The Worst Artist Advice I Have Ever Heard

[carolmikolj]

Andy Warhol said it best: 'Don't think about making art, just get it done. Let everyone else decide if it's good or bad, whether they love it or hate it. While they are deciding, make even more art.'

[spikeyspoems]

The person dispensing this advice was a gallery owner, which means that they are by definition a "gatekeeper". Such people have a vested interest in trying to make sure that artists don't go "rogue" and find ways to succeed that don't involve them, so anything they might say should indeed be taken with a grain of salt. Oh, say hi to Klee!🙂

[cindydiel]

Listening to you reminds me of how impressionist painters had their own shows when the galleries wouldn't let them show their work. Thanks for the wonderful video!

[debralee]

As a pastel painter, I have had to argue that my pastel paintings are not drawings the majority of my life. Paintings don't need to be wet nor cover the entire ground on which you painted to be paintings.

[ariannefowler]

Clearly this advice is crap. What makes me sad is that someone is going to believe this and possibly stop doing art because they can't meet this person's standards and they are shamed into quitting. That would be a tragedy.Thank you for this video!

[Francois_L_]

To me, a gallery owner who has obviously so little art history knowledge can actually be detrimental to the artist that consult with her. She's probably the kind of person who would have refused Warhol, Lichtenstein, Pollock, and a bunch of others because they didn't use the "right" products or fit the "right" set of criteria.

[Neelloc]

THANK YOU so much. I just started my career at 60 (after starting college as art major, and switching majors) and trying to figure out how to put myself out there, your rant today was exactly what I needed.

[liddybird]

One thing that always struck me about Picasso was that he did what he wanted to do. He had enormous self-confidence (to the point of extreme arrogance). He experimented. He was not a good person, but he helped create a new way to look at art. How the hell does this person think new art happens? It's not by playing by the rules.

[ladygwarth]

I was once told that my realism, still life paintings in oils weren’t real paintings because you couldn’t see the brush strokes 🤷‍♀️tell that to the old masters 🙄. Paint want you want, how you want, in any medium you want, I believe we should create very much from the heart. Glad you are on the mend 😁

[terrilikens]

Some of these art dealers sound like the stuff of middle school cliques. I feel sorry for anyone who ever dropped money with this woman.

[CourageousPainting]

I agree with you 100%. I used to hate painting because I thought I had to do it a certain way. By discovering new ways to approach a canvas I was able to discover myself. Had I only created commissions or what my audience wanted I would have never truly discovered my style, approach, or creative techniques. Keep spreading the love Rafi. <3

[kevinknight]

Tell that drawing bit about not being good or sought after to DaVinci or Durer.

[JennyFloravitaArt]

And you are correct, it's shocking (how people who buy art) often don't know one media from the other. They don't care. If they connect to the art, that's what matters.

I've often assumed some of my clients "know" what they are looking at...only to realize that they don't know...and it doesn't matter. You just tell them how the art was made. They aren't judging it from watercolor to oil to mixed-media...of of which I do. In fact, one of my good clients who owns a lot of work, recently let on that she didn't realize that my work that was framed behind plexi was watercolor...that she hadn't given it thought!! She wasn't judging the art's value based on the media.

In the 80s and 90s and before that...these *rules* that this gal preaches probably applied more. I do believe this. Yes, I think back then the parents of the baby boomers wanted oils and more art was purchased in galleries versus other venues (than today). The world was different. The art was different. There were fewer avenues and routes that artists could take to sell their work, without galleries. This was before my years...but festivals in those years were supposedly amazing for artists who adapted well to that venue.

I'd never want to go back in time (not even to do the good festivals)...no thank you...galleries and chicks like this had too much clout.

[newinglands]

So cave paintings were commissioned? Wow, that person is REALLY off base and going to discourage a lot of artists!

[carolebusby]

You are so right, listening to you is so refreshing. I hate snobbery in art especially from no talent non artist gallery owners.

[normapadro]

Hello. This is the reason why I went ahead, and self published all of my art, music, photography, and my books. I didn't want to listen to anyone wanting to discourage me about anything. I listened to myself, and my success has been able to share my work with the world.

[kungfukittens]

narcissistic? self-expression is toxic? Holy crap! You were very kind to her, very kind, I applaud your restraint. She would do well to look outside her bubble. I would advise her (and she needs some advice) to watch some Rafi and Klee videos.

[lisaowen]

In my experience in the art groups that I have be with.. Most people these days value (hiper)realistic prints of photography, drawing and watercolor. in my area. mostly wild live and landscapes. I like to use many mediums. I make me happy first with my art. When others like what I do it's a welcome surprise.🖼️🎨 and or shock. ha ha ha 😁

[wannabehuman]

On art as expression - I think she is looking at too narrow a range of history. People drew things on cave walls before there was paper. Was that a commission? Maybe it was for strategy planning or teaching, or maybe it was because people have a drive to create beauty and express.

[danecory]

Rafi! This rant was awesome. I feel honored you’re so passionate about this subject and have really supported me through an almost existential crisis! I was very discouraged over all this and you’ve helped me through it.

I wanted to share with you that I followed through with the consult today as an experiment and just needed to hear this shit directly from her mouth. I was too tempted! Guess what? I was not disappointed. I need to share with you the things she said directly to my face:

1) What I do is in fact design, not art! She told me what I do is called optical art, or at least she told me to tell that’s what I do to my customers. She told me that I should say I’m trying to keep the tradition of optical art alive, despite the fact that none of that is true.

2) I need to give up watercolors. It’s not what is going to make me money.

3) I need to give up Drawing on paper. I need to switch to canvas or wood. People also don’t like glass and paper requires glass.

4) I need to stop using aqua and pink in my art because it’s “girly” and “you’re not girly are you? These are not artistic colors “. You need to be using primary colors like red and blue with yellow accents because this is what people buy.

5) Don”t do black and white. Most people don’t buy art that lacks color.

6) You don’t need to talk about your mental health on your website. It has nothing to do with your art. I wouldn’t talk to people about that.

7) Doing art solely for self expression is like masturbation. It’s fun but doesn’t really get you anywhere. Art is about making love. You need to consider what your audience wants and communicate that to them in your art. You have to think about your audience every time you create. It’s not just about you.

Without your support I would have drowned in all of this advice. I actually felt very depressed again after the zoom call thinking I had to do everything she suggested and I no longer had a Choice. Thanks again for everything that you do. This video brought me back to reality. Take care Rafi.