were to provide exhibitions for unconventional young artists, to bring the best foreign artists works to Vienna, and to publish its own magazine to showcase members' work.[4]The group declared no manifesto and did not set out to encourage any particular style -- Naturalists, Realists, and Symbolists all coexisted. The government supported their efforts and gave them a lease on public land to erect an exhibition hall. The group's symbol was Pallas Athena, the Greek goddess of just causes, wisdom, and the arts -- and Klimt painted his radical version in 1898.

I think this man needs a movie...Someone call Ang Lee.

Steven Wiltshire: The Living Camera

Here is a clip from the documentary Beautiful Minds featuring the "Living Camera". His precision will blow you away. This is Steven being tested on his capacity to redraft Rome.