Well, I now have a bit of time, so I can respond to the original post, with a couple of more thoughts that I didn't mention when I answered Paul's post directly. I'll try my best not to repeat anything (but no promises) <g>.
First, I think one should remember that one doesn't simply "become" an artist. It's a journey; an ongoing process. Especially with photography, where anyone can pick up a point and shoot and snap a pic, it's possible that "art" can be (even unwittingly) produced with no thought whatsoever. The thing about the monkeys at the typewriters eventually doing Shakespeare's plays applies much moreso to photography. I daresay that a chimp with an automatic camera may eventually take a meaningful photograph, even without knowing what they're doing. Does that make the photograph in question any less "art" than any other photograph? I don't think so. Does it make the ape an artist? I don't think so either. Similarly, it's quite difficult, imho, to pinpoint when any practitioner in an art "becomes an artist". Is it when one's annointed by one's teacher? By one's peers? By an audience? Critics? When one is satisfied with one's own work? Is it even a meaningful question? I also take issue with the idea that art has "mistakes" and can be corrected. Art is what it is. It isn't right or wrong. We've had many discussions here about "rules of composition", and even those who say that such things exist ~a priori~ admit that sometimes those rules (or guidelines or whatever one wishes to call them) can or even must be broken to create an effective image. When it comes to art, there is no "perfection". That's not to say that something can't be improved upon, but it is often the case that it's the very singularity of the artistic act that makes it worthwhile as art. It therefore can't be improved upon, because it is what it is - to change it would necessarily mean producing a different work of art. I know that applies to performance art more than visual art, but hell, a painting or photograph, warts and all, may be important because it captures something temporal as well as visual, and therefore can't be changed. Now, having said all that, please don't jump on me and say "sure, art can be improved upon", because I know that in some cases it can be. X-rays of great paintings through the ages reveal modifications and paint-overs of original brush strokes. And, I know that the whole idea of bracketing is to choose the "best" or most effective exposure and chuck the rest. Obviously, composers amend or change scores often during the composition process, even doing so after a piece has been performed, in some cases. I'm just saying that talking about mistakes and art is a dangerous thing, and must be done with great care and appreciation for the fact that it is often not possible, necessary or desirable. I could nit-pick, but I won't, at least for the time being. I could say that I'm glad I don't live in a village where art is routinely defaced. <vbg> But, I won't do that. Thanks for a very provocative and interesting story, though, Feroze. Looks like the start of an interesting thread. cheers, frank Feroze Kistan wrote: > With the recent thread about evaluating photgraphs, I thought I'd share this > with the list. > Regards, > Feroze > > The Painter's Mistakes > An old Indian tale goes like this. > Once upon a time there lived a great painter. His paintings > were liked by one and all. The King of the state had also > honoured him with the state award for excellence. > The painter was known to all his fans as Rangacharya (which > means as master of colours in Hindi), affectionately called > Ranga Guruji. > Ranga had developed a distinct painting style over the > years which was a testimony of his excellence in this > field. His hard work, commitment and dedication for the > subject was an example for many to follow. > Ranga had opened an Arts School where he use to teach the > finer aspect of his art to his chosen disciples. There was > no fixed course curriculum or duration at this school. > Ranga use to declare a pupil qualified in Arts only after > he was fully satisfied about the skill and knowledge > acquired by him. He had devised his own methods of > assessment, which were quite unique like his style of > painting. > Rajeev, a student of Ranga's Arts School, was a man in a > hurry. He had a gifted hand and had progressed much faster > than the other students through sheer hard work, > dedication, and imagination. Ranga also was very pleased > with Rajeev's progress. > Having earned lots of praise and appreciation for his work, > Rajeev was anxiously waiting for the day when Ranga Guruji > would declare him qualified and he could begin his journey > as an artist. > One day, he very politely asked Ranga Guruji how soon would > he be able to take the final qualifying examination. Ranga > smiled and said "Rajeev, you are one of my most promising > and favourite students. You have done well in learning all > aspects of the art of painting in a very short period. I > think it's time you should take the final test." > "Kindly advise me what is my test assignment, Guruji?" It > was difficult for Rajeev to hide his happiness and > eagerness. > Ranga said "Rajeev, I want you to prepare a painting, that > could be termed as your best painting and which would win > everyone's heart. Take your own time and create a real > masterpiece." > Rajeev worked day and night for many days, prepared one of > his best paintings and submitted it to Ranga Guruji. > Ranga advised "Now, take it to the main square of the town > and put it on public display. Let the people see your work. > Write below the painting in bold letters that the work is > being displayed for public evaluation and that the artist > would feel obliged if any of the viewers could point out > any mistakes in the painting by putting an X on it." > Rajeev did exactly as advised by Ranga Guruji. He displayed > the work at a prominent spot at the main square of the town > with the message for everyone to see. > A couple days later Ranga asked Rajeev to get the painting > for assessment. > Rajeev was very excited on his way to the main square, but > was very disappointed to find that the artwork was badly > defaced with X marks all over it. His disqualification > looked imminent as he started for the school. > Rajeev showed the painting to Guruji with a heavy heart. > But Ranga was calm and composed. He advised Rajeev not to > be disheartened and to make another attempt. > Rajeev made another masterpiece and Ranga reiterated his > earlier instructions, but with a difference in the bottom > line. This time he asked Rajeev to also place a set of > paints and brushes at the site. The message requested the > viewers to find mistakes and also correct them with the > help of the painting material. > A couple of days later when Rajeev reached the main square > to collect the painting, he was pleasantly surprised to > find that not a single mistake was found in his work as the > painting material was lying in one corner untouched. > Rajeev was brimming with confidence and joy as he presented > the painting to his Guru. > Ranga smiled again and said "Rajeev, your training is > complete in all respects now with the last lesson you have > learnt today." > Rajeev was listening with rapt attention as Ranga continued > "My dear son, it is not enough to master the art alone, if > you aspire to attain greatness and excellence in this > field." > "It is necessary for you to also learn that people > generally tend to be evaluative on the first available > opportunity even if they do not know anything about it." > "If you take the world to be your judge, you would always > be disappointed. People tend to make judgments, pass > remarks on others without any authenticity and > seriousness." > "People filled your first painting with X marks as they had > nothing at stake in doing so. Most of them were arguably > not equipped with the skill or knowledge to evaluate your > work. But still they made ample use of the opportunity that > came their way." > "But when the same people were asked to not only evaluate, > to find mistakes, but also to correct them, none of them > came forward. This time their own knowledge and skills were > at stake. They did not dare to bare the lack of either of > these. So they chose to stay away." > Ranga continued "So my dear boy, your work, your skills, > your knowledge, your investment in the field of Art is a > precious product of your hard work and sincere efforts. Do > not offer it to the world for free. It would otherwise be > treated the way your first painting was treated." > "Be your own judge and trade your virtues with the world > for an equitable and fair consideration. I assure you that > you would never be disappointed with yourself or your > work." > "Last but not the least, it would also mean that you will > not be judgmental about other's work too!" > "May God bless you, my child!" > Rajeev had tears of respect and joy in his eyes. He knew > deep in his heart that his training and education would > have been incomplete without this last lesson that he > learnt today. -- "Hell is others" -Jean Paul Sartre
