Art drawing--ink. Wind Turbines2

Art drawing--ink. Wind Turbines2 Artist:Martin Plant (c)2007

In this drawing of Wind Turbines2 I wanted to show the turbines as if they were in some far off corner of the planet. I drew them in black against the white of the paper.The high contrast also helped give me the out-of-the-way effect which I wanted.

Martin Plant: Illustrator , Fine Artist, Cartoonist
Magazine illustrations and book cover art
portraits,surreals,still lifes.
bcoreyman@gmail.com
http://www.bcoreyman.googlepages.com

Art Is a Gift-Don't Sell It?

Art Is a Gift-Don't Sell It?
by
Martin Plant
(c) 2007 All Rights Reserved

When I am out there knocking on doors trying to sell my art, I get all kinds of remarks from the public. The one that really used to bother me was when someone said: "Art is a gift. You shouldn't sell it." Every artist falls for that line the first few times they hear it. I did too. I would suddenly feel guilty. I would say nothing. I felt as if I was doing something wrong. I would stop trying to sell my art.

And yet, like all other people, I had expenses. There was rent, food and clothing to buy. I had to pay for my paints, brushes, expensive paper, and lots of other costly items that make up an artist's itinerary.

So I wasn't quite sure why these people were saying this about not selling my art. Did they really believe it? Did they feel that artists were something special and selling our work was unheard of? Or maybe these people were just trying to con us into giving them our work for free! Ah ha. that could be it.

Then one day I woke up. I asked the person making this comment what they did for a living. The answer could have been anything from "I'm a lawyer". Or a chartered account, teacher, bookkeeper, manager, janitor, cook, doctor,etc, etc. And I would answer "Well, that's your gift. Are you doing this work for free?"

The person would look uncomfortable. He would mutter something. "That's not a gift." And I would say, "Yes, it is. Anything you do well is a gift--and you're getting paid to do it. But, if that bothers you, then why not work for free? Just like you're asking me to do. I'll work for free if you will too."

These people usually make more mutterings. Then they go away. But I think my remark is catching on. Some artists are starting to use it. These days I tell it to all the public. I especially tell it to artists. So, If you're an artist and are trying to sell your work then keep my words in mind. "I'll work for free if you will too." It will make trying to sell your art go a little easier.

(Let me hear your comments--whether you're an artist or the public. Such as what you do to sell your art.)

--
Martin Plant: Illustrator , Fine Artist, Cartoonist
Magazine illustrations and book cover art
portraits,surreals,still lifes.
bcoreyman@gmail.com
http://www.bcoreyman.googlepages.com

art painting--Wind Turbine

Wind Turbine. Artist:Martin Plant(c)2007. my catalog number 3540

I like the idea of a wind turbine which you connect to a generator. Along comes some wind. The turbine turns and you get electricity. A satisfying method.

I was watching a documentary about wind turbines, and I made a painting of one. I made one turbine only and placed it in a far off site all by itself to give it a sort of unworldly look. I added my 3 moons in eclipse to give the painting a mystical effect and the painting was finished.

Martin Plant: Illustrator , Fine Artist, Cartoonist
Magazine illustrations and book cover art
portraits,surreals,still lifes.
bcoreyman@gmail.com
http://www.bcoreyman.googlepages.com

The Truth About Art Critics

The Truth About Art Critics
by
Martin Plant
(c)2007. All rights reserved.



It seems that the entire world has this great respect for art critics. Their word is sacred. What they say about an artist and his/her work,goes. If an art critic likes your work then you have it made. If the art critic doesn't like an artist's work then the artist may as well pack up and go back to wherever he came from and quietly disappear.

It's amazing that the art critic can be allowed to wield all this power over artists or the art world. Frankly,art critics should be ignored instead of slavishly listened to. Why so? Because the art critic isn't an artist.
You didn't know that? Well,it's true. The art critic doesn't know how to draw. He doesn't know how to paint a picture. He doesn't know how to think up or create a picture.Hmm.

The art critic doesn't know any of the thousand-and-one techniques an artist must know,hasn't taken any drawing or painting courses,hasn't practiced at learning any art skills until they become perfected--which can take up to ten years for an artist to do until his work looks professional.

To make matters worse,newspaper and magazine editors--the people who hire art critics-- are as naive as the public in recognizing that art critics are not artists and have limited skills in explaining an artist's work or his exhibits.

So what does an art critic actually know? He knows art history. This means he knows who painted what art style,where it was done,and when. And that's about it. Not very useful stuff for explaining an art exhibit to the public.

Often,an art critic's review has a lot of mumbo jumbo to it. He makes up a flowery story about a picture to explain it. He uses flighty phrases and long sentences. He has to. After all,he doesn't know anything about composition,or color mixing. He isn't familiar with viewpoints or size relationships and the myriad other techniques that go into the making of a picture.He doesn't know how to explain why a picture is good. But he will gladly tell you that,according to him, the picture is or isn't good. Quite often he leaves the reader confused.

Why don't artists write the reviews instead? Because most artists aren't writers. Artists stick to their art. After all,that's what artists do best. And so we let the art critics do the reviews.

So now all you artists and the public know this little secret about art critics. Ignore them. Don't bother much with their reviews or critiques. They are mostly unreadable anyway. If an artist's work seems that it might be interesting then just go to the art gallery and see the work for yourself. You'll do a better job than the art critic of deciding whether the work is good or not.

(How about some of your comments on art critics. Do you agree or disagree with them? What if they give you a thumbs down?)

Martin Plant: Illustrator , Fine Artist, Cartoonist
Magazine illustrations and book cover art
portraits,surreals,still lifes.
bcoreyman@gmail.com
http://www.bcoreyman.googlepages.com

art drawing--ranch hand

artist: Martin Plant (c) 2006

I was watching a television documentary and I saw this ranch hand talking to someone. I hauled out a sheet of paper and my trusty pen. I made a quick drawing on the spot. Here it is.

Martin Plant: Illustrator , Fine Artist, Cartoonist
Magazine illustrations and book cover art
portraits,surreals,still lifes.
bcoreyman@gmail.com
http://www.bcoreyman.googlepages.com

Me, the Artist

Hello,there. My name is Martin Plant. I am an illustrator, fine artist, and cartoonist. In this blog I'll be discussing art in general and showing you samples of my own art. If you like what you see then don't hesitate to give me a comment. If you don't like what you see, then please hesitate to give me a comment.

Art Drawing--Juggler Clown

Artist: Martin Plant (c)2006 Juggler Clown



I like making drawings. I carry an ink pen and paper for this purpose so that when a picture idea hits me

I can do it on the spot. Usually it takes me only a short while, and the drawing is done. This one is called

Juggler Clown.

Martin Plant: Illustrator , Fine Artist, Cartoonist
Magazine illustrations and book cover art
portraits,surreals,still lifes.
bcoreyman@gmail.com
http://www.bcoreyman.googlepages.com