i think no- good art can be difficult- but sometimes it is easy. when i make something “easy” to me i often think that it has little value as good art- but as time passes those are some of the pieces that i am happiest with-
so i think- no- good art does not have to be difficult, but we are often led to believe that it should be.
good question- thanks for asking it- i needed to hear it.
No. But art is a process, like life. Up, down, different struggles. A pice of art made over time can have many challenges, just like a week. So it’s sort of like asking, “Does life have to be hard to be good?” Just one old lady’s opinion…
I agree with Katherine - it’s definitely a process, but certainly doesn’t have to be difficult to be good. Sometimes the best things are simple and intuitive, and sometimes they’re taxing and require revision after revision. Both are good in their own rite.
Or did you mean difficult to understand and layered with meaning? I’d say no to this too … the emotional quality of a piece and the ability to elicit deep meaning to the viewer is arguably most important.
Difficult to whom is the question. The easiest thing in the world to the artist could be the most difficult thing for anyone who deems it ‘good’. I think it’s common for difficult to be a pre-req, but not a decisive factor.
Sometimes it’s hard, sometimes not. Just like love. Personally I’m finding it harder and harder to make art I like (but maybe I’m just getting pickier).
I think good art makes you think (and not “WTF?! This is art?!” although that can be fun sometimes).
I believe that anything you create in order to express yourself in some way is art. And good art is a myth… all art is judged by the viewer (and the creator) and everyone has different aesthetics…so there’s the old adage “beauty is in the eye of the beholder”.
Sometimes I see something like a canvas of white on white paint and can call it art because I know that someone did it on purpose and it looks beautiful to me, for no reason I can pinpoint, other than the way the light reflects off different textures, etc….
April 8th, 2008 at 7:28 pm
[…] penelope Share […]
April 8th, 2008 at 7:32 pm
“Art? That’s a man’s name.” {Andy Warhol}
What good is art if it doesn’t bring joy and flow with relative ease from it’s creator?
April 8th, 2008 at 7:35 pm
There is no bad art. Only bad eggs.
April 8th, 2008 at 8:38 pm
i think no- good art can be difficult- but sometimes it is easy. when i make something “easy” to me i often think that it has little value as good art- but as time passes those are some of the pieces that i am happiest with-
so i think- no- good art does not have to be difficult, but we are often led to believe that it should be.
good question- thanks for asking it- i needed to hear it.
April 9th, 2008 at 8:57 am
I don’t think it has to be difficult at all. and, art is what you make it. simple as that!
April 9th, 2008 at 9:58 am
No. But art is a process, like life. Up, down, different struggles. A pice of art made over time can have many challenges, just like a week. So it’s sort of like asking, “Does life have to be hard to be good?” Just one old lady’s opinion…
April 10th, 2008 at 1:11 am
to me good art is what makes you giggle, makes you play and forget you are “making art”
April 10th, 2008 at 10:51 am
I agree with Katherine - it’s definitely a process, but certainly doesn’t have to be difficult to be good. Sometimes the best things are simple and intuitive, and sometimes they’re taxing and require revision after revision. Both are good in their own rite.
Or did you mean difficult to understand and layered with meaning? I’d say no to this too … the emotional quality of a piece and the ability to elicit deep meaning to the viewer is arguably most important.
April 10th, 2008 at 4:51 pm
Difficult to whom is the question. The easiest thing in the world to the artist could be the most difficult thing for anyone who deems it ‘good’. I think it’s common for difficult to be a pre-req, but not a decisive factor.
April 11th, 2008 at 11:24 am
Sometimes it’s hard, sometimes not. Just like love. Personally I’m finding it harder and harder to make art I like (but maybe I’m just getting pickier).
I think good art makes you think (and not “WTF?! This is art?!” although that can be fun sometimes).
April 13th, 2008 at 6:53 am
I believe that anything you create in order to express yourself in some way is art. And good art is a myth… all art is judged by the viewer (and the creator) and everyone has different aesthetics…so there’s the old adage “beauty is in the eye of the beholder”.
Sometimes I see something like a canvas of white on white paint and can call it art because I know that someone did it on purpose and it looks beautiful to me, for no reason I can pinpoint, other than the way the light reflects off different textures, etc….
April 14th, 2008 at 5:18 pm
Art is a rollercoaster.