In one of my latest blog-posts I shared how COVID-19 was affecting my daily life. I also asked what people wanted to see from me in the future, @thatkidsblack has been so kind to engage on almost all my photography related posts even though I am not consequent in posting nor replying or commenting (thank you for sticking around on my blog). I'd be more than happy to share my opinion about art, as it is a great question to ask to anyone! Perhaps we could all write a blog about what art means to us. I'm eager to know how @thatkidsblack, @derangedvisions, @hiddenblade, @carlgnash, @theaustrianguy, @eveuncovered and @fotostef, look at art.
To me, there are several perspectives to look at art, or to shape an opinion about it. While the artist, taste, style, materials are most probably always different, I like to believe the foundation of art is the freedom of expression, as a creator as well as a viewer.
Not a (big) fan of art?
If you're not a big fan of art, or you scroll through Instagram feeds within seconds without realizing why, perhaps this summary could fill in the blanks and tell us the reason why we enjoy scrolling through beautiful artwork in the first place (even if it is for seconds).
As an unknown-artist, I hope to raise more awareness towards a creator where you, as a viewer, can and hopefully will share your thoughts about it. It can be difficult to respond to something you yet have to find the words for, I recognize this to be difficult for me as well from time to time.
Freedom
All art to me is directly linked to individual freedom. Expressions, outbursts, emotions, triggers, conflict, love, darkness, words, opinions, sounds, we can go on. To me, art is mostly an urge to be able to express myself in times when I don't know how to express myself in order to prevent never-ending stories to be told nobody got time for. At least, that's one reason why I create art, the other reason is the hope that I am able to inspire, motivate, help or heal someone in any way. Perhaps sharing an experience of mine is something that someone on this planet could need.
©2020 - Fragile Balance | Ruben Cress
Comparing
One mistake I used to make, as an artist as well as a viewer, was to compare different kind of works with other artists or my own work. By comparing, I was forgetting a few important aspects that would not only determine the (opinion that I created for the) quality of an artwork, but also the intention that was used for the artwork to be created.
As a kid, I was taught to not compare so easily, but as humans, it is almost inevitable to not compare, we live in a world of dualism after all. Where there is light, there is darkness. Ever questioned yourself what is in between? It would still be considered to be either less dark, or less light, right?
Not that I was planning to dive to deep into what I think of comparing, I guess I'm just saying that I believe that it doesn't really add value when judging work if I would base an opinion out of comparison. Even when we compare work as objectively as we can, that would still be an opinionated outcome.
Perhaps, this is one of the reasons why I don't compete or join contests that easily.
© 2020 - unpublished artwork | Ruben Cress
Time
One big difference between starting artists and famous artists has to be time. Where one artist is already selling their work, another one just opened their first exhibition, while somewhere a child is being born that doesn't even know yet that he or she will become a fully dedicated artist.
In respect to an artwork, the time when something was created is a big factor in my opinion. To me, this adds an extra layer of interest to a work. Think of the available resources these artists had. When a child in modern times is using their fingers to make a painting, we think it is cute. When this happened thousands of years ago, we find it intriguing and interesting. We are questioning ourselves why and how.
Perhaps, questions like these arise mostly because the absence of intent and incomplete context/minor direction. Does your curiosity awaken as well when viewing primitive wall paintings?
The amount of time directly translates in how much work and dedication an artist has put into his/her progression of creating. At the same time, the amount of time that was put in a work doesn't necessarily adds value directly. It might be more interesting why this amount was put in, what drove the artist, what were the triggers? Why is this impulsive 5-minute work so appealing? Or... What did the artist go through to spend hundreds of hours on this work? Which brings me to the next aspect that I think is important.
© 2020 - I believe this was my first artwork that I shared online | Ruben Cress
Intimate
Most of the time, if not always, I consider art intimate and personal creations. Why something is appealing to one and another, is probably because we can identify ourselves with the artwork. Perhaps we see something that we can relate to, or we feel connected to it in a hard-to-explain way. Memes for that matter could be considered art as well, even though they are textually more straight-forward and already filled in for the viewer.
When I create art, I try to create something that deeply connects with my own emotions. However, I do try to avoid the viewer to only invite them in my personal realm and create something that they can relate to in their own way. This makes the experience of art truly unique (and intimate) to everyone, as we all have our own definition to feeling colors, textures, words and sounds. Think about the variety of combinations we often see. What's your favorite color combo?
