In the beginning, there was abstraction
The earliest cave paintings were abstract. Now we can move on and reappraise the historical bias toward figurative and representational art. The early humans painted what was natural. Abstractions!
Artistic Plagiarism: should artists use footnotes?
I wrote an opinion piece in the Art of England (issue 77, January 2011) on the issue of artistic plagiarism called “On Learning to Steal”. I start by musing on the usefulness of students learning… Artistic Plagiarism: should artists use footnotes?
Frankenfolks can be artists too!
“Frankenfolks” can be artists too!” Originally published in Art of England, Issue 86, 2011. Reproduced with permission. Are older people curiosities, especially the long-lived? Do we see them as ‘marvellous’ simply for their fact of… Frankenfolks can be artists too!
The Artist as Entrepreneur
Art of England (issue 68, 2010) has published a short piece of mine. It is about the ‘grants welfare state’ and proposes that artists should be funded more as investments, over a few years, leading… The Artist as Entrepreneur
The art welfare state and publicly funded poverty
Some do indeed worship at the alter of the state. Most artists don’t make a living at their art, and most people who study art formally fail to develop their studies into a viable career.… The art welfare state and publicly funded poverty
Sunny, sunny day!
The sun is shining and my paint brushes are far too dry for their own good. The heavy paper I like to use is pristine and awaiting the tentative first brush with acrylic fate.