Sunday, July 31, 2005

Art is not a hobby (link)

Tim McFarlane wrote in Artblog that he agrees with a view that art needs a voice to bring the public back to our world.

While talking about this with a fellow artist the question arose about how we are perceived. The statement was made about having a nice hobby. One of the problems is the view that art is play and not hard work. This happens when artists are forced to find day jobs and can only work on their craft at night and on weekends.

A marketing study might reveal how artists are perceived and lead to a plan to improve the standing of all artists.

What we don't need is a bunch of art insiders telling us how to be better business managers as if we were well funded and only need to market our wares better. The WPA was formed because it was clear that talent was being wasted. Every artist should have economic opportunity after investing four or more years in the education of their chosen field. We fund as a society: military, transportation and medical developments. The housing industry gets a boost from low interest loans to create jobs. No one seems to think of art as an important cultural industry. Where will the next Dali come from if we as a society don't invest in living art?

Friday, July 29, 2005

Dali brings in BIG bucks (link)

In the above link Patricia Horn writes in the Inq today about the marketing study on the Dali exhibit. Of the businesses that are mentioned there are no visits to galleries listed or other statistics that show any benefit for living artists. I'm glad that Hotels are doing well, what art do they own?

Wednesday, July 27, 2005

The Value of Fame and all the rest

The above link is for a Yahoo press release about how well the art market is doing. How many artists sell paintings for $5000.00? What is the real financial health of artists? This week I'm remodeling a basement for a friend. This work helps to pay the bills. It is a craft of a kind and uses some of my skills, but it is not art. I've spent more than half my working life doing these kinds of jobs for contractors and others while day dreaming about how I would make a new life sized figure if I had around $50,000.00 to spend on the cost of making a statue. One of the most frequent questions asked of me is "how long did it take to make?" This goes along with the question asked of Picasso, Why do you paint? The value of art is in the end what people believe is meaningful.

Tuesday, July 26, 2005

payment for poor artists

Thanks to AJ for the above link to a story in the Financial Times that should interest all American artists. The question is how to support artists. The EU model is to pay them. I can't live for free, so why should others make money off of what I make. There is another concept that is working in Canada. Pay artists for exhibiting their work. Much like the royalties paid to musicians when their work is performed visual artists should expect compensation for the viewing pleasure the public has. This is different than the idea that artists should pay to have their work juried into an exhibit.

Sunday, July 24, 2005

homecreek


homecreek
Originally uploaded by Charles Hankin.
This is where I spent many hot summers keeping cool.

Saturday, July 23, 2005

greenlanepark


greenlanepark
Originally uploaded by Charles Hankin.
This is near the place where I caught my first fish with my dad.

Monday, July 18, 2005

sacwall4


sacwall4
Originally uploaded by Charles Hankin.
Some refinements

Sunday, July 17, 2005

Me and You and Everyone We Know

I saw this movie tonight a filled the theater with laughter. Along with "The Horses Mouth" 1958 it is the funniest view of the life of an artist I've seen. Better than the reality of TV it exposes the quirkiness of creativity in a down to earth way. A must see for anyone who works in the art world.

Me and You Review

Saturday, July 16, 2005

towerwall2


towerwall2
Originally uploaded by Charles Hankin.
Walls let the air out.

Friday, July 15, 2005

cafewall


cafewall
Originally uploaded by Charles Hankin.
Refining the space.

sac5


sac5
Originally uploaded by Charles Hankin.
forced perspective

Wednesday, July 13, 2005

archmural3


archmural3
Originally uploaded by Charles Hankin.
Todays painting.

archwall2


archwall2
Originally uploaded by Charles Hankin.
Ok, I also paint.

Saturday, July 09, 2005

keystone


keystone
Originally uploaded by Charles Hankin.
Oh gee

Thursday, July 07, 2005

shell7705


shell7705
Originally uploaded by Charles Hankin.
final form

sanding


sanding
Originally uploaded by Charles Hankin.
This is a view of the workshop.

Wednesday, July 06, 2005

shellniche


shellniche
Originally uploaded by Charles Hankin.
Close to the finished form.

Tuesday, July 05, 2005

eiftower


eiftower
Originally uploaded by Charles Hankin.
painting project

Friday, July 01, 2005

Freedom

To make what I want
Respect others
live an honorable life.

Happy Fourth