Criticism of the Old Masters and Contemporary Critique

Criticism of the Old Masters and Contemporary Critique...Art is an expression.
Where there is Art there will be people who appreciate and hold the artwork in wonder...and  also be those who not only do not like the creation, but feel the need to 'squash the artist'.  Perhaps standards dictate the sway from the norm, but artists don't create on demand, the good ones follow their inner fire and tend to the embers that need to take flame!  (Dang, that was a good sentence.)

So you probably won't be surprised to read that Claude Monet was told by an art critic of the time that his paintings  looked incomplete and that as a painter he had poor technique.  This person wrote  a scathing review in a French magazine stating that a "Preliminary drawing for a wallpaper pattern is more finished than his seascape".  Ouch.  Vincent Van Gogh's paintings were dismissed as amateur. 
Pablo Picasso introduced a new technique and had a profound understanding of the human form.  His work was called schizophrenic and  the paintings did not belong in galleries.  
These artists are a small sample of the times.  They weren't feeling' the love.

But... in spite of  bad reviews and criticism they each continued to create because they believed in themselves!  They believed in their art!


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Now these two paintings are my works...not to be mistaken for the Old Masters!  (Ha!)

Let's come back to contemporary times.
Artists  realize that making art is a solo practice and much of our time is spent in the studio.  It is with the greatest of appreciation for critique, discussion, socialization, and education that we gather in small groups to discuss each other's art.  I value these opinions and bring my most challenging pieces and those strong enough for competition.  Critiques are done respectfully, usually addressing an area the artist requests help with.  It's supportive and helpful.

Art critics???  I'm still a small fish in a very big pond.  They just haven't found me yet!

I thought that was interesting...did you?  It's fun to go back into my art history days.  Let's do that again sometime.

 Next week it's all about CONNECTIONS!  Yep...we all need them.  I never would have thought I'd be hanging around with these types of people! :-o

Am so very grateful for all your comments and recommendations.
Interested in a specific area of art?  Ask me!  I know everything!!! (Ha!)
www.patricecameronart.com
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Patrice