Vas Paris Art, Sketches, Painting and reflections on daily life of some day painter

Murray Frum, a prominent Canadian collector

2011-12-14T18:22:00.001-08:00

Frum sums up his collecting and through it, I think, his life. “Invention separates art from craft,” he writes. “A new juxtaposition, a modulation of form, a creation using associations of contradictory materials—these are things that excite and fascinate me. I am not gifted as a creator, so collecting is the closest I can come to making works of art.”

Art by women and other absurd by women

2011-09-07T18:45:00.001-07:00

A few days ago I had a conversation with the woman acquaintance of mine. Enthusiastically she reported that she attended a conference on women business networking. That really touched a string in me. Why is that women business networking is good but men networking is bad? Why is that gay, black minority business networking is good? But that was not all. She reported that one the speaker propagandists overjoyed to the fact that when her mother from Ireland came to the USA she could get a job only as a child attendant, housekeeper, secretary or a waiter. And now it was different… Was it really?- I replied. If you stop the motivational rush and look at the reality… the same places still employ unskilled immigrants. Then she shared with me a call from the same propagandist inviting women to help and to hire more women. That was an exercise of the freedom of speech but surely an absurd one. Should it be just as absurd to hire a female just because of the gender as not to hire the same for the same reason? Should both of them be illegal?

And now coming to “art by women”… Buying art just because the artist is woman is the same absurd as buying the art because the artist is gay, male, disabled, etc. I understand political correctness as self-censorship strategy to avoid hurt feeling of others. Sure you are free to spend money the way you fit.

Virtual reality is becomming dengerous

2011-06-19T06:29:00.000-07:00

It is interesting to know that humanity was always interested in virtual world: legends, myths, tails and paintings. Art had its own way of serving this demand by portraying gods, angels in the past. In early 20th century art discovered an abstract world, as well as surrealism to free human imagination and expression of human experience. Since then the virtual world grew and gained new ground in computer virtual reality. That is where from an extension it became a limitation.

The fundamental difference is that games and social games are highjacking human experiences instead of expanding. Games became addictive and mechanical. They became playgrounds for a few and limits for many. Yes I am against computer games that offer fighting and concurring particularly in virtual reality. By breaking a link with reality and replacing it with virtual reality we limit humanity within us. When action game becomes addictive it becomes a drug equal to any mind altering substance. The virtual reality (as it is used in art, literature, music) allows us to become creators, while games and social games turn us into addicts, zombies and consumers.

Now virtual games became dangerous. Virtual flirt is one of them. As recent “scandal” with democratic congressman (I do not write the name as it is not important for this article) sending a photo of himself to someone he never knew before over the social network communication. Virtual flirt can destroy a career as well as a physical affair in the USA. Europeans may look at such behavior with a sense of humor. But puritan at heart Americans view such conduct as a moral decay. In fact online flirt is more dangerous than in person.

One can wonder why computer games are not tested for addictive properties? Well because the entire idea of such game is no longer in the “winning the game” but in keeping a player engaged for as long as possible. Social aspect of such game is also changed. The idea is no longer in socializing but rather in peer pressure of engaging in the game. Parents are worried that a child does not pay a particular game he will loose friends. And they are missing the point that such games do not promote friendship. One can not loose something that one does not have.

New paintings for the restaurant.

2011-05-18T07:50:00.000-07:00

The new Okinawa space was decorated with three of my paintings.

Good thing to say

2011-05-18T05:48:00.001-07:00

"Good contemporary art confronts the problems, the issues of today," Kaldor says. "And really good ones point towards the future, give some clues and give some direction. That's why, for me, contemporary art is the most relevant. But art is never in isolation. Even great masters like Titian or Tintoretto or whoever you want to name built on previous ones. So it is a continuum. So I hate defining art by periods."
-Kaldor

40+ year old girl playing an interior designer game

2011-04-24T06:44:00.000-07:00

I was having a conversation with a director of the art gallery. She seems to be a bit frustrated with the last visitor which I met face to face at the door. The director was a bit frustrated that often the visitors are looking for art to match their sofas. In my old country people were buying carpets to cover the walls. In United States people are buying large “abstract art” for the same reason. Canvases are large, meaningless, and often colorless to match drapery and furniture from “restoration hardware”.

That is what you sell when your clients are the well-to-do women that are acting out their childhood fantasy of being an interior designer.

There is a big difference between fine art and interior design. Just like there is a difference between fine jewelry and daily ware jewelry, fine dining and “eating out”. Fine things exist for themselves. They are true luxury.

Can you convert a 40+ year old girl playing an interior designer game into a collector of the art? I think not. Her fantasy is not in being an art collector, human anthropologist or a historically significant figure that is destined to write a legacy. Her fantasy is a glamorous interior designer that she wanted to be or she dreamed to be one day. She is decorating her nest. She does not care about sophisticated technique of the artist etc. She is matching colors. She wants it to be big.

