im 15....im still doing my GCSE's alot of people have said i have great ability and that i could really go somewhere with my work...i've been told to make my career start now..i dont know how! how do you get people to see your work at such an early stage? esp. since im in a christian school..and they dont appreciate my art...please help!

At first, good for you, but you can first watch who told you that you have a great ability, if they aren't your relatives that's good. There are many great art schools in England, but maybe for your age you can start taking some art lessons, but if you don't want to do that, you'd rather go to show your work at some galleries (of course not the main ones) to start making you a name in your local art scene. I don't know the reasons why they don't appreciate your art. Don't get sad because someone dont appreciate your art, you only have to believe in yourself, many great masters during their lives didn't get attention, so don't worry too much 'bout that, just think if you really want to do that so much.
Hope that words can help u and good luck hannah!

I have a boy in one of my GCSE groups called Michael who has been exhibiting his landscape paintings in the local framers where he works. He regularly sells work now and takes commissions, he is using the money to save up to go on to art college or further education. he did this completely independently of school. He also joined the local artists group and exhibits with them.

Also we encourage talented GCSE students to go to life drawing as extension work. It really impresses the examiners.

what are GSCEs?

A gcse is the course that 14 to 16 year olds choose to take in their last two years of secondary school in england. the they go on to do A levels, 16 to 18. Then the world is their mollusc.

thank you demelza

IF you have the gift, I only know one way to really secure a great future as a painter. You must seek out opportunities to study privately with a master artists. I was raised in Kansas but was fortunately raised by a father who was a great artist and art historian. When it came time to learn the art of painting and the science of color, he sent me to New York and I was fortunate to be spotted by some great painters who took me and gave me the secrets. Some of those same teachers taught at the Art Student League of New York and what they gave students at that school did not compare with what they would give a private student. I ask one of my instructors once, why he didn't teach that at the school and he said, "Those students are not ready for this." True Masters only give their "secrets" to a select few students in their lifetime. It's a business! A great painter, Frank Covino told me once that he will not teach in his part of the country no more, he was so successful that he put himself out of business creating his own competition.

Here is a link that might be useful: The Evolution of Painting

christian, that has got to be the worst case of combined self-inflation and hero worship that i have ever heard. i looked over the matricism website. while the images are pretty interesting, the "style" is no more innovative than a new color of bath soap. chuck close does the same thing with some of his portraits, all it is is pointilism in different colors & with your own subject matter. i don't think that it is very impressive.

never trust anyone who says that they will take you in and show you their "secrets" (get in my van kids, i have ice cream!). they are merely failures who need worshippers to confirm their fantasy world.

Well. it’s the way I found the art world to be. Artists are businessmen and they don’t give away the little things that make them competitive. These is no “secrets” just their personal refinement techniques. Every teacher I had, wanted me to be a clone, it a human world and the artistic species is a fickle one. If someone wants to paint to a given level, you got to get someone to teach you, period. If you have a given amount of ability to render form, be it real, abstract, or imaginary, you are only limited by your command of the brush. If you’re good enough, you can paint what you have to, while you chase your dreams.
As for Matricism, you are right! It is a modern derivative of Pointillism, but Chuck’s work is objective in his color analysis of his little patterns. Matricism is a distillation of color formula into algorithms, which allows it to be the first painting technique that could bridge the digital gap so to speak. To understand it, you have to know why those colors are used. Are the works great works of art? I like to think a few are, most are not. They are learning experiments as are all paintings. I keep most of them simple so they can sell easily to the locals keeping the paint and supplies flowing. To date I have used only 6 sets of pigments and there are 40 or more that I’d like to have but at 14 hundreds bucks a pigment, I’m doing my early experiments with these till I get more funding. You judge it, but what you judge is superficial, on top. The disabled community has gone wild over the technology, promising funding for it to be developed for those who cannot paint with hand and brush. Pointillism it self has hardly been explored because so few have done it. It is an economically unfeasible painting style. Monet fussed at Pissaro all the time about doing works that took months when he and boys were whippin out impressionistic pieces by the week and earning the same money for them. We’ll maybe I won’t be the one who takes Matricism to it’s potentials, maybe others will. Maybe its contribution will be what it does in opening up new doors to artistic expression for those who’s disability would normally keep them from it. We all have opinions, and portrait painters have to have tough skin, we’re expected to turn every momma’s goose into a swan so I accept yours I hope with honesty. For one who knows Matricism, I have only scratched the surface of its potential communicative power. That is why I am most anxious to see it be a new college course, to see what others can do with it, to see if it really can make an impact some day. I can’t do everything! Frankly most of the paintings are to damn simple and sweat for me, but the gallery could shoot them out the door. You have to remember that an artist has to deal in the world around him and I have spent my career in Texas. This is the cultural wilderness where cowboy paintings sell best. You go out to New Mexico and you have to paint Indian stuff, that is if you want to eat. We have 600 grand in the development of that machine so I’ll be spittin out a lot of angels to pay for it and the next generation.
Actually, when I think about it, your reaction reminded me of when it was introduced to Dr. Rick Brettell. It was he and Pissaro’s great great grandson that brought the Pointillist show over about ten years ago. When Rick saw one of the angel paintings he said, “Oh puck, why are you doing something like that? That’s Crap!” Then he turned to “Quest for Innovation” and went nuts, called it a masterpiece. Lord knows I wish I had not shown him that angel. Win some, loose some, as I must have with you.
But I take comfort in knowing that historically, the critics and those who follow established philosophies are always the last to see the next wave coming!

