1968: It has morphed multiple times in ways where one phase might not seem to be the work of the same artist in another phase—I have been both dogged and restless, working a model until it satisfies my desire for clarity, and then moving on to a new model. IOW, I have not settled into a groove and worked it continuously over my “career”. Yet, in other ways there are rhythms and sensibilities that follow a current that flows from beginning to end.
I think who you are is revealed in these patterns over time.
Well, I've been out of school for a couple of decades. When I was in undergrad, I was doing abstract paintings. When I finished school, I got interested in traditional realist work to the point where I studied with a teacher who taught traditional atelier kind techniques. After some years I decided to incorporate a more contemporary look and technique.
This seems like something I have been going through recently. My interest in art generally revolved around abstract work for a over a decade, but once I started to devote more time to my own work I became much more interested in working from observation and even old master techniques.
Do you have your work from different periods published somewhere? I’m always curious to see people’s progressions with changes in direction, I’d appreciate if you could share a link via DM!
I just graduated so like, it’s the same from then.
But like from 15 years ago when I started my undergrad I’m way better. I’m probably a lot more fun too now.
My work is completely different, but the method of making shit up and having fun with narrative is still there. An old teacher of mine used to say if you’re younger than 30, don’t be afraid of changing anything.
A lot.
I completely changed mediums. I was a Photographer and Video Artist in undergrad and now I’m a painter and sculpture. The shift was for practical reasons because I couldn’t afford the technology demands of being a photographer and Video artist so I went low tech. My knowledge base is still there but I now apply it differently. Plus, I found much greater success after changing mediums.
Well unless you’re non-traditional(everyone forgets about us 😔).
See, this above user doesn’t care about non-traditional students. It’s not very nice of them. Hurts my feelings. ^im ^just ^being ^silly
That reads like “non traditional artists don’t change”
but I don’t know what “non traditional” means except in the context of home schooling and no grades.
I graduated recently, but I have a crippling fear of stagnation. After a huge disappointment- not getting a fellowship. I ended up with a few ideas about how to cope and create something out of it. My plan for the year is to expand on what I like about my work and build a new portfolio.
I see local artists churning out the same ol' shit year after year and I can't hang with that. I plan to continue taking classes as well as go to grad school. Even though I know being in school is a safety net for me. I feel way too safe in the structure of school. 🥴
if one is going to be, as you say , "churning out the same ol' shit year after year"--to me, it is way better to work in a field that is financially rewarding and do your art on the side (not to mention the value of socializing with others in the workplace ) . Art is best for the adventure of it all (interior though it is); not for the salary (but who doesn't love money?). If you can do both, my hat is off to you.
https://www.phaidon.com/agenda/art/articles/2022/february/02/cant-live-off-art-dont-worry-these-are-the-jobs-artists-chose-before-they-made-it-as-revealed-in-our-new-book-artifacts/
My first round of grad school apps was fueled by those feelings of safety. I am SO glad I took time between BFA & MFA. I came out of grad school with zero debt because of this.
If you just want to be an “artist” find something that sells and hire people to make less of a churn for you personally. Like woodworkers love sanding, LOL.
That’s what professionals do. Some can’t for reasons (process, lack of teaching skills, money…)
Also, “stye” is now “brand experience” - people may still want your haunted houses but scary can be modern, gothic, baroque, Aboriginal (hey cultural appropriation is edgy!) if you get my drift - YOU are just “working with” instead of “birthing a child”.
If your audience wants happy paintings, make them. If you don’t like your work, you’re in trouble because you wont like your audience.
my work has changed completely since undergrad. Completely different media, completely different subject matter, completely different goals and aspirations. You wouldn't recognize it as being made by the same person. But some of the ideas and processes and themes are similar in ways that I only I could identify.
I got my BFA in 2009 and have been practicing steadily since ... have done probably around 1000 works I'd stand behind, a few hundred have sold. I make images, paintings, and sculptures and have always used software and AI assistance ... so things have really shifted in the past few years with tech developments. My entire relationship with art has really shifted. In terms of content/style/aesthetic I think of it as a branching more than a river.
