Could this be art? Not in my view but interested in yours. Spaceman and spacecraft from free stock image sites and cut out of backgrounds everything else photographed by Billy or...

Billyspad Loc: The Philippines

Not in my view but interested in yours.

Spaceman and spacecraft from free stock image sites and cut out of backgrounds everything else photographed by Billy or manufactured manipulated or painted in his lair.

(Download)

pfrancke Loc: cold Maine

Looks like you had fun.

certainly there are many thing that can be improved in this particular example (composition, grounding the man, getting the lighting right, etc).. But what is Matte painting after all?? Taking photographic resources and blending them together in a realistic fashion to create something that could not otherwise exist. Of course it can be considered art!!

Edit -- http://www.uglyhedgehog.com/t-338666-1.html
another not so good example (see the second one where planet it being destroyed by meteor). There is great potential in such images, but they have to be skillfully done (which is why mine and yours suck). Competence and excellence have to be factors in art.

pfrancke Loc: cold Maine

also I want to throw out some additional thoughts.

Photography obviously isn't the only field that moved to a digital format. Many painters now do such mostly in the digital world, so I would expect a lot of cross-pollination.

Some contrast Art and Science, but most art (like photography) is the following of rules and methods. The artist is a cabinet maker vs a carpenter. An artist is an artist instead of a painter. A photographer is a photographer instead of snap-shooter. The "Art" - Soul part comes in with excellence and with the eye of the beholder (call it the cool factor if you will).

Consensus has typically been a factor in determining what is art and what is not. And often work becomes art after the artist has passed on...

Edit -- and I really don't think that it makes sense to debate what IS and what IS NOT art... Art is like pornography! I know it when I see it.

rook2c4 Loc: Philadelphia, PA USA

If your intent was to create art, then it is art. Period. At least that's the general consensus among art historians. A lack of appeal from viewers cannot disqualify it from being art.

pfrancke Loc: cold Maine

rook2c4 wrote:

If your intent was to create art, then it is art. Period. At least that's the general consensus among art historians. A lack of appeal from viewers cannot disqualify it from being art.

:thumbup:

very good point.. I note that you also used the "create" word. I am thinking that most artistic endeavors find that word a key component. An idiot dragging a stick in the sand is making art (if there is intention on his part). Perhaps not a wall-hanger, but there you go.

Some might even argue that this is one thing that separates man from animal - but perhaps not idiot from genius. (so Billy and I could BOTH be artists :-D)

ebrunner Loc: New Jersey Shore

Billyspad wrote:

Not in my view but interested in yours.

Spaceman and spacecraft from free stock image sites and cut out of backgrounds everything else photographed by Billy or manufactured manipulated or painted in his lair.

This is very creative and required an active imagination. Art? Art? You bet!

Billyspad Loc: The Philippines

rook2c4 wrote:

If your intent was to create art, then it is art. Period. At least that's the general consensus among art historians. A lack of appeal from viewers cannot disqualify it from being art.

Its never my intention to create art. I make pictures simple as that.
No artistic intent purely to amuse myself with not a care about what others think of it.
Im a hack with a Nikon fella incapable of producing art.

Thank you for dropping by rook and I hope all is well with you.

Billyspad Loc: The Philippines

pfrancke wrote:

:thumbup:

very good point.. I note that you also used the "create" word. I am thinking that most artistic endeavors find that word a key component. An idiot dragging a stick in the sand is making art (if there is intention on his part). Perhaps not a wall-hanger, but there you go.

Some might even argue that this is one thing that separates man from animal - but perhaps not idiot from genius. (so Billy and I could BOTH be artists :-D)

An idiot dragging a stick in the sand is exactly that. Giving him the title of artist does not alter the facts. To those who would see art in what our idiot produces do not accept my dinner invite. I would be forced to smash you and your strange ideas to pulp during the after dinner chat over Port and cigars. I would think its a hoot but the recipient of my acid tongue would remain mentally scarred for life and need regular therapy.

I do appreciate your calling by and commenting at length but not sure where you live so you may have misinterpreted the scene depicted.
It imaginary fella, its a Billy world! Here in the South Seas towers do not float by on clouds sputniks do not skim the ocean and planets tend to be higher in the sky! My worlds are not actually intended to make you think its reality. I do apologize if you thought this was a beach scene north of Manila maybe?
No seriously my man I have no problem with the copy and paste look its supposed to be there. Influenced by Marvel comics about 50 years back.
Garish colors strange things going on are all part of the gig.
Its like Dan Dare meets Salvador Dali. Was gonna drape a clock over the rocks but it seemed too obvious. Ya know what I mean?
Its my world Sir, you are welcome to join me. Pull up a chair open a Pepsi, I do not drink, Ill build us a super skunk spliff and you will see that the tee's do not always need crossing and the dots do not always reach the end of the page and the sky can be green if you so choose and your neighbors float rather than walk.
Its fun and you will enjoy. Mrs Billy is a great cook and will provide pies for when the stoned munchies arrive.

pfrancke Loc: cold Maine

Billyspad wrote:

An idiot dragging a stick in the sand is exactly t... (show quote)

LOL, if I am ever on the other side of the world, I will be sure to come over. And I would even bring a stick with me - to protect myself.

Pretension is never nice and while any thing can be called art, there is such a thing as "good" art. I am reminded of great artists that shamelessly throw a can of paint against a wall and then sell the results - such is fame I guess.

It is like music. Perhaps we can intend for certain sounds to be like music, but when I make such sounds, the women in church turn around and look at me and then I get red in the face.

BTW, the book covers of the fifties are pretty cool too. But comics are awesome!

RichieC Loc: Adirondacks

Yeah it is art. Is it photography? well not really on the one hand and yes on the other. You didn't take them all, so it is a collage really, which is a legitimate form. But what are you trying to say if a doodle then ok, its nothing more than that.. you could kick it up a notch and illustrate something.

Uuglypher Loc: South Dakota (East River)

Billyspad wrote:

Not in my view but interested in yours.

Spaceman and spacecraft from free stock image sites and cut out of backgrounds everything else photographed by Billy or manufactured manipulated or painted in his lair.

If your intent was, as I gather from your later post, neither to purposefully create art nor to purposefully satisfy your personal esthetic, then it's not art.

Dave

jenny Loc: in hiding:)

Uuglypher wrote:

If your intent was, as I gather from your later post, neither to purposefully create art nor to purposefully satisfy your personal esthetic, then it's not art.

Dave

* * * * *
Yikes! Is he trying to konfooz us all? If his intent was neither/nor, then what was his motivation for spending the time to do this? If it was worth the time, then does it have value? If not worth the time then....hmmm...???

:)

lighthouse Loc: No Fixed Abode

rook2c4 wrote:

If your intent was to create art, then it is art. Period. At least that's the general consensus among art historians. A lack of appeal from viewers cannot disqualify it from being art.

Intent does not define art, intent does not define anything.
Execution and results is what defines it.

I had 4 dowel rods, twenty-four 1/2" S/S washers, a bucket of gravel (including the bucket), and a roll of sticky tape.
My intent was to create a space shuttle.
How do you reckon that went?

Billyspad Loc: The Philippines

lighthouse my man you have a unique way of cutting through the garbage and telling the truth.
I could not agree with you more.
Now we just have to convince the deluded that what they are producing is often just a snap and a million miles away from art.
Welcome aboard the reality train my man!

Uuglypher Loc: South Dakota (East River)

lighthouse wrote:

Intent does not define art, intent does not define anything.
Execution and results is what defines it.

You stated an opinion. Then expostulated the above.
Please support these"definitive" statements with substantiation, not more opinion.