Tis the season to apply for teaching jobs! I will apply for some teaching positions because I really enjoy teaching and seeing the light go on in a students head. I really enjoy the students I have this semester, no one is slacking and they really want to learn and grow even being non majors.
I had another conversation with my wife about my art the other day. She asked me is I would be willing to just work on paintings that sell like fruit and landscapes, or work on "idea" or artistic paintings and be poor. Hmmm, good question, I was trained on how to Illustrate, or work for a client. Their is a part of me that just wants to paint for the rest of my life, so I guess I wouldn't have a problem with painting things that sell. But I also know better than that. I know almost anything can sell in this world, it is getting it into the right market and to the right people that can make the difference. So why do I have to choose, I guess if I want to stay in Utah (which I don't) then painting fruit and landscapes and selling them cheep would be a good plan. Thing is I, as stated previously, don't want to fall through the cracks of history. But then again will I roll over in my grave if I am not found in "the great history books"? I doubt it. So maybe working on paintings and trying to support my family isn't that bad of an idea. It is true I would rather paint the rest of my life then become the next Jeff Koons, not that I think his art is bad, but he is definitely on the edge of what art is or could be.
Thing is, contemporary art is so foreign to most people, at least here in Utah, which isn't saying much. Not that Utah is a sucky place, I like it and it is a good place to raise ones children. But it is a bit sheltered when it comes to the art world. I have had multiple people tell me that I am addicted to pornography because I paint or draw nude people. I ask them which is more pornographic, my painting or a picture in Maxim Magazine? I know which is more sexually stimulating, a hot chick on Maxim Magazine. But hay I guess everyone is entitled to their opinion. Now some art is definitely pornographic like John Currin, he is a fantastic painter and has some interesting things to say with his paintings. I am just not so keen on his subject matter a bit too steep for even me. Most people in Utah have never heard of these artists, why would they come to Utah, they would probably get stoned to death. I don't know how foreign contemp art is outside of Utah so I won't say much about it. People here in Utah love having a landscape or still life painting in their house, very few are into non representational or figure painting unless it has Jesus in it or some type of religious story. So I really want to move out of here so my kids can have a better understanding of life and culture outside of Mormonism.
The only way my wife would move back east is if I get a teaching job out there, so I will be applying to many jobs out there so we can be near a city and really experience culture. If I don't get a teaching job we will probably move to NM or CO possibly AZ. It is an exciting time in our lives.
I have some new ideas for paintings. I had a melt down (very short, 2 sec melt down) a couple of days ago about what I should paint. I went to the UofU and had a chat with Chad Crane about my problem. He stated that my problem has been that I love to paint for paint. I don't let a theory guide my painting. He said when you are working on a concept one painting cant do it all. A process starts to emerge and you have multiple paintings that are similar because they are guided by a concept and not how the paint is applied. Maybe that is my problem, I have finally hit a wall with a desire to paint. Don't get me wrong I love painting but I now get bored with painting fruit and landscapes, even people that are just sitting there. So I brain stormed some ideas and I will post them on here when I work on some. Can't share the idea because I am really excited about what is going to happen.
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2 comments:
One thing you may consider while applying to jobs is removing the link to your blog from your flackstudio website. This way reviewers are more likely to judge you solely on your work, which is impressive!
McGarren-You need to lighten up a bit. Utah can be whatever you want it to be. Selling work is not a bad thing. Making a painting, just because you like to paint is not a bad thing. Graduate school messes up alot of artists, lulling them into the false idea that concept is king and execution doesn't matter. Faculty want to help but usually critique your work from visions of their own work, or how they know how to make art. Traditional painting of "fruit and landscapes" doesn't mean that they will sell. Just make work that will make YOU happy not what your colleagues, friends, old faculty even your wife says you need to make. Don't make work that will "sell". You never know what another person will like. I see alot of crappy art that gets bought and sold. (p.s. Chelsea galleries sell alot of art that don't have anything to do with the afore mentioned subject matter) That might mean getting a job while you work it out. Being LDS is not helping you, because there is that line in the Proclamation on the Family that says that you are responsible for the financial part of your family. Make what you love, don't copy another's work, be true to what makes you happy (even if it means paintings of puppies), do something for your art everyday and DON'T give up. Teaching jobs are not that great anyway. University politics can be horrendous, try making good work to keep your job while teaching, holding office hours, doing university service(i.e. being on committees etc.), entering competitions and shows to pass peer tenure review and counseling struggling students. Sounds bleak eh? A good book if you have not read it is "Art & Fear" by David Bayles and Ted Orland, if you have not read it. Keep entering shows, approaching galleries, making work, kissing your wife and kids! Good luck and I will check up on your blog.
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