My bloggy mate Em Hawker Blogs inspired this post, when she shared this image on Facebook, with the caption:
This totally counts as modern art, right? Meerkat in Shell. By A. Hawker. #modernart #nailedit
I must confess: I don’t get art. Or more specifically, what the difference is between art and craft.
When Miss 19 was doing Art in Year 12, she was inspired to create artists books for her major project.
But when she brought in her research and her first attempts, the teacher quickly shot her down in flames.
“You need to make it more arty, and not so crafty,” she said.
Say what?!
Sadly, Miss 19 lost her enthusiasm after that. She painted a canvas using mixed media instead as that was clearly what the teacher wanted, and Miss 19 wanted to pass the subject. But it wasn’t her expressing herself at all – and isn’t that what art is all about?!
It seems that the uglier something is, the more the arty people get excited over it.
If it’s actually something recognisable, something that’s aesthetically pleasing – well, that’s craft, don’t you know?! (Raise eyebrows and look down nose snootily … ).
I also find the interpretations of art works pretty silly, when the critics discuss what the artist was trying to say. Puh-leeze. I’m sure they read far more into it than what was actually intended.
Take this piece for example.
An arty type might describe it thus:
“Here we have a clear example of a soul in pain. The circles represent the futility of life, the dark against the white is a stark reminder of how alone in the universe he feels. We can see the depth of his pain by the intensity of the ink. A marvellous thought-provoking piece!”
And in reality? The artist accidentally spilled his coffee on a blank sheet and had fun playing with it. LOL.
So back to my original question: what IS the difference between art and craft? In my opinion:
- If it’s butt ugly and useless, it’s art.
- If it’s recognisable, and pleasing to the eye, it’s craft.
What do you think is the difference between art and craft?!
Emily says
If it involves meerkats and shells, it’s clearly art. #soarty #expertise
Janet Camilleri says
Thank you so much for inspiring me to write this post. I loved your tongue-in-cheek Facebook post about modern art!
Deborah says
I’m the same Janet and have NO idea! I’ve been looking for some artwork for my new house but can’t really afford much.
I look at these paintings or even just prints that I’d have to frame and they’re like thousands of dollars and some just involve some blogs of paint. I can look at them and think they’re pretty but KNOW I put some blobs of paint on the page they wouldn’t look like that!
Theresa says
I had to go and read those other posts! I dont put too much into the difference of the definition. Somewhere between the divides there is just pure expression. As for what art or craft means only the viewer can tell. I would find the black ink circle interesting because i can see variance in pigment as it dried and i can see brush strokes, and those things matter enough to me to be interesting. Would I gush about it? No. Would I look at it for a while while it was hanging in a gallery?Probably. Artists Books sound like art journals to me. I love them. I’m waiting for some glue to dry on some pages of a magazine I’m turning into a note book, to take notes on for creating a workshop about it. lol. I’m reading your posts while I wait. ?
Pinky Poinker says
My daughter did a lovely painting in Grade 11 and I had it framed. It’s my favourite piece of art in the house although the girl in the framing shop was very disparaging of it. I can’t craft or ‘art’ so I just admire it all.
Beth | AlmostPosh.com says
I don’t art or craft but I admire those who can and do. I don’t consider an unmade bed or a cow’s head to be art but, hey freedom of expression, am I right?!