Man eating nurse

2011-04-04T10:32:00.001-07:00

“Customers buy with ears” and “Devil is in details” came to me in a new light recently. I read a title “Man-eating nurse” but I read it as “Man eating nurse”. Big difference! I find the same level of detail in some painting. If meaning can be misread – it will be. Only in a language of symbols it is even more likely. As a human society we can’t agree on the meaning of the words which changes depending on the context. The same symbol that makes someone happy will make someone mad. What can you do? Talk and talk a lot. Do no say my art says it all. It says different things to different people.

One can stop clock but one can’t stop the time

2011-02-28T06:30:00.001-08:00

This phrase came to my mind yesterday. It seems that is what America is about today. Yesterday in the Delta airplane from Bozeman to Atlanta the hostess announced: “Ladies and gentlemen, please do not ask for the full can. We do not have enough drinks”. Is it a small thing? It is not if you think of it as a paragon of the service industries in the USA. Who we blame? We blame the high salaries and the Labor Unions.

The automotive industries in the USA were near death two years ago. Who we blame? We blame the high salaries and the Labor Unions. What about the quality of the cars and management? Are they perfect?

The state of Wisconsin is going broke. Who do people in charge blame? They blame the high salaries and the Labor Unions.

And nobody wants to admit that Labor Unions run BMW and Mercedes. And those are the companies that did not ask for government bailout and remained profitable.

I could go on but it is not worth it. Conservative Americans seem to live in the past today. They seem to stop the clock so their views and beliefs are the thing of the glorious past. But the time goes on. And it seems that instead of leading they are playing a catch up game while trying to convince everyone that they are offering something new.

Samba da Praia - Samba of the sand beach by Vas Paris

2011-01-30T06:38:00.000-08:00

I made a few drawing recently. I have a lot of creative flow these days and I can't keep up with it by painting. So I decided to record it in a different way - the faster one. This is may memory/fantacy/dream of the Rio de Janeiro.

On collecting the art

2011-01-30T06:17:00.001-08:00

Collecting art requires intellectual independence. And there is not a better way to express it. It is unlike decorating the house, which is an expression of “good taste”, which a result of following commonly accepted conventions. Decorators buy art in the furniture store where it is reduced to a commodity. When people ask me where to start I say start from reading some websites such as artdaily.com or artmarketmonitor.com Sure you may not have thousands of dollars to spend. But those sites are free and they will give you an idea of how art market participants think.

Happy new 2011 Art Lovers!

2010-12-30T11:50:00.001-08:00

Happy new 2011 Art Lovers!

Just a thought

2010-12-07T13:51:00.001-08:00

Artists often like to tell stories of the poor to the rich

Pink Floyd the wall concert in Atlanta

2010-11-19T08:18:00.000-08:00

Yesterday I attended the concert of Pink Floyd in Atlanta. The show was well organized and sold out. It left sad impression was sad but not because of the performance. The performance was outstanding.

The entire hall was full of people chanting “break the wall”. Many of them kept on going to get another glass of beer. What was sad? 30 years passed and Americans did not change and did not learn anything. The same people that were chanting anti-war slogans at this concert and singing alone, voted republican (this is Atlanta) had overwhelmingly voted for GW Bush… twice. In other words they voted for that war. Absurd! Or they are so detached from those slogans that they become simply abstract forms of speech?

Many of the audience were of geriatric age; some of them were in 30s and 40s. Some were along their teen children that they wanted to share the experience with. Older women and men dressed as they were 25 and they looked comical. Sure we all want to be young again, democrats again, right again but is it too late? So I can’t decide if those people were hypocritical or rational? Overall it reminded me of Dragoncon parade.

Decorative art and the Artist by Vas Paris

2010-10-28T06:30:00.001-07:00

The buyers of decorative art in the USA are women. What do men buy for the decoration? Mostly they buy sports paraphernalia for their basements. For the artist it means that one must cater to women if one sells in the decorative market.

Women are conservative in their taste and they buy “antique” or “antique” look alike. They clutter their habitats with “cozy” stuff. That means the artist will never have artistic freedom while catering to this segment of the market. One can create a line of derivative images but one will never be able to sell socially challenging images. Social challenge is against female consumer psycology if it is not part of women rights movement.

Artist Charitable donations by Vas Paris

2010-09-30T08:42:00.000-07:00

What is that charities always invite artists to donate their work? Why they do not invite doctors to donate free operations, or lawyers to donate free divorce process, or a car dealer to donate a free car? Is it because artists are suckers that are blindly looking for any way to the fame? Is it because charities want to be associated with the glamour? Is it because they think that producing an art work is easier that performing a brain operation and it does not requier a skill? Is it because artist need money any less than doctors or lawyers? Or because they do not have families?