© 2020 - Getting lost in my own post processing | Ruben Cress
Expression
Where it began with an expression of someone else, it can be translated and picked up differently by the viewer next to you. Where it is hard to identify an expression or intent of the artist without a context, I believe it is making a huge difference between works if there is one or none. Not that an artwork always should be presented with a context, art speaks for itself, where it can share unidentified stories time after time.
Sometimes, with a planted seed in the shape of context, it can determine and transmit the starting point to view an artwork that is being followed by your own mirrored emotions.
It could take one word to direct the viewer, maybe this is why I find it hard to title my own work because I don't like to direct people in what I think, feel or see. I am more interested in what kind of emotions are being triggered within the viewers mind so they can add their own story and value to the work.
There is no bad art
There is no bad art, it are our own opinions that decide if art is considered to be good or bad. Even when we agree that something is bad, it is still considered to be good by someone else. But even then... there has to be something to be appreciative about. The point is, I'm trying to say that whether you consider something to be bad, try to see it from a different perspective or angle that allows you to see and notice the good.
Appreciating the use of time, context, materials, resources, intent or any form of expression that has been included to the artwork is by my definition the foundation to look at art.
Hopefully this tells you a little bit more about how I look at art. If you wanna share your view on art, I'd love to read about it. Tag me or reply below.
Cheers,
Ruben
The emotional me says art is my life and savior. It is how I express myself in order to keep my sanity and not make those emotions bottled up inside. I could really say if it wasn't for art, I wouldn't survive now. The professional side of me says art is a tool to send out important messages and hope the crowd will be able to think about it and consider making changes if there needs to be corrected. Art is a very powerful tool. It can control the society. I believe artists should fight to use that power in the right way.
Thank you for sharing your perspective vy! You are an incredible artist, in mind and creation. Send a message in a bottle and you'll reach masses.
Oh cocinier, I love all your posts but this one was just... WOW! I have no words!!
Cross-posted trying to get you more attention, this post should be on trending in my opinion. Can't believe its been posted 2h ago and curators with big wallets haven't seen it...
Y a todo! Ahh thank you for your kind words and the cross-post! I think it helped :) Thank @thatkidsblack for popping the question :P
👋 Hi @rubencress, I was flipping through the blockchain and stumbled on your work! You've been upvoted by Sketchbook / a community for design and creativity. Looking forward to crossing paths again soon.
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Thanks!
Greetings, @rubencress. I think that in art there is no room for comparisons, each artist shapes his emotions and feelings and the viewers identify with them or not. That's why it's said that art is subjective, what some people may like, not others, this will depend on the sensibility they have when observing an artistic piece.
You've said it here, "I'm more interested in what kind of emotions are triggered in the minds of viewers so they can add their own story and value to the work," and I think this should be one of the principles of every artist. Excellent work, thank you for sharing.
Hi Aurodivys, thank you for checking out my blog post. As you must have read in the post, I couldn't agree more with you. It's a very personal matter, we often forget when judging work rather than appreciating it.
This post is full of stellar art, Ruben!
You make me google "stellar art" Celestal, how's it going king? Happy belated birthday to you! I hope you had a great day (will check out your bday post in a spiffy)
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Thank you @c-squared team, cheers!
I'm certainly not the most appropriate person to share view about Art. I believe that works of art will be appreciated by at least someone as long as those works are coming from the artist's soul. I think that works of art shouldn't be approached by measurable means - how many people like them or how much profit they're making, that's a different thing and it's irrelevant to the art itself. When a small child is painting an image, that's also art irrelevant whether the world likes it or not. Surely one has every right to like and / or dislike a work of art, in this case it's more appropriate to say "I don't like this piece" or better "I don't understand it" rather than calling it bad art. Personally I stick to the stuff I believe I like even if this doesn't allow me to open my mind and that's the reason I'm not the appropriate person to talk about Art 🙂
Opinions are opinions, beliefs are beliefs. Thank you for sharing yours, very interesting. I wonder. If the intent was to make money, and that intent was left out when publishing the work, would it considered to be a dishonest work? And how would that be if we do not value an artwork at all?
No, it's fine to have the intention to sell the work of art, whether it sells or not what it say about that work? It's good? Bad? I guess an art expert can share an insightful opinion, but like you said, opinions are opinions. Also it's fine to value the art, I mean though that valuing it is something irrelevant of making it, at least that's what I think, maybe I'm outright wrong about it.
Wao what a good piece of art I really love it
Thank you Toby :)
You are welcome