So, how is your year going so far? At the end of 2022, I published this blog with suggestions on how to let more art into your life in 2023. Time to go back and check?
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I started writing this blog in 2020, during the dark scary days of the pandemic, when we are pretty much under house arrest and afraid of our own shadow. It seemed to me like a good idea at the time, and I still think it was. It forced me to stop and think about what I was doing, and more especially why I was doing it. Introspection has never been my strength, and writing the blog was a good way for me to take time and think things out. I have written about what I do, why I do it, and how I do it. I have written about things I like and about things that upset me. About things that attract me and about things that distract me! Some of you may have been there since the beginning, and some of you may have joined me recently. I had no expectations about readership, and I mercifully have no idea of how many -- or more likely how few -- people actually read what I have written, but I never wrote it for that. I hope some people have found what I have to say interesting, and I would like to believe that some have even found it occasionally amusing and moderately well-written. But here we are. I have run out of ideas for topics about which to write. I can’t think of anything that I personally need to write about and, without feedback, I have no idea what you would like! So please let me know what you would like to read. Do you want to hear about art types? Art shows? Specific artists? Collecting art? Caring for art? Something not art related? What I usually have for breakfast? Let me know in the comments! P.S. just know that your comment won’t show up immediately because I have to filter the comments since scammers discovered my blog! The joys of 21st century living! Today , as the snow is falling, we revisit a blog post from 2 years ago on my attraction to black and white. I hope you enjoy it! A few weeks ago I signed up for an online course on abstracting and stylizing painting in watercolor. I watched a free “demo” first where the artist said a few things that I really connected with. I have been a bit bored with my painting practice lately, and this seemed like a good thing to try to help me get out of that slump. The artist giving the course has been painting in a realistic style, like I do, for over 25 years. Although he was successful at it, and sold his pieces at roughly 10 times the price I sell mine, he was getting bored with that way of painting. So he used his knowledge and experience to come up with a fresh way of painting, and this is what he would be sharing in this course. I have done a few abstract pieces in the past, but honestly I am not a big fan. I look at some famous artists’ abstract pieces that have been sold for millions of dollars (notice I didn’t say “are worth”) and I think “what a crock”. So abstract isn’t my “go to” by any stretch of the imagination! But this seemed different. Or maybe I have just reached that point on my artistic path. I signed up for the course and am very happy I did. The artist took us through three different ways of abstracting paintings, giving numerous tips and tricks in each one. One of the three styles I don’t care for much, but the other two I really enjoyed and absolutely love the results! I shared my first attempts on Facebook and many people seem to agree. I still have a ways to go before I can be happy enough with the work to put it up for sale but, for the first time in months, I am excited about painting again! And I see so much potential! Of course, I can’t share all that I learned, but I can give you the highlights. The first type of abstraction I learned is to start by finding a design in an existing image or structure. I won’t tell you all the secrets, but this was a game-changer for me! I can never run out of inspiration, I just need to know how to look for it! The second type that I like is a little bit more difficult, but the results are worth it! In this case, you have to come up with an idea and design of objects that you want to paint. But the way that you actually paint them is not at all realistic and, done right, creates a really dynamic and attractive painting that makes me smile! I just love it, and I hope you will follow me as I hopefully get better at it! I would love to hear your opinion on this new direction! It has been almost a year since the following post was first published. Unfortunately, things have not gotten better, and in many areas of the world they have gotten much worse. I thought it would be good to go back and think of all that we still should be grateful for.
