Blair Shaw Jr Loc: Dunnellon,Florida

PERSPECTIVE.........is Everything ! HA HA and this place has lots of it !

srt101fan

Craftsmanship can be learned; artistic ability not so much...

RickL Loc: Vail, Az

I am blessed to have won many international awards with my photography, I am a craftsman who has spent years learning to be more artistic. My wife, on the other hand is naturally an artist who is learning camera techniques and craftsmanship. She spends hours processing her results. Her photography is incredible. Our 18 year old Chinese daughter is both a natural artist and craftsman. When we go out on photo shoots as a family, she takes less shots and comes up with incredible photos. We all enjoy our craft, each of us with a different approach and result


Rick

dsmeltz Loc: Philadelphia

There is no evidence to support this often stated trope while there is plenty of history showing artists (Mozart is the most obvious example) rising from a base of lots of training to suggest the opposite.

Quinn 4

To me a craftsman and artist is a person who can put food on the table for themselves and family. If one can't do that, one is not craftsman or artist.

boberic Loc: Quiet Corner, Connecticut. Ex long Islander

So Is the Mona Lisa. Craftsmanship is a learned skill. Art is a judgment by the viewer, as there is no precise judgement of "what is art" There was a time when all photography was shunned as not an art form, and not permmited in Museums of art. Below is a picture of an icy lamp. If it was an oil on canvas some might call it art, but it's "only" a photograph so it isn't?

(Download)

srt101fan

Not sure why you mention Mozart as support for your view. Mozart was a child prodigy who composed his first piece of music at age five. He did have early musical training, but that is poor evidence to support the notion that artistry can be learned. Do you really think you can find many five year olds you can educate and develop into a Mozart? He was born an artist, he was “gifted”…..

I believe that most real artists are born with an artistic bent. Training and hard work may sharpen their artistic vision, but mostly it develops and hones their craftsmanship.

DebAnn Loc: Toronto

The argument about whether craft is different from artistry is mostly discussed by art snobs. It really is rediculous.

Toment Loc: FL, IL

Craft is process. Art is the result.

srt101fan

Can you please explain why it is ridiculous? And what is an "art snob"?

dsmeltz Loc: Philadelphia

Clearly you know almost nothing about Mozart or his upbringing. He was born to a music teacher and minor composer who sat his child in front of a keyboard and trained him for years prior to his receiving this "prodigy" status. Mozart had his 10,000 hours in well before success just like nearly every other successful artist.

srt101fan

Your descent into the arena of personal criticism ends any possibility of intelligent discourse with you.....

DESIGNBOB

Craft and art are synergistic and when fully realized create the ultimate creator. But are distinct, separate realms. We have to explore the medium. Self-executed art; painting, photography, graphics, printmaking, pottery, etc. All can be mechanically produced by one hand. Best results are when that hand has a brilliant creative mind and sense attached to it, with the sense enough to learn, the sometimes arduous business of craft development. Materials, technique, chemistry, all the elements of the physical world applied meticulously to the end pursuit of expression.

When that artistic vision is of monumental scale that artist will need the support of those who are
skilled craftsmen in the realm. Take monumental sculpture, Statue of Liberty - Frederic Bartholdi, monumental architectural art - Frank Lloyd Wright, furniture making, Marcel Breuer. All artistic geniuses, not having the craftsmanship to actualize their majestic creativity themselves.

So, it's relative and complex I believe. For me, pursuing my creative artistic expression took 40 years of training, exploration in those pursuits. As a creative director for over 40 years in the ad business, first I applied myself and self-taught in photography, calligraphy, painting, sewing, drawing and printmaking. Later, I studied as a graduate of Cooper Union, worked in a photography studio 2 years to learn skill and craft, and honed my eye, hand, and writing in the ad business.

I think I can say on some levels I am an artist and craftsman in some disciplines after all these years.
That's my view. And I have many friends who are craftspeople, but not necessarily powerful creative artistic visionaries, and they are the first to concede to that truth.

Paul J. Svetlik Loc: Colorado

I wonder why some of us still feel confused?

Craftmanship is a technical (mechanical) skill - while art is a communication (with others) through the feelings.
You don't have to know much (if any) of the craftmaship and still could be be a successful artist.

Example: Somebody can inteligently talk for hours and nobody understands what the person is trying to say.
Then somebody delivers the message in one, clearly articulated sentence or a verse.

Quinn 4

boberic: Why is your picture is not art? To me it is art, I look at that picture I can see the work you put into to get that picture. Good picture.