Pine Street Talk on Fine Arts – Part 2

Next on the agenda to speak was Jane Gillings, an art teacher with a very dry and self deprecating humour. A mother of a 15 year old girl she stands with a slight hunch, as though she is embarrassed to be talking in-front of us and I wonder if her high school students stampede over her gentle nature. She is what my high school art teacher would have called a found artist, somewhat of a DuChamp you might say, finding everyday items and turning them into art.

 

Her 11 (she doesn’t know why there were 11) tips to being an artist:

 

1. Why?

   Analyse what it is that you want to achieve from art, and why you feel the need to do it? Perhaps you won’t know for many years but it’s important to start asking yourself the question, and it’s definitely the wrong profession to get into if you are looking for fame and riches!

   “The time of getting fame for your name on its own is over. Artwork that is only about wanting to be famous will never make you famous. Any fame is a by-product of making something that means something. You don’t go to a restaurant and order a meal because you want to have a shit.” Banksy

   Quote

2. Enjoy

   Speaks for itself really.

3. Support and Share
   Network when and wherever you can. Give your artworks as presents. Exhibit with other artists. Cling on to the contacts you already have for dear life.

4. Experiment and Explore
   Don’t stick to the styles and mediums that you know you are good at. It’s a good idea to take up basic photography as it is a fast way to practice composition.

5. Exhibit
   Try and exhibit your works as much as you can, and Jane points out it helps if you have a cool name but is realistic that it’s too late for most of us.

6. GET OUT!
   Go to exhibitions, analyse other people’s works, try to know about the new artists.

7. Present Well
   When applying for grants, job, exhibition spaces etc follow their rules and guidelines to the detail, write neatly and be prepared.

8. Finish Stuff

9. Record Stuff
   Keep records of your works. Is a good idea to photograph paintings, sculptures, performances etc that you do so you have a visual record of that work that you can show people or remind yourself.

10. Write Stuff
    Keep a blog, and refer people to it.

11. Relax

 

She also recommended a book called ‘Art and Fear‘ by David Bayles and Ted Orland.

Picture/s:
Vincent by Jane Gillings (http://thisbowermyprison.blogspot.com/2007/02/this-bower-my-prison.html)