My college bud's reaction to a drawing of him... "It's really good ... it just doesn't look like me" :)...

It didn't....

At all.

Well... it had ears...Mebbe?

Twasn't art ...

Serious response from a two-bit artist.
I like the use of color, and the reflections in the water are rather effective. There are aspects of the composition I like, such as the placement of the boat, and some that could be improved, like the tree trunks. The sense of perspective could also be strengthened through improved use of line and tone. In short, I think it's an honorable work showing great promise.

This was painted by my grandfather in 1962, Swans in the pond across the road from the house that I live in now..

He just had talent.. he wasn't schooled or trained in art.. but could paint

He also never learned how to read music, and only took a few music lesson in his life, yet could hear a tune.. walk to the piano, and play it...

I, got none of his talents..



http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1744844852.jpg

I am baffled by your opinion.

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The painting is 9X12 and is the 3rd painting that he has done. I'm asking because this person is wanting to pursue this as a career.

lets see all three paintings
I like the the brush strokes, It has a slight cartoonish feel, (I like alot)
tell this person to get a good job... and paint..... the career part will fall into place in time be patient.
I think they are talented!

lets see all three paintings
I like the the brush strokes, It has a slight cartoonish feel, (I like alot)
tell this person to get a good job... and paint..... the career part will fall into place in time be patient.
I think they are talented!

My opinion is he should look into other careers and keep at the painting in spare time.

In general art is the creation of something from nothing but an idea. IMHO As to is it good? That's subjective and individual. My bottom line is...did it make me think? Did it move me in some way?

For this particular painting, I think it would have benefitted by applying more gesso- assuming he/she used any at all

I do not think the painting overall is strong enough to excuse the texture that for me, overwhelms the experience

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1744894909.JPG
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1744894909.JPG

He has started taking a few lessons and wants to go to college to pursue an art major. I am reluctant to encourage such.

The second picture I do not like. It looks like he half-assed it.

None of the paintings are commercially viable.

An art major degree isn't recommended. A hundred other degrees will be more useful in the workplace, if a decent standard of living is desired.

If he wants to pursue art as a hobby, that's fine. Lessons, lessons, lessons... start with drawing.

Indeed.

Or minor in Art while he gets a degree that can financially support his creativity.

It is an itch he wants to scratch, but he needs to be smart about it.

i struggle with this kind of advice, because one of the best things about my personal art, is that because i make STEM money, i just buy what i need/want to do the thing, and i dont really ever have to think about costs. my latest art project, i just bought/built, didnt need to scrounge anything. no worried about something not matching, or how costly that joke is. when we built the art car, i just bought everything ... no issues. its really nice to not be constrained by money when making art. i have trucks, trailers, welding equipment, etc super useful for art.

that being said, the older i get the more obvious it is that taking 15 years off of making art because "money" did irreparable damage to my artistic vision and skills. i regret it pretty deeply, and deeply resent the notion that one should get a stem career for pay, and then do art on the side. that implies that art is less important than stem, and that couldn't be farther from the truth of the human existence. humanity is art. humanity isnt money. i wish id been able to hold onto playing jazz longer, i wish id been able to cultivate a sense of aesthetics. i wish id have learn to move body as art. these are things that loosing 15 years of my life to "money" has served me and my happiness poorly.

so its nice to have the luxury of not needing to make money, making art. in fact, its luxury to be able to spend money on making art. but it also put a pause on making art for so long, i feel significantly behind in my path to self expression and humanity through art. double edged sword.

+1

It's a nice piece that my wife would love to own but not a masterpiece. I am a lifelong sailor and notice right away that the perspective on the boat is still not right. That would bother me.

As others have said, if he wants to eat regularly, get a steady job with a steady paycheck and pursue art as a lifelong hobby. There are a lot of good things happening in this painting but I don't think this will support him. One of my daughter's has an artist sensibility and an eye for photography. As volunteer coordinator for a major hospital she has a solid income and has the freedom to pursue her artistic passion. A good life balance I think.

I won't comment on the painting except to say I like the reflections.

I will say, it's tough to offer advice on a career choice based on a single example.
Showing a video of a good play at a high school basketball game and asking if a career in the NBA is worth pursuing is comparable.
The answer is always going to be 'maybe', but like others have said, as a lifelong hobby, the fine arts can be very fun and rewarding, just like weekly pickup games at the gym can be rewarding.

My story; I went to art school to learn graphic design. As a beginner I had some chops and I was offered a real paying job at the University printshop, but as I progressed, my artistic limitations started to become more and more apparent; however, I have good craftsmanship skills and I was able to transition to the production side of the business and wound up having a pretty decent career doing pre-press in the 4/C printing industry and later as a digital image editor using Photoshop.

I like the painting. Something about a small boat sitting idle at a pier on a pond is very peaceful and calming to me. Thank you to the artist, and thank you for sharing.

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