I am pretty sure you have heard of Artificial Intelligence (AI), and how great strides have been made in the last few years to bring it closer to the decades-long dream of being able to act like a human. There is a lot of controversy about how AI is currently being used, because it isn’t all good. Of course, “good” is very subjective, but I am pretty sure everyone would agree that some tasks or domains that AI is being applied to are not good. And some are, of course. Take Art. Is it a good thing that AI is now able to create “Art” on demand? Some would say yes, and others would say no. Depends on your perspective. Like everything else, really. I, for one, am not thrilled to know that anyone, with no need for talent, and needing only a little time and even less effort, could generate a made-to-order “painting” they could hang on their wall instead of one of mine! However, I can see how using an AI generator could allow an artist to quickly visualize an idea for a painting, which they could then create physically with brushes and paints. Basically, help with the “study” part of creating a painting. But today, I am talking to you about another area where AI is getting a lot of press recently: writing text with ChatGPT (Chat Generative Pre-trained Transformer). You have probably heard the very legitimate fears that academia has voiced about how ChatGPT will make cheating easier. Cheating (plagiarism) is already a very serious problem, but until now it was relatively easy to spot and prove. A quick search of an unusually good sentence or even group of words would usually quickly locate the text that was plagiarized, giving the teacher the proof needed to accuse the student. But with ChatGPT, the text is generated for each request and no record of it is kept, making it impossible to search for it later. openAI, the company that created ChatGPT, has said it would address the problem, but let’s just say I am glad I am no longer teaching! But all this talk has made me curious. And although I enjoy writing, I figured I would like to try this thing out and see what it can do for me. One of the hardest things to write for most artists is their “Artist Statement”. This is often required when applying for a show or a competition, and is notorious for being vague and unintelligible by non-artists. I am sure some artists don’t mind being vague and unintelligible, but I do. So I thought this would be the perfect test for the abilities of AI. Below you will find my word-for-word “conversation” with ChatGPT. The only changes are that I added “ME” and “CHATGPT” to identify who was “talking”. The whole conversation took less than 10 minutes, and the last exchange was added hours after the rest. ------ ME: Can you help me write my artist statement? CHATGPT: Of course! To get started, can you tell me a bit about your art and what you want your statement to convey? This will help me tailor my response to your specific needs. ME: My art is realistic and i want my statement to convey that I am a no nonsense person, I don't like vague artsy text that is not easy to understand CHATGPT: Sure! Here's a draft of your artist statement: "I create realistic paintings and drawings that aim to capture the beauty and intricacy of the world around us. My work is inspired by the people, landscapes, and objects I see in my everyday life, and I strive to represent them with accuracy and detail. I believe that art should be accessible to everyone, and that's why I avoid using vague or abstract language in my work. Instead, I prefer to let the art speak for itself, letting the viewer connect with the piece on their own terms." ME: that's pretty good CHATGPT: I'm glad you like it! Is there anything you'd like to add or change in the statement? I'm here to help make it perfect for you. ME: I don't like the last sentence CHATGPT: No problem! How about this revised statement: "I create realistic paintings and drawings that aim to capture the beauty and intricacy of the world around us. My work is inspired by the people, landscapes, and objects I see in my everyday life, and I strive to represent them with accuracy and detail. I believe in the power of art to evoke emotions and spark imagination, and I hope that my work will resonate with viewers and allow them to see the world in a new light." ME: Much better. Can you translate that in French? CHATGPT: Certainly! Here's a French translation of your revised artist statement: "Je crée des peintures et des dessins réalistes qui visent à capturer la beauté et l'intrication du monde qui nous entoure. Mon travail est inspiré par les gens, les paysages et les objets que je vois dans ma vie quotidienne, et je m'efforce de les représenter avec précision et détail. Je crois en la puissance de l'art pour évoquer des émotions et susciter l'imagination, et j'espère que mon travail résonnera avec les spectateurs et leur permettra de voir le monde sous un nouveau jour." ME: intrication? CHATGPT: My apologies, the correct word in French is "complexité." Here's the corrected