Do artists need to explain their work?
https://www.reddit.com/r/ArtFundamentals/comments/vcovyh/do_artists_need_to_explain_their_work/
2022-06-15 07:26
Anneliee
So I've recently had the displeasure of recieving scathing critique of my art, saying "anyone who knows how to paint can do it, what makes your work stand out?" And "what are you going to say if someone asks you about it in a gallery". The person believes I need to have a whole concept worked out behind a piece of work and prepare in writing what I'm trying to do with it. However I really don't think that is how it works, ofcourse artists can choose to explain it but I don't think they have to. I suppose that is how students atleast start out because I went to an art school briefly and this is their idea of a thesis. This person thinks I should treat all my art as a thesis.
Since I'm completely out of touch with any artists or art galleries I believe it's easy to get carried away and be misguided, though the person tells me they're trying to guide me. I just want a second opinion. Is this how art is supposed to be?
P.s. the person in question is a designer not an artist.
Uncomfortable
2022-06-15 20:31
This question is much better suited to a more general community - I think /r/artistlounge would be a good fit. This subreddit is reserved for those working through the lessons on drawabox.com, as explained here.
That said, there's no singular purpose to art. Some people create art to express themselves, some create art to convey some message, emotion, or idea. Others still use it to speak out about something important. Many do all of the above.
But then there's the things we make that serve no purpose beyond just being fun to draw, or to get an entirely everyday thing down on the page.
And yet still, there's those of us who produce what others pay us to produce.
"Art" as a word is utterly meaningless. It tells us nothing about what a person is attempting to achieve, and it is that which determines whether or not they've done the thing correctly. It all comes down to one's intent.
And to that same point, I'd argue that anyone attempting to ascribe a singular criteria to all "art" is not someone you need to be giving any attention.
Anneliee
2022-06-15 20:35
Yes, I realized that after I posted the question, but I kept it because I couldn't find a subreddit to post it. Thanks a lot for still answering it though!