Let’s get it straight. Charities never catapulted any artist to the fame. They were used as a publicity vehicle but with dubious track record. On many occasions they are no more than a conartist game to rip off the parents of the students via school fundraising where a small portion is donated to a school and a lion portion is taken as a profit. The art that is sold in suck fundrisings has no value other than the cost of the material.

Why any artist would want to participate in an auction like that? It beats me.

Here is my simple rule of participating and auction. I want to be paid 50% of the proceeds of the action for the item that I donated. I may choose to donate this portion but I may not. If I choose to donate it I want a clear paper record. No ifs or buts

On burning Quran, Freedom from religion foundation and my fasting

2010-09-09T07:32:00.001-07:00

This week I was fasting. I go for 3 days or more without food. I drink warm water with sugar and lemon. Sometimes I drink juice. The reason I do that is I like the idea of cleaning my body and getting back what’s called ‘beginners mind’. I do not paint and draw. Meantime I do not change my lifestyle other than I take extra time to meditate. My energy level increases. I need very little sleep while I am fasting (4-5 hours at most). The main purpose of this exercise is to break a pattern I live in. At the time when I feel that I am losing my sense of presence in the world I go no fasting. I do not like living on the autopilot. Every time I fast - I feel reborn. If your life is busy, every time you feel that you do not have time it is probably because you want too much TO DO and you have very little time TO BE. You may be running away from yourself or you may have been programmed by others. Hype, Fear and Guilt run your life.

What does it have to do with burning Quran, Freedom from religion foundation? Today is a last day of Ramadan (Islamic fasting). For one month believers do not eat during day and only eat at night (before or after the Sun is gone from the sky). I do not find it to be of any health value but I think it does a good job of breaking the everyday pattern of life. The fact that some minister in Florida wants to publicly burn Quran now I find disturbing if not to say more. Christian hate is just as big (if not bigger) than Christian love. And Christian arrogance is even bigger. What makes this minister to think that he or his followers are better that other? The fact they think that they are better is not a problem. It is public display of it and desire to impose a chosen point of view on others that makes it arrogant.

On the same day I read about Freedom from Religion Foundation buying billboards around Atlanta suggesting rethinking of the religion. I do not think I will make any change but it is nice to know that some people try to confront a majority of religious psychotics. Moderately and mildly religious people will not pay much attention to it. They go to church to the sake of community and rarely get involved into such debates.

What does it have to do with art? Art is about breaking a pattern. Things we see or things that surround us make a difference. If you want to change your life you do not always have to move. You can make changes to your daily life and surrounding. Religion not only makes people to follow a predefined pass it takes advantage of the disposable time that one can spend on meditation or contemplation. In fact by supporting sports and social activities it is like shipping filler. It fills the space and time. It does not allow any re-evaluation and re-examination. Art is a one form of communication that can be absorbed in a moment and may continue its impact for a long time.

American Union by Vas Paris, the artist

2010-09-02T04:38:00.001-07:00

This is a 40x30 oil painting. If you'd ask me what's the story? It is about duality of the progress. It is about tradition and alternative points of view.

Brazil and Rio de Janeiro murder rate

2010-09-01T13:02:00.000-07:00

I love Brazil. Unfortunately one can hear mostly negative facts and comments about it. And when it comes to Rio de Janeiro the propaganda is even more dark and gloomy. But if you look at statistics it is still not as bad .

Check it out! The murder rate in Brazil was growing in past 20 years and now stands at 24.5 per 100.000 thousands in 2007. Rio de Janeiro murder rate is 41.5 per 100.000 thousands. But Rio is on the 4th place in the country. And how is it comparing to the USA? Official American government statistics for 2008 http://www.fbi.gov/ucr/cius2008/offenses/expanded_information/homicide.html

What does it tell us? 14,137 murder victims of 2008 in the USA reported by FBI. The population of the USA is 301.621.157 That means that USA has a rate of 4.7 homicides per 100.000. And if one compares to the cities? In 2002: Washington, D.C., USA 45.8 ; (2) Detroit USA 42; (3) Baltimore 38.3

What does the art cost? by Vas Paris, the artist

2010-08-25T12:53:00.001-07:00

Most experts would say that it costs what it’s worth or what one is willing to pay. And what about a painting created by skillful artist with no name? Canvas, paint, rent of space of space and time have costs. The first two are the most visible. When someone ignorant asks why is it so expensive? If I spent 10 hours painting at $50 it is $500. And what about learning the skill? Does that time count? And what about the time to market myself and art?

