I watched a documentary on an artist whose work sells for $65,000 - over $250,000 each.
I have seen his work before and it is interesting and really cool... I've always been so impressed with his skill, and the amazing amount of detail.
His work sells to collectors and museums.
I was really digging it until I saw the part where he is in China painting. They showed his a crew of like 10 Chinese painters doing all the backgrounds and the clothes.Wait, what?
The artist picks his models, he has someone else do the photography [he does art direction], imports his background images from wallpaper and/or other patterns. I watched as someone else put it all together in photoshop.
So how does he get the image on canvas? It looks like he uses a projector [!!!] and/or prints the images on canvas or fabric from photoshop.
Now I feel like I just found out my parents didn't really send my pet duck Donald to a "farm" after he broke his leg.
You know, there is that constant "artist" dialog about how using a projector is "cheating" - using any of sort of tool...except the artists that are making the most money in the WORLD all seem to use one, and a crew of painters, sculptors, fabricators.
So are the collectors really buying "his" original work or is it just his concept?
I work so hard, with my hands in and on everything. Why aren't my pieces selling for $250,000?
Comments
Not only does Chilhuly not make his own work anymore, an artist who left his employ to go out on his own, understandably heavily influenced by his years in Chilhuly's studio was sued by Chilhuly for copyright infringement. I never did hear what happened in that suit, but there is another interesting question about where does influence end and originality start?
BTW, didn't early painters have studio artists do all the background work, leaving the master free to concentrate on the details? I'm sure daVinci had a team of guys working on the Sistine Chapel.
Some but not all art historians have discounted the theory. I am far from an expert, but I find the number of Old Master portraits with left-handed individuals gives credence to the theory in my mind. Clearly, the theory is not universally accepted, but again, I find it worth mentioning.
Loved the "Duck" comment.
"So how does he get the image on canvas? It looks like he uses a projector"
I was wondering as I read this how one might look at the fact that the Old Masters used mirrors to separate their subjects from the background and to get the details proportionally accurate.
Look up: Hockney-Falco Thesis
Great article - I'm still chuckling about the duck Donald...............
Sandhi, I guess that is one of the weird or unfair mysteries of life. It doesn't seem right that you work harder but are paid less. I don't know if we will ever change it or figure it out.
Dale Chihuly lost an eye (an auto accident I believe) more than 20 years ago and has had a crew blow glass at his direction at least that long. Art directors always make more money than the artists they direct, just ask any advertising firm. If you really want to raise your blood pressure, check out a documentary on street artists called "Exit Through the Gift Shop". I know Netflix has it. A man with little or no artistic talent but a lot of luck and business savvy basically cons the public out of millions!
I am an oil painter and have a studio attached to our house. I understand your point about the above. I spend hours in the studio working on color theories, sketching and relationships. I don't waste a minute on artist that take a easier path, that is their direction. What comes up must come down, if you rise too quickly financially you will fall faster. The bar is so high that you are judged each collection you come up with. The galleries receive %50 and lately in NY up to %70 in commissions. The galleries are truly pushing the clients, one positive review from someone with wealth will skyrocket an artist even if their work isn't considered good. It is ALLLL business no matter what degree you got on art. They say an artist are a dime a dozen.
I heard Dave Chinhuly the glass blower is in a wheelchair and hasn't blown glass in over 20 years, but has a group of glass blowers that do it for him and he will critique and get the larger chunk if the funds.
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