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Thursday, December 8, 2011

Artistic Authenticity



The elusive state of artistic authenticity is what I want to discuss.  Here is an excerpt from the article I am writing about Authenticity In Your Art:




"Ignore Everybody,"
 Hugh MacLeod.




Technical skill is not critical to being authentic, although it may help to more easily say what you mean with your artwork. More importantly, I value being comfortable with line, composition and color. The formal elements of all artworks can be a huge distraction when a painter doesn't use them with intention and ease.


One obsolete meaning for the word, "authentic," is "authoritative." This is where my focus lies. Having the merit of authority – unimpeachable work. I once lunched with Donald J. Wiseman, the man who excavated ancient Babylon. Here before me was a living textbook footnote, for he was certainly the authority in his field.

Wiseman.

Hugh MacLeod.

More to come.

4 comments:

  1. Having just started painting again last October, this is precisely the idea I have maintained as I explore different subjects with watercolor, and now oil. Thank you for articulating it so well.

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  2. And thanks for the reading here, Kevin.

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  3. This sounds very interesting and something I subscribe to myself. I am sure it will be good.

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  4. This sounds very interesting and I actually believe in that wholeheartedly. It will be a good article.

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