Art is a craft just like any other, and we as humans forgot that somewhere along the way, namely the last century.
Just like an engineer, a scientist, a politician, a doctor, a teacher. All of these things are titles given to those who have the skill to do that level of proficiency. Anyone could call themselves a teacher, or doctor, or politician in their own right, but that does not make them socially acceptable to be called that. The same goes for art. You can call your work art, for self glorification, however you should not be called an artist in the social world if you lack the craft and proficiency to represent your skill that MOST or ALL can see.
Cavemen did not create those terrible images on the wall to “express” themselves. They did it to record their history with the limited knowledge of how to draw that art, that they held at the time. Their language was primitive, such that they could not right words on the wall.
Think about it. What level of engineering did those cavemen have? They could create basic wheels, and levers, not much else. Anyone who can only do something so limited today, would never be called an engineer in society if that was all they could accomplish after years and years of hardship. Doctors have to acquire a license after years of practice and understanding.
As art progressed, it came to develop as a tool to symbolize power and wealth. Modern art might have originally been percieved as new and original(which it was)when it first began with members such as Kandinsky, Picasso, et al., but it is far from original today. Members of high society would buy such things because it enhanced their political and social merit, hence the reason for the cost.
Let us not forget, that the original founders of such “fine art”, also had the ability to create realistically lifelike images. And when I say realistic, I do not mean random paintings from who/what you see in life, but work that could match famed artists such as Courbet, Durer, Da Vinci, Raphael, and more.
However, modern art has been going overboard today. The reason it sells for so much is still political and social power, no more no less. Many of these said modern artists, lack a great deal of ethical and business incentives, they are merely acquiring such fame and riches because those in power, want to show they have it, buy buying these images for extreme costs.
This is why such art, unless that person can prove they can create imagery that surpasses that of many cg artists, is bad, and should be worth no more than 2 figures. I say it is bad, because if I were to hire mechanic to fix a car, and it broke down minutes after leaving the shop, that person would be a bad mechanic. Art, like everything else, was always meant to be a craft, just one open to more possibilities.
Any and all crafts require scales of good and bad. Number them, name them, color code them or whatever else you desire. However, calling art that is shoddy good, merely because someone wants to “express” themselves or has been doing it for a long time, is absolutely mindboggling. The newer definition of art is a perversion of its entire foundation, and simply something I am tired of listening to.
So please, create pictures and images for yourself, with or without skill. At home, call them art, and say they are good for whatever reason, but please do not attempt to bring said art into the business world preaching the same claims.