There is a small % of the people that are interested in art. The rest are interested in decoration. One can’t sell art to someone who wants to pay for canvas and paint only. It is even more difficult that marketing fake products. At least fake products look like real (sometime). With art very a few people even know about the real deal.

Art, religion and ideology by Vas Paris

2010-08-17T12:32:00.000-07:00

Growing up in Russia I was very sensitive to the restrictions that were imposed by the government ideologist on art and every other form of public expression. There was an official policy on form of expression (socialist realism), not portraying negative sides of existence (temporary and self correcting errors which seemed to last forever) etc. The church was viewed only as an alternative to the freedom of expression as an official policy was to exclude it from public life. After living in the USA for many years I can see that including religious organization into public life and giving them subsidies in form of the tax breaks can lead to other forms of ideological restrictions.

To my great disappointment public life in the USA turned out to be carbon copy of Communism. The names and terms change but the limits remain. Sure that artist is not restricted to the freedom of expression. And church is included in the public life. And faith became so dominant that no other force can be an alternative to its power. The artist ability to be seen is not restricted by the government but by public disinterest.

In modern Russia friendship of government and church turned into a different form of harassment. Before fall of the communism one could make fun of religion in any form. Now, one can NOT do it in any form without a fear.

In the USA the forms of restrictions are more sophisticated. The religious organizations for example exercise a great control over public mind to what is good or what is permissible. They exercise a great control over member’s free time. They direct and orchestrate freedom of thinking and other norms. When a person spend over 10 hours per week on church activities and preparation there is little time left on anything else.

Even if one would exclude vulgar forms of expression from this observation it is not difficult to see that poetry, visual arts and theaters are hardly available and neatly absent from public life in the USA. With exception of few large cities an American public is presented only with an elementary choice of church activities, sports and music. The fact that one has 100 or 300 channels makes little difference. Freedom of choice is replaced by the freedom of multiple choices. And so is a freedom of opinion. It is replaced by the opinion of the last night TV talk show host (Liberal or Conservative). Hype and fera are two main tools of opinion making in the USA.

Why it is important for the artist? First of all this situation explains an American love of Antiques and folk art. Secondly, it gives one an idea of what can be used as a decoration in the household of self-censored, politically correct and church going folks (I call it an American living room test). Thirdly, it explains why at the time of social revolutions art grows in forms and expands in ideas. At that time politically correctness, obedience to social norms and self imposed censorship loose ground.

That is why Chinese art is very interesting today. That is why American art was interesting in 1960th. That is why the center of contemporary art moved to Britain now.

Surf Surfing Surfer Gifts Bookmarks Art by Vas Paris

2010-08-11T15:08:00.000-07:00

The Boy and the sea is now bookmark too. He is not a surfer but ocean unites us all! The size is 8x2 inch
on the cardstock paper. It is very nice!

I intend to sell them as at $10 for 6 of them. S/H is included within USA. One can mix or buy one kind. Send me email or just paypal your order or to pa @ 168city . com if you wish to buy them

Life is a wave – Ride it!

Surf Surfing Surfer Gifts Bookmarks Art by Vas Paris

2010-08-11T13:07:00.000-07:00

Finally I moved on to creating a line of products from my art. These are the first two products - Surf Surfing Surfer Gifts Bookmarks - which can be a great gift, motivational image and sign. I honestly started using them myself. I am a big time reader and I always use some kind of envelope, store receipt or another discarded paper.

Life is good! But without surfing you’d never know it!

Joy of Arrogance By Vas Paris, the artist

2010-08-09T07:06:00.000-07:00

This weekend I bumped into a Christian TV channel. While my mind was occupied with two thought that I read a while ago I started reflecting.

Zen thought:
“When you feel hatred, arrogance, jealously or envy you embody a Devil.”

Another thought that I picked up in the movie “Red”:
“Judgment comes from arrogance.”

Christian preaching is extremely judgmental. Hype and fear are used to force subjects (believers and prospective believers) into a submission. Judgment is used to control organization and keep donations coming and create a “joy of the community”. Judgment divides the world on them and us. Is that kind of preaching and organizational management come from Devil? In fact where does zealous desire to convert everyone come from? Does it come from arrogant believe that you are the only right one?

Devil does not make you doubt and think but Devil gives joy of arrogance. You embody Devil when feel that you are better than others because you believe in a special way, you eat or do not eat something, because you drink or not drink something, because you choose to do or not to do certain things. There is nothing wrong with making a choice and following it. But it is arrogant to force you choice on someone else. It may be good for someone; it may be a right thing to do. But what if it is not? Even the fact that it works for many people or that many people believe in it does not make it less arrogant.

How does that relate to art? After one dogma lived off the other one is born. And it is born of arrogance and orthodoxy.

