Victoria Risbon
2/25
Crusade For Your Art; Best Practices For Fine Art Photographers
Introduction:
I agree with the concept about people with phone cameras and such calling themselves artists and foregoing a more traditional aspect, sometimes I do feel like it takes away from us as proclaimed artists, but needless to say it is going to continue to be a part of the community. I think its important to emphasize the "Make your mark on the world" and truly go out there and make something of yourself despite the odds against you.
Chapter 1: Making The Work
Straight off from the start I really recognize some of the things I have been told over the years that are really starting to actually be applied more in my life, for example just going out and shooting even if you end up with nothing usable, the sheer act of going out and taking photos is still benefiting you as a photographer. As Greta has stated before, you can't make the work or take it seriously like that if you are not going out there and actually taking images. Breaking down the process into those three simplified steps; experimentation, working with the objects next, and then taking the experience if the first two and applying them to reach your final idea; and me actually reading it all out in the book really makes me see these steps clearer and relate to that process. I think back to my experiments, my first shoots for projects, all the changed that went about, switching ideas and everything else that let to final projects, wether I liked the project final or not, it still ended up leading me somewhere else. The way the speak of your art practice being pushed down due to everyday responsibilities and work was also very relatable, and doing something like a residency or internship or whatever it may be and incorporating that into my life when my schooling is over to keep onto the same environment might actually help. If I want it I have to go out there and do stuff like that and strive for that.
Chapter 2: Set The Stage
"You have made the work - what an amazing accomplishment!" is the first sentence in this chapter and I really enjoy that it starts off with something like this because sometimes it really feels like a breath of relief actually being able to go out there, work, and create something at the end. It is an accomplishment to end up with something solid whether you like it or not, the time and effort and creative values that went into it are an accomplishment. The book then goes into more of the technical process of editing and criticizing your work and reflecting on each photo and the experience or what you felt as you took the photographs. I think back to my senior show, we really asked the big question "When is it done, when is the pice finished?" and I really think about that every time I sit there and try and decide what to use, do I take more? Do I leave out this image or another? How dark is too dark, too light? This is a question that can make or break your piece sometimes, but all together it is something that each artist no matter the medium have to learn to deal with and utilize in order to keep creating their own works. Moving into the artist statement section, I think it was beneficial for me to keep going over working statements and ones that work less and really seeing them critique and see really what the difference it between ones written by individuals that I am not familiar with or did not see what the project was about along the way, it gives me more or a clear vision for the "why" aspect because of the lack of explanation from the person themselves during the process.
Going in for the branding, sizing, pricing and everything else in that section is something I am familiar with, but I also tend to kind of avoid as it has made me nervous before and I am just unsure of my worth. I get paid for things now, but it is never consistent and more of a situational basis, I am hoping once I set up my website and make myself appear more "professional" and have more of my work available to see I can pin point a worth for my work and build myself up more. The listing and things in the book do make sense and I am begging to get an understanding on ranges should be. I think this is one of more important tasks to deal with because it is a multiparty transaction and you want to be careful and have the agreements so that nothing is over or undervalued. For the final section dealing with fine are vs commercial art I think really ties into my concept of my career for a more commercial work against my freelance more fine art/creative style work. I personally want to keep a boundary between my stuff in my future to keep more of a "work out of my free time" kind of vibe, I think the separation is important for balance especially when you're working in the art field and it can slowly become and take over your entire life.
Chapter 3: Identifying Goals And A Plan For Your Work
"Choose your own adventure."
I think this is one of the most important things to have a gameplay for as well, because as it states in the book everyone's definition of success is different and it is even highlighting in a sense how unique everyone is and how individualized this field or work really is. I enjoyed reading through this section as it helped me begin thinking more about my game plan and where I want to go, I don't have any type of timeline yet in regaurds to what I am doing, but I do know I want my work in a museum one day as well as I want to make a career out of my product/food photography. Selling my work in a museum is impartial to me, I just want to satisfaction of my work being viewed by people and them feeling from it. This also falls into the line of separating the type of work I am doing from my career goals vs my fine art goals. Having assess to this book and the way they describe the processes and procedures I think will always be beneficial to look back on when I am actively applying for this and trying to get all my work out there. I think I am also enjoying how this kind of feels like a how to and really feels like a guide for when I want to do these things.
Chapter 4: From Goals To Action
Throughout reading this section I actively thinking about present time, all the things they go over as far as the reviews and proposing as well as getting actively situated. All of these things were stuff I have recently covered in regards to doing the first show from senior show and proposing my project, I know that it is talking about things outside of education, but I still feel like the connection I made with the event now in classes and the show are really beneficial; for me to get base lines when I get there for more work int he future and after I graduate. This book will also aid in my getting all my things together for the big final show at the end as well, feel like I can use this as an actual guide for things instead of just gaining influence for what is in there. The breakdown for the specific topics was helpful in analyzing the content and not blending it all together, making it an easier read for me.
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