Here’s a question for you to think about: What exactly is ART? OK, maybe you shouldn’t think about it but just answer as off-the-fly as you can by what shapes your opinion of art. Many moons ago, I could tell you what I considered art and that was shaped looking at something pretty and well-put-together. You know, something that didn’t make you guess what was on the canvas or paper. To me, the REAL artists were M.C. Escher, Norman Rockwell and Bob Ross. Cats who were literal (well, for the most part. Escher was out there but at least I could appreciate his detail and style). Easy to figure out, right? These days, I still dig Rockwell, Escher and Ross but I also groove to Alex Ross (the other really incredible Ross-with-a-brush), Rowland Salley (bassist for Chris Isaak’s band, Silvertone) and Richard T. Slone, as well as artists you might not have heard of (but should!) like my great friends Chris Guzman and Milena Matic. All solid painters. All sharp work ethics. All sharp work. ALL artists who inspire me to dig out my gear and give them all a run for their money.
And that’s friendly competition. I’d never think of trying to unseat or steal business from Chris and Milena. In fact, I enjoy promoting them as much as possible. More on that in my next entry…
If you look at the work from any of my favorites, you’ll notice gorgeous colors and defined subjects. Stuff that just pops from artists that don’t make you work for what goes into your melon. They don’t ask you, “What do you think this is?” because they’ve already told you. No pretentious bullsh*t; just the facts, ma’am.
For the longest time, I thought artists who made observers interpret the art were simply being lazy or took too many of the little breaks rock stars would. You know when you go to a Bon Jovi show and Jon’s singing “You Give Love a Bad Name” and, right before the chorus, he aims the mike at the crowd and yells, “SING IT!”? That’s what I’m talking about. Don’t get me wrong, most of my favorite musical artists have done the same thing but why I should do all the hard work when I’m paying you $75 to do it? It ain’t just the high cost of tickets that are tanking concert events these days, kids. It’s the extra f**kin’ work we have to do once we get there. And if the singer is extra sh**ty live- like Axl Rose- even worse.