Vas Paris on shock art

2010-07-22T06:57:00.000-07:00

I do not want to change the world any more. But I do not want to join those who want to stop it from changing.

The art must give viewer a chance to look at things from a different angle. The angle can be a physical point of view, ironic or humorous approach, emotional state or any other that break away from ordinary. I do not have a problem with a shock art, but I do not feel that it is shocking any more. Perverted or vulgar presentation is really no longer shocking. We have seen it all. And looking for more in this direction is a looking for pass to nowhere. To me “shocking” is a discovery of a new rarely or never seen perspective, thought or emotion that was professionally and timely presented.

What is art? by Vas Paris

2010-07-13T07:11:00.000-07:00

I return to this subject again and again. What is art? In broader sense it is any visual object. So t-shirt, carpet or post card is a form of art. The most common definition would be that art is decor. That is what an average person would call in interchangeable terms: art = decor.

A few days ago I was asked by a group of religious people to explain what art is. So I decided to form my own definition of art. Here it is Art is a form of communication. It is probably the last form of free communication that exists. Art is a form of exploring in the same way as a religion is a form of conforming. Religion and art are too opposite approaches to human interaction. When art is employed it is becoming a form of propaganda. When it is not exploring new ideas, angles, areas it becomes a décor. Only when artist is sponsored without any ties one has time, means and ability to explore. That is a reason Woody Allen works in Europe and not in Hollywood where studios always want to become co-authors. .

Further in conversation this group of people could come up only with one name of contemporary artists: Kinkade. Is an artist? In sense that chicken is a bird, Kinkade is an artist. Chicken does not fly but produce eggs. Kinkade creates images for a middle of America décor. And he is very skillful at what he does. He creates images that are pretty, sweet and very easy to understand. His technique is superb. The only thing that is missing - the art itself. The images do not present any exploration or communication. There is nothing to talk about looking at Kinkade's images other than how much money he makes selling pretty images to Americans.

Summer in Russian is a fantastic landscape.

2010-07-11T13:44:00.000-07:00

I just came back from Russia. It is amazing! What a view. I will turn in into photo!

Love Bugs Oil Painting by Vas Paris

2010-05-17T15:44:00.000-07:00

I thought about making fun painting. Here is what turned out. Love Bugs has more than one love and more than one bugs.

HIbachi Art oil painting 24x36 inch made to be fun by Vas Paris

2010-05-11T17:21:00.000-07:00

I decided to free my imagination to create something out of this world. So here is what shapped up to be hibachi art.

Vas Paris Sushi Art Oil Paintings

2010-05-11T17:17:00.000-07:00

Since I started painting for the restaurants I became fond of making sushi and hibachi art. I found it challenging making original art out of ordinary ideas.

American vs Brazilian question

2010-05-04T05:30:00.000-07:00

I just returned from Brazil where I spend some time with friends and some time in the Jungle with tin miners. It was hot. I took many photos and brought a lot of impressions. Two things happened. One in Brazil and the other upon return.

In Brazil I went buying gifts. The young attractive woman in her mid-twenties asked me who I am buying gifts for? I told that it was my kids. She asked me how many I had had. I answered. Then she asked the question that I was never asked before. Are the children from the same woman? That was signature Brazilian question since many people have children with more than one person.

When I came home and started showing my photos to my acquaintances one woman asked me signature American question after looking at my pictures. At first I did not understand the question since I am not an American and not a puritan. This is a picture attached to this posting. The girl is standing by her grand father. She is probably 2.5-3 yo. The American woman asked me when do Brazilian girls start wearing shirts? I guess it is very important... I would not know since I am not a Brazilian. But I doubt any Brazilian ever thought about it.

Zen for artists

2010-04-12T09:46:00.001-07:00

If you decide that you want to change something in your life, you should start thinking what you are willing to give up before you start thinking of what you want to add. It is not a revelation or my discovery. It is Zen. Each one of us has only limited amount of time, power and everything else. For the artist the least costly things to give up would ignorance and illusion.

Many artists live in the world that they create for themselves thinking that they will be discovered. Unless one does something about it the discovery never happens. It may not happen even if one does something about it… Ignorance comes from an idea of originality. Since many people are programmed that they are special, they start thinking that what they create is also special. It is a delusion. Many original ideas are not original at all if one looks at the history. Most popular products on the market are those that are promoted in some way. “Most original ideas” on the market are often only originally packaged. Creating most entertaining context for an image can be the deal maker. And discovering it can be entertaining art in itself.

Vas Paris Paintings at Okinawa Restaurant Cartersville, GA

2010-03-25T19:06:00.000-07:00

The Okinawa restaurant commissioned me 6 paintings about year ago and recently I visited it to take a picture. It is very modern looking restaurant with pleasant atmosphere. And my art looks great on the wall.

