And double drat! I pressed one of these keys and lost almost all my blog links! I've no idea how that happened. And because I couldn't decide which links go here or on my other blog, I opted to put them all here so I can't copy across either. And because I'm so scatty, some I subscribe to on Bloglines and some I check for updates here ( it's quicker and I like the little colour pictures!). And, to make matters worse, they were all the lovely bloggers who have been kind enough to link me! So please bear with me, I'll try and put them all back, but it's going to take a bit of time...
Oh well, as I'm here I should just say that I've been taking a break from the drawing. I've done this before, when the time spent on the PC starts getting too much, but this time I think a much longer break was necessary. It seems as if I'm swimming against the tide because most artists are branching out into Facebook and Twitter and here I am struggling with one or two posts a week on a blog! The last portrait I did was a disaster but I scrapped it and started again, only for the next attempt to fail. That's never happened before so I took that as a sign to stop and recharge. Time too, to let a realisation sink in - just as I allowed myself to feel comfortable with calling myself an artist, I came to the conclusion that the word doesn't amount to a whole hill of beans! Sad to think that the art world I so wanted to be a part of for so many years doesn't actually exist and it seems so obvious in hindsight. On the positive side, it does allow me throw out some ballast and concentrate on other more important things.
To start with, though, that will be restoring my blog links! Hopefully, after that, a somewhat normal blog service will be resumed!
11 comments:
To quote a certain commenter on my blog: "You are very hard on yourself, aren't you?" ;)
For a moment I thought you'd spilled a drink on your keyboard - see, it could be worse.
Take all the time out you like, Felicity you'll bounce back better than ever. But that would be hard :)
I agree, you are being too hard on yourself. AND me actually... What do you mean your fantasy art world doesn't really exist?!
Oh dear, I don't want to upset anyone!! ;)
BFG, yes, I'm afraid that will always be so!
Thanks Robyn for being so sweet and encouraging! I'm just starting to feel the urge for drawing now.
Elizabeth, I thought about that after I wrote but I don't mean to offend anyone else. It's just that I love to draw and the art world that valued that ability no longer exists and hasn't for some time. Just being realistic with myself. But I value drawings and watercolours of others, they are much more alive and vibrant, in my opinion, than oils or so-called installations. Art seems to be valued for it's ability to shock and for it's ugliness. Everything else has been crowded out and it's something I can no longer relate to. If they are artists, what am I? It's just irrelevent for me now. I don't mean to sound depressed either, I'm happy to do my own little thing!
Felicity,if I am reading you correctly, maybe you are holding that 'art world', the one reflected in the Sunday supplements and in so-called 'prestigious' galleries, in far too much reverence! Art trends, and trendies, are notoriously fickle and I always take them with a very large pinch of salt!
True drawing talent like yours will always be highly valued out in the real world by real people. Not being able to relate to some of this contemporary rubbish, and I can't either!, doesn't mean you're not an artist. So get back on the horse and carry on doing what you do so well!
Sorry for ranting on but I had to say it! :)
Er, thanks Janet! :)
Just one point though - I don't think many people do actually value drawing. A lot of them look at Ebay for the going rate! One person told me she'd seen someone doing portraits for 10KD (in Kuwait, that's the equivilent of £20) and I'm not a rude person but I told her she should take her business there if that's what it's worth to her. Had a few experiences like that and worse. There is no relationship between quality and price and no way to ensure standards in art therefore people expect quality at the prices beginners are selling on online sites. There are two extremes when it comes to pricing and the vast majority of artists in the middle have to supplement their income in other ways. So what? some might say. Not enough space to write about that but I do feel if it art was truly valued, it would be a respectable career choice like other things, not something you do 'just' for the love of it and 'to make the world a better place'! See?! Now ranting is becoming addictive! ;) I'm going to see if I can get some drawing done today! :)
Mmmm, I do see what you're saying and you're right about drawings not achieving their true value & recognition out there - it is galling. Like you I love to draw rather than paint so I suppose we shall both end up loving what we do.....but living in abject poverty! Look forward to seeing your next creation! :)
Felicity,
You and Janet made me laugh...
Maybe, the thing is make yourself a name in the art world and then everything will be permitted and admired... and when industry needs a good drawing, it'll pay the market price.
Before that... paint/draw for the sake of it... for your own passion... (too many dots on this I think...)
Best regards,
Carolina
Felicity, I can understand where you're coming from as, in recent months, I have been through a phase of wondering if I would ever paint again. I'd had a couple of paintings just not work out for me...one in particular actually...and it seriously effected my self-esteem as an artist. Then I started to wonder why I should paint at all because no one would buy it anyway. On the other side of the coin, I think about the sheer enjoyment I get from painting and drawing and that's the real reason why I stay at it.
I agree with all the points you have made re. the 'art world'.
Some time ago, I painted a very basic abstract which was purely done to fill a blank wall space temporarily. It has since grown on me but, one of my son's ex-girlfriends visited one day and, after seeing all of my work, she commented that the abstract was the one she loved most. I was shell-shocked! All the time and effort that I had put into my animal and nature paintings seemed to fly right over her head for something that took me less than an afternoon to slap together. I guess it was because she was into abstract art herself so was a little tunnel-visioned. I still scratch my head over that one. lol
I just want to say that YOUR talent is one I can only dream about. Your work never ceases to amaze me. That said, I do hope this doesn't mean you are taking a long break from blogging too? I don't get to pop over as often as I would like but I would definitely miss you!
I'm in a similar phase, Felicity. Although I'm on facebook, I don't do much with it, and more than one acquaintance has asked me why I never update my blog anymore. Maybe the rge will come back, I don't know.
Janet, thanks for the metaphorical kick in the derriere - I needed that! :)
Carolina, thanks. Yes, just doing it for myself and trying not to let outside influences bother me too much.
Serena, gosh, I could say the same - I'd love to be able to paint like you!!
Casey, I do hope so! I can't let myself get lured by Facebook or Twitter as I'm struggling enough as it is to keep this internet addiction under control! Please don't let your beautiful blog go! Perhaps it's just a question of taking a break from it and coming back when you're ready? I just had to stop, completely stop, thinking about the need to update the blog and just let the creative feelings take over again in their own time.
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