Learn to… Art!

Experiencing An Artistic Identity Crisis?

Aug 24, 2011 Art General

If so, you’re not alone. Because I am too!

According to popular opinion, the key to success as an artist is knowing what you want from your art. Do you want fame and recognition? Do you want to be rich? Do you simply want to make a living making art?

Well, what if you can’t identify what you want from your art, or even what kind of art you like to do? You end up like me, spread too thin, not committed enough to any one thing to be successful.

Tough to admit? You bet!

Where does all this ambivalence come from? I’m convinced it’s the result of years of  “brainwashing” in art school. I started school believing I was into one type of art, and I left school believing I was into another type of art. Now I’m floating somewhere in between, not sure where my beliefs end and the school’s teachings begin.

Anyone who has been to university for fine arts can probably tell you that there is a definite emphasis on content and concept over technical skill or presentation. Paintings should have some type of narrative or commentary. Realistic, representational work is boring, pointless, stagnant. To paint something because it will sell is to sell-out.

Well, that was the message I got anyways. It wasn’t until fourth year that someone actually said to me, “if you want to paint realistically, that’s fine, just make sure you do it well.” But by then I was so far gone that I responded with, “I don’t want to paint realistically, it’s become a crutch.”

I’m pretty sure I believed it at the time. Now I’m not so sure.

Plagued with doubts as I am, I look at self-taught artists with envy. They seem to blindly forge ahead, confident in their abilities and direction, completely unfettered by the trappings of the “institution.” And as a result, they are successful.

So, what’s an artist to do in the face of an identity crisis?

My solution is to get back to basics and find the enjoyment in art I had before school by taking these steps:

• Stop feeling so much pressure to produce, produce, produce.
• Stop worrying about if it will sell, if there’s a market for it.
• Focus on painting what interests me.
• Stop when it’s no longer interesting, move on to something else.

I have been browsing the Wet Canvas Reference Image Library for images that intrigue me and painting whatever catches my fancy (like my horse up there). I want to rediscover the joys of painting and settle into a niche that is more comfortable and natural.

I am re-learning my artistic identity. I don’t know how long it will take, but it’s a necessary step to figuring out what I want from my art and achieving success.

Related posts:

1. 3 Things the Sims Taught Me About Painting
2. “I’m an Artist” …can you say the words?
3. The Reflective Statement: Your Path to Artistic Enlightenment!
4. Identifying Your Artistic Strengths
5. Harder Better Faster Stronger – Words of Wisdom from Daft Punk

Tags: art school, Creativity, motivation