Secret of Jack Vettriano art appeal

2010-03-16T14:00:00.000-07:00

I looked on the internet for explanation of Jack Vettriano phenomena and did not find one. I spent some time thinking about his art and why it is interesting to me. I do not have his paintings at home and do not intend to have them – not my style of décor. However I find his painting very relaxing to look at in the book. I like many kinds of artists from old to contemporary and Vettriano is one of them.

His art reminds me of Film Noir movie stills. But besides that I admire the fact that he stages his compositions. It is not new but it is refreshing to see the same faces in many painting. It is almost like reading a comics. The staging for paintings is not revolutionary but it is entertaining.

It has been noted that he uses the similar palette as Edward Hopper did. Researches of Film Noir style often refer to Hopper as a processor of Noir style. Jack Vettriano painted the pictures that should have been painted in 1930-1950s but were not. I am fan of moving staged on material of roaring 20s and gangster-era 30s. Plenty of movies are available to watch but one can’t find paintings that would be painted on that material in a way we like to look at it now. Jack Vettriano did it.

Some critics say that Jack Vettriano’s art is out place in today’s word which seems to be a lie considering popularity of his art. Why is it ok to create a movie based on such historic material and not fine art?

Giovanni Boldini and Kehinde Wiley

2010-03-15T13:16:00.001-07:00

Interesting artists are interesting in different ways. Boring artists are boring in the same way. Recently I was comparing artwork work by Giovanni Boldini and Kehinde Wiley. They are 100 years apart in time and probably even further subjects. Yet both are very interesting and both make memorable style portraits.

My friend asked me how one can learn to paint art? Most people think that they need instructions. And instructions do help. But after you got the basic you must start copying the work of the artists you like to master fluency beyond basic skill. There are thousands of painters and illustrators but only a few artists. If you want to become on you have to paint daily to open your own flow of creativity

Tropical Romance art oil on canvas by Vas Paris, the artist

2010-02-27T10:52:00.000-08:00

My new sketch of "Tropical romance". Oil On canvas 6x9 inch.

Fernando Botero, Jack Vettriano, Alfred Gockel, Romero Britto and commercial appeal of art

2010-02-19T11:29:00.000-08:00

I decided to write about artists that have commercial success. My selection of artists is neither random nor scientific. There are other finer artists that collected by museums worldwide but have little of general public interest.

Fernando Botero and Jack Vettriano paint realism. Both artists are very popular with general public and their reproductions are sold widely. Botero is represented by a number of galleries and was schooled in art while Jack Vettriano is either schooled nor represented any longer. Their work copied left and right. Both artists use color pallet that one can find in many houses across the world. The colors are soft and warm. Both artists use composition that narrates a story. This story is sensual but safe. Even most serious issues presented in near PG format. They do appeal to Anglo-American general public. They appeal to the same people who shop at antique markets.

Jack Vettriano has a retro fill to his art while Bottero is humorous and rounded figures suggest animation. Jack Vettriano took Edward Hopper Nighthawks out of the café and followed them everywhere in his imagination. People who liked “Godfather” and “Once upon the in America” like Vettriano art. It gives them an opportunity to reenact glorious gangster era in the safety of their homes. On the other side of his images, glamorous “Singing butler is absolutely adored by housewives who need to decorate dining rooms. “Last Supper” and still life are so irreversibly old fashioned. Jack Vettriano fits into it just right. Same colors, more glamour.

Alfred Gockel and Romero Britto are on the opposite side of the market. Nether of them were schooled in art. They paint in distorted but not entirely abstract manner so one can easily read the meaning. Both of them are not entirely accepted by establishment but they do have a commercial success. In general their subjects and pallets appeal to European (and non traditional Anglo-American segment) minded market. Both produce large number of prints. In one are Britto has a definite advantage. His art is easily scaleable and adoptable to decorating surfaces of any product. Brittos colors are eye-catching and therefore are great for decorating commercial windows and facades. However, in the home decor segment aggressive colors are favored only with the lovers of modern and ultramodern décor. Gockel art on the other hand has bright but softer pallet and can fit anywhere from modern to antique décor.

Believing is a lot more American activity than thinking

2010-02-16T13:20:00.000-08:00

Religion is always an instrument of social and political control. Art and religion do not mix. In fact the art and the artists must be in opposition to religion and politics. When the art is hired by the establishment it becomes a form of propaganda. If the art ignores social and political environment it becomes a décor.

In places where religion has a strong hand on social life and norms, the art has little fertile ground (Bible belt of the USA). The religious organizations are hard at work to control what their members think and how they spend their free time. In addition to regular church attendance they create social events and activities that keep the herd together. In such places neither visual art not a theater can spring the roots unless they perform in the church and with its approval. If they do not, they effectively become an alternative to the religion. If the art works with the church it is no longer independent and becomes a form of propaganda. Art (unlike sports, marching bands and circus) stimulate thinking and interpreting the world around us. That is why believing is a lot more American activity than thinking. That is why religion and entertainment are happy together but the art is on its own. Unlike entertainment, art becomes a facilitator of change in the culture.

