Project plan

I sincerely love realistic art. I love the detail, the perfection and the stark beauty of something re-created exactly as it is. I am therefore annoyed by the assumption that “true” art cannot be realistic, only “true” art can have meaning. It frustrates me that the majority of the art world puts so much emphasis on the fact that art can be anything the artist wants it to be, and yet doesn’t truly believe in this. A realistic photograph can have feeling and emotion and can be great art. An abstract drawing can be thoughtful and send a message as a wonderful work of art. A realistic drawing however? Oh no, that can’t be art. That doesn’t have enough meaning, there isn’t a story, put more emotion into it, what message are you trying to convey, realism is a pre-sketch not a piece, the list goes on and on. You can smear ketchup on a canvas because you “feel like it” and want to, but you can’t just draw a cherry because you “feel like it.” I am exhausted by the constant criticism that my art isn’t “artsy” enough. It doesn’t matter that I love what I do. That I do what I do and truly enjoy it. In order to be a “real” artist I have to do things that other people consider art.
I will still continue to do what I love though. To prove that there is a step in between harsh photography and the imaginary world art is supposed to belong to.
My artwork is very detailed, realistic, time consuming, and often times somewhat small, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t “art.”
For my project I would like to re-create a picture with Prismacolors, no more, no less. I know how slowly I work, and know that to create something I’m happy with will take time. So my only goal for the time being is to create this medium sized drawing.
I intend to obsess in my perfectionism, spend hours poring over details, being frustrated with myself and the piece, be sick of and exhausted by my work near the end, but finally after finishing, stepping back, taking some time to relax and look at the finished product, I know I will be content.
It will not be as big as some people think art must be.
It will not be as abstract as some people think art must be.
It will not be as strange as some people think art must be.
But I will have poured my heart and mind into it. I don’t know exactly what picture I will use yet, probably ether a picture I have of a building at night in New Orleans, or a picture I have of my dad riding a bull when he was younger. I have also recently wanted to draw food, so I might do that.
It may be in the end just a simple object. But it will have meaning.
The meaning will not be something staring you in the face. It will not be a single message I am trying to convey to an audience, it will be more of an interpretation each person must have individually towards the image. This is perhaps why some people think my work is meaningless, because they cannot find meaning in everyday things, only in those things that are supposed to have meaning.
So I shall continue my work in all it’s realism, creating things the way I want them created.
Nothing but a picture, Prismacolors, and some time.