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http://jasonbrockert.com/ayearinart/?p=77
For your lighter appetite, I present a number of art myths and stereotypes that are propagated throughout
popular culture and also in the art world as almost gospel truths. Like many stereotypes, some are
grounded in a tiny basis of reality and many arent true at all. If we acknowledge stereotypes with too
much belief then we run the risk of too easily dismissing someone or something in our world view of
artists. Part serious, more fun; I hope you find some light humor as we digest the Art Myths.
Art Myth: If you choose the arts as a profession you will become the starving artist!
Reality: If my recent weight gain is any indication then I dont think this myth applies. This myth is rooted
in the financial difficulty that an art career might present but with creativity and reasonable sacrifice there
are multiple ways to foster and prosper in an art career. Does financial difficulty mean you wont buy
food? I think people use this myth as a buffer against their own uncertainty as to what the heck an artist
does. Most people cant imagine life without a steady paycheck so an art career seems alien for that
reason. Is self employment or a small business any different?
Conclusion: Imagine walking into a room full of people in all different walks of life and in meeting each
person, one of the first things you said to each of them was a dismissive so youre a starving.(fill in
career here.) This is so easily bandied about when I meet someone new and tell them Im an artist and it
is quite grating. Im not starving and actually doing just fine. Lets ask better questions and leave this
assumption and art myth behind.
Art Myth: Keep your art pure, dont think about selling it!
Reality: I touched on this in a previous essay (the conundrum of making and selling art) and I believe its
great to be a purist / idealist if you dont want to make a living. If you want to make a living then you
better think about sales or you wont have any! The tougher aspect is convincing people to think about
BUYING art!
Conclusion: This great myth stems directly from the legend that is Van Gogh who didnt sell much in his
short life despite the fact that he wanted to!
Art Myths, Art Stereotypes and the Art Gospel | Colored Mud
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http://jasonbrockert.com/ayearinart/?p=77
Art Myth: I could make that (insert non-objective and controversial art piece here)
Reality: How often have you sat in front of a sporting event and yelled at the TV (and your athlete) to run
faster, jump higher or something like that because deep in the well of your mind you have an inkling that
Art Myths, Art Stereotypes and the Art Gospel | Colored Mud
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http://jasonbrockert.com/ayearinart/?p=77
you wouldnt fade like athlete x did. Or perhaps youre in the museum and you think or overhear someone
say I could make that or my kid could make that in reference to some non-objective (abstract painting
perhaps?) work of art. Could you? Can you run faster than the athlete who has trained all their lives? Can
you really (or could your kid) splash paint around with more dedication and subtlety than Jackson Pollock?
Probably not yet its an easy way to dismiss something you dont understand or want to understand.
Conclusion: If you can do it, why dont you?
Art Myth: My cousin is a wicked good aahtist (artist) or Hands are wicked haahd (hard) to draw but
my cousin draws em freakin awesome
Reality: These phrases are purely a New England thing in the pronunciation of artist and hand (you dont
hear the R) and the use of wicked. These utterances usually happen when you are drawing or painting in
public or over conversation at a backyard barbeque at your friends house. Can that cousin really be so
good?
Conclusion: Ive never met the cousin in question so I dont know if this myth is true or not.
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