The True Lies About Art

As an artist, you often feel a great sense of achievement in every step because you live by creating something every day. Often there are instances where an artist might put in hours of his work but create nothing out of it. It is true what they say, it is important to connect with your art. And art is not just about feeling and observing things, rather it is more about discipline, precision and hard work. It is a myth when they say you need a vision and creative instincts to be a true artist. I mean this might be partly true. I was terrible with my craft. When I drew a human figure it looked more like a Yeti. It was a mere coincidence when I started to draw. Art was like a whole new venture to me where I had the power to create something and validate its existence.

( Starry Night's painting by Vincent Van Gogh )

The only time when an artist truly hates what he does is none other than an artist's block ( when the creative inspiration is sorely lacking), this can go on for days and possibly the worst nightmare a creative person could have. This doesn't just apply to those who paint or draw everyone in the art world. It could possibly be a sculpturor, a graphic designer, a fashion stylist, a poet. You must've noticed how a writer's character depicted is in a movie, mostly he seems frustrated probably missing the target while throwing his notes in the dustbin. well, that pretty much an artist in the making, who is trying to make peace with his process. The pressure here is equivalent to that of a 9 to 5 job. It's the same amount of hard work but is more inclined towards creativity.

Even though most of the artists believe in the idea of " I don't do it for the money". Believe me, even though they don't need any recognition, their art does. In a sea full of creative people you have to create your space. Here I am specifically emphasizing on paintings and sculptures. I once asked my friend if Auction houses were a great place to work for art enthusiasts and without uttering a word he sends me a link to a video called Adam Ruins Everything.

And as a matter of fact, Adam did ruin everything. He revealed some unexpected facts about the art world. And the Fine arts market was indeed a scam. It's just like how a T.V show is scripted but we still call it a reality show the only difference here is that we are unaware. Adam tells us how the auction works, where it isn't the true art or talent that gets acknowledged but a group of art galleries or art collectors who decide which painting is to be auctioned while selling it for an extravagant amount of money and mostly it is the elite class who could afford it. As the secrets slowly unfold Adam furthers explains to us that it is just another kind of business for the rich people.

This painting was sold for 2.3 Million $

There are just a few chosen artists whose paintings and arts are exhibited in the museums or sold in the auction houses. Well, this totally justifies why modern art sucks. Even though other artists are better they don't stand a chance in front of the chosen ones. In that episode, it was shown how people praised a piece of art in front of them while it was just a dead crab in a tank.Correction, it's not the art but the system that has been sabotaged.

The art collectors often buy a painting, create a hype about it and sell it at double the price. They determine the price based on how wealthy a person is, the wealthier the person the higher goes the price of the painting. This is because if they just sold it to elites their art would be a better brand.

For example: Once Danielle Radcliffe wished to buy a painting but was denied and told that the dealer was waiting for a more prestigious collector.

Even art auctions follow the same belief but only done in different ways. Just how mobs are paid to fulfil someone's political agendas, it's quite similar to that. People here don't actually buy the paintings instead act as if they are bidding. And if that doesn't work they'll randomly point out towards the audience and act as if they saw a bid. This is called Chandelier bidding. This speeds up the auction process. Some art collectors who are affiliated to the artists whose art is being auctioned would deliberately get involved with the audience while bidding and say few good words about the artist or the painting so as to make a sale. The branding and the cost is what differentiates a street-side painting and a painting sold in an art gallery, except that they both are equally good.

( Street Art )

And guess what this is not it, the art collectors use all these paintings as a means to dodge their taxes as well.

Sadly you see the art world no longer requires passion but now it needs money as well! And I am sure this won't be the case everywhere. But along with hard work and creativity, it's important to put your work out there for the people to know about it. Today Social media has proved to be a reliable platform for upcoming and amateur artists to market their work and to possibly create a decent income out of it. It gives you credibility for your own work and does not get messed up in the rigged system.

And in the end, we all know that Art contains great power of self-expression.
As this quote rightly states," I think the power of art is to wake us up, strike us to depths and change us"

- Jhumpa Lahiri, Author