artWORK

Something a lot of people don't realize is the amount of work it takes to make artwork. Galleries, museums, and especially entertainment give viewers the impression that art seems to magically appear on the canvas, paper, or clay, like some materialized drug induced vision. Ideas may come about this way, but that would lead me to discuss conceptual art, which is an entirely different story. My point is, it takes a lot of work to get from the idea, to the product and that's were the work comes in. Writers have to go through multiple drafts before submitting a version worthy of publication. Artists must do the same through research, sketches, studies, and failed attempts of full-size models. The amount of time, consumed by mental and physical exertion, is usually reflected in the price of the art, along with payment for name recognition, but what I'm focusing on is the work related to the art being viewed, not past achievements. Perhaps viewers would get a better understanding of the value of art if elements  of the practice were included in the exhibit. This may destroy the illusion that art comes from divine inspiration, thus making the artist as mortal as everyone else, but to be blunt, they are. If you shoot an artist in the head, it will die. The major differences between artists and patrons lies in the artist's ability to look at ordinary things with an attentive eye, rather than gloss over the daily obstacles, interpreted as annoyances by the masses.  Here are a few examples of watercolor studies made to better understand the zombie interpretation of St. Sebastian. Enjoy the vision.