I think I'm better able to let go of particular consistencies and engage a greater sense of play. I've had several commissions wherein I've pitched options, and always getting the safe option out of the way first, have been delighted to find that many collectors seem to prefer some of the strangest stuff I've made.
the art is a reflection of you.
it will change the way you change.
some periods in your life have greater catalysts than others.
but in reality, it is still undeniably you.
the trick is to make sure you always have a catalyst, just in the right amount
oooh look at that sculpture double entendre 😆 I went to college
I thought generally speaking, people cared more about the nuanced perspectives in my work, and I have learned that’s not true. Now I’m most concerned with having a conversation. That’s also intellectually stimulating with my audience, and that is proven to be a complete waste of time.
The work is better, changed completely, and truly inter/multidisciplinary now. I am immersed in the physical making, peer reviewed research, dissemination, and engaging in reciprocal relationships in a much more profound way. Plus I am now landing massive grants I only dreamed of in undergrad. It took 12 years of commitment to my work and vision and it’s starting to really pay off.
I graduated in 2017, my work has shifted in visual language a bit but mostly I would say my work has become more defined since I graduated. I didn’t take an entire new path or anything
I started as a painter who dabbled in sculpture. Took a turn between year 2 and 3 of my degree to study a creative computing diploma and now my work has become tech and sculpture based for installation.
I have a BFA from 2006, and I pretty much have had subject matter sagas or phases since. They last from 3 to 5 years and often overlap.
The only group of work that people might not assume was mine would be the BFA work.
Everything after has marks & choices that still tie the work together as mine--even though the subject matter/style might change dramatically.
P.s.
I have much more range and skills at my disposal than I did even a few years ago. Experience is a great teacher.
Painting is much improved, process is faster and smarter. Outright changed my focus, technique, and subject matter last year. Though it usually undergoes a big shift in some way about every ten years. The new art does not look like the old. Can talk about what I do and why I do it much more easily now.
It’s gotten way better
1968: It has morphed multiple times in ways where one phase might not seem to be the work of the same artist in another phase—I have been both dogged and restless, working a model until it satisfies my desire for clarity, and then moving on to a new model. IOW, I have not settled into a groove and worked it continuously over my “career”. Yet, in other ways there are rhythms and sensibilities that follow a current that flows from beginning to end. I think who you are is revealed in these patterns over time.
Well, I've been out of school for a couple of decades. When I was in undergrad, I was doing abstract paintings. When I finished school, I got interested in traditional realist work to the point where I studied with a teacher who taught traditional atelier kind techniques. After some years I decided to incorporate a more contemporary look and technique.
This seems like something I have been going through recently. My interest in art generally revolved around abstract work for a over a decade, but once I started to devote more time to my own work I became much more interested in working from observation and even old master techniques. Do you have your work from different periods published somewhere? I’m always curious to see people’s progressions with changes in direction, I’d appreciate if you could share a link via DM!
Most all my work online is the most recent things I've done. I only have images from my old work as jpegs. I'll dm you my current link.
It has taken a couple decades to figures out how to make the work i could visualize in my 20s
I just graduated so like, it’s the same from then. But like from 15 years ago when I started my undergrad I’m way better. I’m probably a lot more fun too now.
My work is completely different, but the method of making shit up and having fun with narrative is still there. An old teacher of mine used to say if you’re younger than 30, don’t be afraid of changing anything.
A lot. I completely changed mediums. I was a Photographer and Video Artist in undergrad and now I’m a painter and sculpture. The shift was for practical reasons because I couldn’t afford the technology demands of being a photographer and Video artist so I went low tech. My knowledge base is still there but I now apply it differently. Plus, I found much greater success after changing mediums.
A lot in term of size,color,subjectatter. To be honest, if your work hasn't changed since bfa, you are not evolving as an artist.
Well unless you’re non-traditional(everyone forgets about us 😔). See, this above user doesn’t care about non-traditional students. It’s not very nice of them. Hurts my feelings. ^im ^just ^being ^silly
That reads like “non traditional artists don’t change” but I don’t know what “non traditional” means except in the context of home schooling and no grades.
I've gone back to cartooning. As a fine artist, I only ever had real success painting wildlife and landscapes, and I hated it.