Jazz painting close and personal by Vas Paris

2010-02-15T18:57:00.001-08:00

Jazz Music painting 36x36 in Acrylic by Vas Paris

2010-02-15T18:56:00.000-08:00

This is a new style for me but I like it. Jazz music modernism style seem like a right choice.

Impressionism experiment. Girl on the Beach by Vas Paris

2010-02-11T04:48:00.000-08:00

To me the art is always is an experiment and adventure

Some people teach artists to stick to one style. I often have to experiment with different style when sketching to flush out the structure, composition and colors. Not to mention working in a different style it is almost as fun as flirting with another girl. This painting is a sketch. it is 6x9 inch and it is available.

Golf Babe on the Golf Course by Vas Paris

2010-02-08T04:56:00.000-08:00

I continue to experiment with differnt ideas. This is one of them. Oil painting 6x9 inch. It is available on http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=40208623
I can easilypaint a larger size. But small size is good to work out the colors and composition.

Art for middle class? You must be jocking.

2010-02-02T09:15:00.000-08:00

Recently I was approached by a “gallery owner” to show my art at her “gallery”. Upon my visit I discovered that it was the gift shop more than a gallery also it had the word “gallery” in the name of the business. I asked her about clients and she went on speculating that the people that live in houses nearby will buy art and may even hire a designer to help them. The houses were in 300-500 thousands dollars range. I did not say anything negative about that speculation but it started me thinking. I have been to many of hoses houses. In most cases I found framed prints on the walls. In some cases I found Chinese mass produced copies of old masters.

First of all this world is not ruled art. Art is not a necessity but luxury. People who buy knockoffs will not by original art. And the middle class never was a patron of art in the USA. That is why in Europe museum visits are growing and in the USA declining. The middleclass consist of social climbers that are kin on being accepted by their peers and by those who they look up to. And that means buying it safe, buying disposable if possible and playing by the rules. Middles class is very concerned about how others perceive it. That leads to self censorship and very careful selection of self expression.

Contemporary art is not safe by any means and takes an effort to understand. Most of the peers of middle class members do not have either time or desire to think about art and can’t appreciate it outside of “poster names” that they learned from college life. Members of middle class work long hours and have no time to learn about art. Some have kids that will have to go to college and tuition to pay, many have expensive cars to impress peers, heavy mortgage payment etc. Social climbers do not have spare money to hire an art consultant to guide them as wealthy people do. They do not have social pressure to buy art.

On the other hand social climbers in the USA have a pressure to climb and that means they need to be ready to sell the house and move. To sell it quick you have to keep it the way that other social climbers would like it. Social climbers can’t afford to express an original personality (if they had one). So everything about them must be standard and safe. Their houses decorated in such way that there is not place for a contemporary art taste expression. Contemporary art (even in its safe forms) signals revolution, contempt, originality – very unsafe social values and contrary to middle class philosophy. Some social climbers may like contemporary art and may even look at it (like they look at other thing on the internet) but they will express it openly when the stage is set. For them the art is like a tattoo in the private place. They may have it but they will not show it for the fear of being indecent.

Sure one can find an exception to the middle class members I described but one can’t make a living by selling original art to the middle class. Not good living anyway. The only way to sell art to a mass consumer is via image licensing. Mass consumer buys t-shirts, framed prints, mouse pads and other items like that.

Contemporary art for middle class? You must be joking.

2010-01-29T08:56:00.000-08:00

Recently I was approached by a “gallery owner” to show my art at her “gallery”. Upon my visit I discovered that it was the gift shop more than a gallery also it had the word “gallery” in the name of the business. I asked her about clients and she went on speculating that the people that live in houses nearby will buy art and may even hire a designer to help them. The houses were in 300-500 thousands dollars range. I did not say anything negative about that speculation but it started me thinking. I have been to many of hoses houses. In most cases I found framed prints on the walls. IN some cases I found Chinese mass produced copies of old masters.

First of all this world is not ruled art. The middle class never was a patron of art. Not in the USA anyway… ON the top the middleclass consist of social climbers that are kin on being accepted by their peers and those who they look up to. And that means buying safe and playing by the rules. That means buying “décor” and craft - not art. Contemporary art is not safe and takes an effort to understand. Most of the peers of middle class members do not have either time or desire to think about art and can’t appreciate it outside of “poster names” that they learned from college life. They work long hours and have no time to learn about it. Some have kids that will have to go to college and tuition to pay, many have expensive cars to impress peers, heavy mortgage payment etc. Social climbers do not have spare money to hire an art consultant to guide them as wealthy people do. They do not have social pressure to buy art.

