Up Late

Artists work I can't stand.

This seems to be an easier topic than artists work I love, although I will include a few of those you may not know or haven't thought about in a while. You don't have to restate the old lines about Art is subjective. That's really not the point here. I'm almost ready to say, "No it's not" The older I get it seems art is less subjective than I used to think. One could almost equate that statement with "Food is subjective". Well. Most people can't eat cement or dirt (yeah I know some try) I am coming to believe art does have rules. There are certain physical and spiritual rules of beauty. Without contrast we can not see. It takes a certain amount of light and dark for us to discern shapes, and edges of objects. The same goes for art in a way. It seems the "Gallery" set has almost decided that Style or Technique is not important but only "intentions, purpose or artistic statement". Give me a break. A pile of trash with the title "The Senate" might be a great statement but it ain't art.

No I don't agree with the idiot Satshi Kanazawa. I won't even repost that junk here. Their article was probably written just for publicity anyway. Beauty in mankind is not what I'm talking about. And one could argue there's not really a difference but nevertheless. Here's my take on "Art" and you have the right to be wrong.


Andy Warhol. Can't stand his stuff. And it may be that I do have a hard time separating the artist's work from the artist on this one, because I don't respect him either. There are others like him that followed his method of "getting famous" Warhol said, "Don't pay any attention to what they write about you. Just measure it in inches."





“It took me four years to paint like Raphael, but a lifetime to paint like a child.”

-Pablo Picasso



He might have thought it clever and deep but to me that quote speaks volumes. Ask any child and they will let you know, they are trying to get better at what they do. while they are having fun usually. One can not "learn" to paint like a child. One can only learn to scam people into thinking you are painting with child like"innocence". Poor work is still poor work whether you worked hard at making it that way or not.


I probably don't like Warhol and Picasso for the same reason I dislike Madonna, Brittany Spears, Lady Gaga, or anyone else that seems to go for the publicity before anything including good taste. It is all soulless prostitution and in the least an affront to national moral. "Nothing good" shall come of this type of achieving fame at the expense of real taste. Outstanding and exceptional doesn't HAVE to be and shouldn't strive to be controversial. When controversy is wasted on cheap publicity it muddies the water so to speak of public debate on topics we should be discussing and debating. Things that will actually affect our families lives and our nation as a whole. (sorry international friends)

You may think I'm full of it but I'm not just being close minded and uncreative. Let me assure you, that is not the case. I can understand, appreciate and even paint in many of these styles ( Abstract, Impressionist, Surreal, Representational etc.) but there are good and bad artists and there's good and bad "art". There are some "artists" that have their own "special" category. One worth mentioning is Bob Ross. If you've never had the pleasure. Be thankful. (Sorry, Bob. I'm sure some enjoy your work. Just not what I'm working towards.)

Maybe you have some artists that come to mind when you think "good art" or "bad art" Or maybe you agree with the statement I was once told. "We aren't suppose to judge whether its good or not." Well God took some time and rested after Creation and said, "That's good" So that's good enough for me.

Speaking of good. I don't want to just be all negative so I'll mention some artist's work I've come to enjoy over the years. Some you may know others maybe not.

James C. Christensen


Andrew Wyeth



Alan Lee


What I'm saying is this: Art shouldn't ignore this world to show us the spiritual, art should bring us through the physical to the sublime. So many more artists I'd love to share with you. Maybe I should make this a series of blogs.