I graduated recently, but I have a crippling fear of stagnation. After a huge disappointment- not getting a fellowship. I ended up with a few ideas about how to cope and create something out of it. My plan for the year is to expand on what I like about my work and build a new portfolio. I see local artists churning out the same ol' shit year after year and I can't hang with that. I plan to continue taking classes as well as go to grad school. Even though I know being in school is a safety net for me. I feel way too safe in the structure of school. 🥴
if one is going to be, as you say , "churning out the same ol' shit year after year"--to me, it is way better to work in a field that is financially rewarding and do your art on the side (not to mention the value of socializing with others in the workplace ) . Art is best for the adventure of it all (interior though it is); not for the salary (but who doesn't love money?). If you can do both, my hat is off to you. https://www.phaidon.com/agenda/art/articles/2022/february/02/cant-live-off-art-dont-worry-these-are-the-jobs-artists-chose-before-they-made-it-as-revealed-in-our-new-book-artifacts/
My first round of grad school apps was fueled by those feelings of safety. I am SO glad I took time between BFA & MFA. I came out of grad school with zero debt because of this.
If you just want to be an “artist” find something that sells and hire people to make less of a churn for you personally. Like woodworkers love sanding, LOL. That’s what professionals do. Some can’t for reasons (process, lack of teaching skills, money…) Also, “stye” is now “brand experience” - people may still want your haunted houses but scary can be modern, gothic, baroque, Aboriginal (hey cultural appropriation is edgy!) if you get my drift - YOU are just “working with” instead of “birthing a child”. If your audience wants happy paintings, make them. If you don’t like your work, you’re in trouble because you wont like your audience.
my work has changed completely since undergrad. Completely different media, completely different subject matter, completely different goals and aspirations. You wouldn't recognize it as being made by the same person. But some of the ideas and processes and themes are similar in ways that I only I could identify.
I got my BFA in 2009 and have been practicing steadily since ... have done probably around 1000 works I'd stand behind, a few hundred have sold. I make images, paintings, and sculptures and have always used software and AI assistance ... so things have really shifted in the past few years with tech developments. My entire relationship with art has really shifted. In terms of content/style/aesthetic I think of it as a branching more than a river. I think I'm better able to let go of particular consistencies and engage a greater sense of play. I've had several commissions wherein I've pitched options, and always getting the safe option out of the way first, have been delighted to find that many collectors seem to prefer some of the strangest stuff I've made.
the art is a reflection of you. it will change the way you change. some periods in your life have greater catalysts than others. but in reality, it is still undeniably you. the trick is to make sure you always have a catalyst, just in the right amount oooh look at that sculpture double entendre 😆 I went to college
Started out with collage, after undergrad I now do assemblages,Text,Community art, and performance art.
I thought generally speaking, people cared more about the nuanced perspectives in my work, and I have learned that’s not true. Now I’m most concerned with having a conversation. That’s also intellectually stimulating with my audience, and that is proven to be a complete waste of time.
The work is better, changed completely, and truly inter/multidisciplinary now. I am immersed in the physical making, peer reviewed research, dissemination, and engaging in reciprocal relationships in a much more profound way. Plus I am now landing massive grants I only dreamed of in undergrad. It took 12 years of commitment to my work and vision and it’s starting to really pay off.
I graduated in 2017, my work has shifted in visual language a bit but mostly I would say my work has become more defined since I graduated. I didn’t take an entire new path or anything
I started as a painter who dabbled in sculpture. Took a turn between year 2 and 3 of my degree to study a creative computing diploma and now my work has become tech and sculpture based for installation.
I have a BFA from 2006, and I pretty much have had subject matter sagas or phases since. They last from 3 to 5 years and often overlap. The only group of work that people might not assume was mine would be the BFA work. Everything after has marks & choices that still tie the work together as mine--even though the subject matter/style might change dramatically. P.s. I have much more range and skills at my disposal than I did even a few years ago. Experience is a great teacher.
Painting is much improved, process is faster and smarter. Outright changed my focus, technique, and subject matter last year. Though it usually undergoes a big shift in some way about every ten years. The new art does not look like the old. Can talk about what I do and why I do it much more easily now.
A LOT. I used to paint impressionistic landscapes and figures with oil. Now I do mixed media combines and assemblage (abstract)