On the other hand social climbers in the USA have a pressure to climb and that means they need to be ready to sell the house and move. To sell it quick you have to keep it the way that other social climbers would like it. Social climbers can’t afford to express an original personality (if they had one). So everything about them must be standard and safe. Their houses decorated in such way that there is not place for a contemporary art taste expression. Contemporary art even in its safe forms signals revolution, contempt, originality – very un-American values. Some social climbers may like contemporary art and may even look at it (like they look at other thing on the internet) but they will express it openly when the stage is set. For them the art is like a tattoo in the private place. They may have it but they will not show it for the fear of being indecent.

Sure one can find an exception to the middle class members I described but one can’t make a living by selling art to the middle class. Not good living anyway. Not in the USA. I can’t speak of other countries as I do not know those markets. I read that there countries where the art is considered a part of national identity. I read that there are countries where you can say that you are an artist with pride and people look at you as a contributing member of the society. I am yet to experience such country.

Vas Paris - The power of the Woman

2010-01-29T05:10:00.000-08:00

The power of a woman is 14x36 size painting. It is stretched on wood frame and sides are painted.

This picture is about what drives the world. Lust drives the world. That is the single most powerfull drive of the human kind. The woman is a simbol of not only desire but also of expression of prosperity, wealth and power.

Why the artist should never ask for an opinion of his family members or spouses?

2010-01-23T10:01:00.001-08:00

We all try to be loved or liked. So when we created something and we want other to see it we ask people who are the closest. What is wrong with it? Everything!

Unless the person we ask is and artist, or studied art or involved in an art trade the opinion is an ignorant one. In case of a spouse or a family member it is even worse. Often they either do not want to hurt your feeling or sometimes they do. In either case the opinion is loaded and not objective at all even if they are connected to art in some way.

I do even care for the opinion of the buyers unless they commission the art based on my previous work. It seems as the buyers always want to have what you do not, doesn’t it? Sure I can gladly paint another copy of my work with the shifted spectrum. But when people say why don’t I paint “this” or “that” I think to myself why don’t they do it? I paint what interest me and what I (hopefully) can sell.

Vas Paris bird eye view after the rain

2010-01-20T20:07:00.000-08:00

I recently painted two small size canvases in bird eye view. The are 10x10 inch. I may use them later for the background on other painting. Both are are available.

Vas Paris. 1920s coveratable car cabrio. Lovers morning country

2010-01-14T18:27:00.000-08:00

This painting is 14x26 inch and it is my idea of how it could have been 90 years ago (or yesterday if you had a coveratable car like that). At that time you could have a drink in the car... So it is not politically correct and I like that. The painting is available.

Copacabana Rio de Janeiro Lovers Kiss Oil Painting Art by Vas Paris

2010-01-12T04:16:00.000-08:00

I noticed that there are very a few painting or even pictures in general of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Rio is my favorite city on Earth. I love Brazilian people and the atmosphere of the Sun, sea and beautiful people walking along the beach. This is my tribute to the city, to Copacabana and its residents.

This is 24x12 inch oil painting. It is available at price of $US 1499.00. One can also find a print of it on http://www.artistrising.com/shop/artist/49408/vas-paris.htm

Vas Paris "New York City Lovers" - Wet Kiss

2010-01-10T07:17:00.000-08:00

I love New York and I love romance. In My opinion in the USA there three cities: New York, Chicago and Miami. The rest are big villages. I enjoy people watching in New York especially lovers and this is a cumulative impression of all of them.

This is 24x12 oil painting. It is available at price of $US 1499.00. One can also find a print of it on http://www.artistrising.com/shop/artist/49408/vas-paris.htm

Original Oil Painting 12x12 inch LIttle Amazon Girl with coco

2010-01-09T08:36:00.000-08:00

This is a painting that I did based on my Amazon visit. I was waiting for a boat and there was small road side store stand about 50 km from Manaus, Brasil. The girl was a daughter of the owner of the stand.

The painting is 12x12 inch and available at price of $US200.

Vas Paris London Oil Painting

2010-01-07T07:09:00.000-08:00

This is a memory of London England. Not any particular place but rather an impression after visiting the city of London. The canvas is box framed (gallery stretched) on 3/4 depth wood frame. This painting and some others are available for sale on http://www.etsy.com/shop/fantique

The boy and the sea

2010-01-06T05:13:00.000-08:00

I started selling prints and originals on the artistrising.com Some originals are availbale only on my blog. This original is one of them. It is stretched canavs 24x36 inch. The painting is doen in oil. I liked it so much that I decided not to sell it.