translation: "Je crée des peintures et des dessins réalistes qui visent à capturer la beauté et la complexité du monde qui nous entoure. Mon travail est inspiré par les gens, les paysages et les objets que je vois dans ma vie quotidienne, et je m'efforce de les représenter avec précision et détail. Je crois en la puissance de l'art pour évoquer des émotions et susciter l'imagination, et j'espère que mon travail résonnera avec les spectateurs et leur permettra de voir le monde sous un nouveau jour." ME: Thank you. That's pretty good! Can you now give me a flowery one just for fun? In English is fine CHATGPT: Sure thing! Here's a flowery version of your artist statement: "As I delve into the realm of realism, I am awestruck by the endless intricacies and nuances of the world that surrounds us. My paintings and drawings are but mere whispers of the magnificence I witness each day, yet they embody my soul's fervent desire to encapsulate the beauty that surrounds me. Each stroke of the brush, each line I draw, is a celebration of life itself, a tribute to the raw, unfiltered essence of reality. I hope that my art will transport you to a place of wonder, where the realm of possibility is as vast as the imagination, and where the simple grace of everyday life is forever elevated." ME: You're good!! How about an artsy version CHATGPT: Here's an artsy version of your artist statement: "My work delves into the ethereal realm of realism, where the mundane transforms into the sublime. I seek to unravel the secrets of the world, to shed light on the obscure and celebrate the overlooked. Through each stroke of my brush, I weave a tapestry of light and shadow, a symphony of form and texture. My paintings and drawings are not mere representations of reality, but rather a reflection of my own subjective experience of it. I invite you to join me on this journey of discovery, where the boundaries of what is real and what is imagined blur, and where the simple beauty of life takes center stage." ME: Sublime! CHATGPT: I'm glad you like it! If there's anything else I can help with, just let me know. (later) ME: I forgot to tell you that I work mostly in watercolor and printmaking. Can you work that into my plain artist statement (not the flowery or artsy ones)? CHATGPT: Of course! Here's a revised version of your plain artist statement that includes your focus on watercolor and printmaking: "I create realistic paintings and prints that aim to capture the beauty and intricacy of the world around us. My work is inspired by the people, landscapes, and objects I see in my everyday life, and I strive to represent them with accuracy and detail. My medium of choice is watercolor, as its fluidity allows me to capture the fleeting moments of life, while printmaking techniques such as etching and linocut offer me a unique way to explore the textures and patterns of my subjects. I believe in the power of art to evoke emotions and spark imagination, and I hope that my work will resonate with viewers and allow them to see the world in a new light." ------------ So, what do you think? I was pretty impressed with the whole experience and I can see why people would want to use it! I may not use the text as is, but it’s a great starting point, and is certainly better than what I would have taken a whole day to write myself! This week I repost a blog about commission work. Since that blog was written in 2021, I have done quite a few more commissions and these have been added to my website. It also turns out I wrote another blog about commissions later in 2021, but this one is more about the steps and stress involved in doing an actual commission. I hope you enjoy them!
I have been feeling down for a few weeks. Probably longer, but who keeps track of such things? Could be Seasonal Affective Disorder, could be just January blues. In my early January blog, I mentioned I had started a 12-week program to unblock my creativity. That is going OK, if a bit slow. There is no way I can do the recommended exercises in the time suggested, but I am hopeful that I will see results. But it will take more than 12 weeks. This program is not helping my mood though, and in fact one of the exercises actually caused me to become a bit more depressed. I went out and bought some “fun” items that might spark some creative work, but instead, I was disappointed by the purchase and realized I had just added more “stuff” to my already overfilled space. This reality hit me this morning, and I decided I needed to do something about it. To be fair, we did try to declutter last winter, setting aside Tuesdays as “declutter day”. Of course, it didn’t take many weeks to have something come up on a Tuesday that prevented the decluttering from happening, then the following week something else happened, and there went that great plan. Let’s face it, decluttering is not fun. One of my problems is that I won’t start something if I don’t have a “system” to keep on track. Which means that often I don’t start. A classic case of “perfect” getting in the way of “good enough”. I know this is a textbook form of procrastination, but I am what I am! So of course I started on my quest for a decluttering “system” I could live with (I have read Mari Kondo’s book, but I stopped when she suggested I get rid of my books!! Not going to happen!) I remember reading some time back that clutter can make us depressed, or at least anxious. It might have been Mari Kondo, or it may have been someone else, but I believe it. So I went on the internet (of course!) to do a bit of reading on the topic, hoping to gather munitions for building my “system”. Lucky for me, it didn’t take long. Googling “depression and too much stuff” reminded me that the word I was looking for was “clutter”. So after rewording my search, I found this article, as the first “hit”: https://nourishingminimalism.com/clutter-depression-and-anxiety-a-vicious-cycle/ If you have any struggles with too much stuff, anxiety, or depression, I strongly encourage you to read it. The first revelation to me was that I am not alone! What a relief! Although we all strive to be “unique” (especially as creatives), it is comforting to know that we are not unique in our struggles. I found that the author (Rachel Jones) also runs a decluttering challenge and, in addition to having designed a clever “system” (a simple but powerful motivational checklist that I can use “as is”), she has created a Facebook group to go along with it! https://www.facebook.com/groups/nourishingminimalismyearlydeclutteringchallenge What could be better for someone like me who is "a bit" competitive? But who also needs support and motivation! I have of course joined and have already found comfort in reading some of the posts of fellow strugglers! If you struggle with clutter and the way it makes you feel, won’t you consider joining me, either for the 2023 challenge, the Facebook group, or both? We could encourage each other as we progress! And if you have tackled clutter and won, I would love to hear how you did it! This week's "recycled" blog is to do with ACEOs and ATCs. As I will be giving a workshop on Artist Trading Cards in April, I thought a refresher on what they are and where they came from would be interesting. So let's look back at the blog from Feb 4, 2021. One update: I have since learned that M. Vänçi Stirneman actually experienced a hockey card trading session during his stay in Canada in 1988, which gave him the idea of the trading card format. I also found this interesting article on the Canadian who was very instrumental in the creation of the ATC. This week I started a 12-week program to unblock my creativity. Maybe you have heard of it. It is based on the book “The Artist’s Way” by Julia Cameron, which has been apparently responsible for helping out thousands of creatives in every domain, from poetry to filmmaking, including famous people such as Patricia Cornwell, Elizabeth Gilbert and Pete Townshend (although to her credit I had to look those up, she is not a name dropper!). As part of the program, I have to take myself out on “Artist Dates”, which briefly means going out and doing something fun, something I would probably not have done otherwise. So I took myself on a raid of a local thrift store. I love thrift stores, and that is one of the things I miss about not going to Florida anymore. They have dozens of thrift stores there, and I would have my usual haunts, although I was not averse to checking out new ones when I had the time. Around here, a few have sprung up in recent years in an effort to cut down on waste, and although there are fewer than in Florida, I still enjoy checking them out. So I decided to go in a different mindset, not looking for something useful as I usually do, but looking for something fun, perhaps something I could turn into an art project. One thing I looked at which I don’t usually was the puzzles and games table. I looked at many before settling on a 2000-piece puzzle of a candy display. I am not a puzzle person, but I don’t dislike them. I remember enjoying adding a few pieces to the partially completed ones that were always left out on tables in the library back in Florida. So I bought it! And paid all of $1! I sure hope it’s complete, but it will be a while until I find out! My oh my! What have I gotten myself into! I worked all afternoon and evening just trying to find and get the border done!! I worked as long as I could without the picture, but as I was (and still am) missing a few border pieces, I had to use it just to get the borders assembled in the right direction! And it is so big!! We had to add 2 leaves to the dining room table to make room for it!! It is going to be a while, but I am enjoying it. It keeps my mind busy, which is what it needs. I am constantly being distracted, and I just hope that this puzzle, as well as the “Artist’s Way” program, are not just other ways to keep me from doing art! I will keep you posted on the progress! |
AuthorMy name is Claire Bureau. Archives
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