Christian

Here is a link that might be useful: The Evolution of Painting

i can appreciate the robotic arm as a tool for the disabled, that is a very noble cause. a close family friend has been paralyzed from the waist down for 19 years, i know that every innovation he finds is like another spark of hope for him to be able to do something else. the restrictions experienced by disabled people are amazing in their variety.

however, one is forced to look past this charitable aspect of the thing.

what you are promoting is the so-called artwork that is produced by the robotic arm, not the robotic arm itself. you are promoting matricism as if it were some great new style, and it is not. it's the same as if someone invented a new brush and then touted the paintings made with that brush as done in a new style.

what you are doing by churning out sellable paintings that are "to [sic] damn simple and sweat [sic] for me" is what we call "selling out."

if what is important to you is the advancement of the robotic arm, then by all means create the sellable stuff with it and advance it as far as it will go. that would be quite praiseworthy because you are merely generating funds. but don't call the stuff that is crap fine art, by doing so you erode your integrity*.

* this should go without saying, but i don't want these kids to whom you are offering advice to be confused, so i will explain why it erodes your integrity:

if you go to buy a used car, you look for quality (some people just go for looks, but that is non sequitor). if you are not very good with cars, the salesman should help you find a good one. now, we all know that it is naive to trust a used car salesman, and why? because they are not honest with what they sell (typically, don't jump up my a$$ if you know an honest one, i'm just using a popular metaphor for dishonesty). they have eroded their integrity, they are not trustworthy. (just call me Aesop)

an artist can choose to be like the used car salesman, he can knowingly make art that is not up to his own standards, that he is not proud to make. when people buy art, they are expecting that the artist put himself into the painting-- they want the "emotional value" of the painting to the artist to be equal (or at least comparable) to the money they are spending on it. a lot of people will buy the crap art, just like a lot of people will buy a p.o.s. used car, because they don't know any better. now, the artist makes money, but he is not being honest with his buyers, and it erodes his integrity and trustworthiness.

your suggestion that if an artist wants to eat, he has to sell out is straight bull$hit and it is merely your way of justifying to yourself the fact that you have sold out. some artists can make a living from creating their artwork with integrity, and don't need extra income (but could get extra income through honest means like teaching, being involved with museums, etc...there are hundreds of ways). others do not appeal to people, and cannot make money from their work, but they can take other jobs to help them out while they are struggling, thereby preserving their integrity.

there is a distinction to be made here though. you mention portrait painting. i take it that you are not a portrait painter because you would like to be, you would rather paint other things or possibly truer portraits, i am just gathering this from between the lines. some might call this selling out; i do not. you are using your talent in this sense as a side activity, it is clear to your client that you are merely doing what they want for money -- you are exchanging a service rendered for money, not creating something into which you put your heart and soul.

however, if what you wanted to do in life is to be a portrait painter, and beautifying the subjects was not part of your vision (and it isn't, apparently, from what you say), then that would be selling out.

(and since you know that i know that you knew that i wouldn't trust you, you put the poison in your own glass!- another princess bride quote)

i'm sorry, i just have to reply to this post again. there are a few more statements that completely irk me, that i forgot about in my last post:

>"Artists are businessmen and they don’t give away the little things that make them competitive. These is no “secrets” just their personal refinement techniques."

this is the true mark of an inflated ego and a bad sportsman. if you are going to take on students, expect them to become better than yourself, that is the whole point of learning from someone, to become better than them. have any of you seen "crouching tiger, hidden dragon"? the relationship between the young girl and jade fox (her teacher) perfectly exemplifies the type of destructive attitude christian's teachers have bestowed upon him.
if anything, form a symbiosis with your students, learning from them after they surpass you.

>"Every teacher I had, wanted me to be a clone, it a human world and the artistic species is a fickle one. If someone wants to paint to a given level, you got to get someone to teach you, period."

I have a teacher like that, i ignore him and he knows it. sure, you have to learn to progress. duh. but you don't get yourself taken into what is basically a psychologically abusive relationship, worshipping your teacher while he soaks it up! no teacher is infallible, and if you limit yourself to him & his work, even if you are creating your own stuff, you will merely become a bad copy of the original.
and you do not learn to paint to a certain level because somebody wants you to, what the heck is that? maybe you just worded that wrong though.

>"If you have a given amount of ability to render form, be it real, abstract, or imaginary, you are only limited by your command of the brush. If you’re good enough, you can paint what you have to, while you chase your dreams."

this statement appears to be a consolidation of all the dichotomies you have swallowed, christian. it really doesn't make any sense whatsoever.

Hannah, I don't know what works for you, but I signed up as a part time student in a design course run by a Prof. at Ontario School of Art. This was a long time ago. She is Swiss and studied with teachers who were taught by Albers and Itten. The course is extremely scientific and is mandatory at OCA. It's hard work and very challenging but you learn to understand causes and effects. I don't know whether there is anything in your area but there should be. You can search on the internet too, which I'm going to try. I was involved in pottery for years, but because of this course I switched to design and fine art. Are there any artists around whose work you admire? Can you find out where they studied?

thanks barbara, yeh i like tracey emin, dali, sarah lucas, cindy sherman, gillian wearing..(you can probably see the feminist theme lol). i'll try that..thanks x

http://www.dylanpierce.com/

I know this guy. My mom is an artist and he has stuff at the same gallery as she. Check out his website. Not only is he an awesome artist, but a pretty cool kid as well.

Here is a link that might be useful: Child Prodigy

“this is the true mark of an inflated ego and a bad sportsman. if you are going to take on students, expect them to become better than yourself, that is the whole point of learning from someone, to become better than them. have any of you seen "crouching tiger, hidden dragon"? the relationship between the young girl and jade fox (her teacher) perfectly exemplifies the type of destructive attitude christian's teachers have bestowed upon him.
if anything, form a symbiosis with your students, learning from them after they surpass you. “

McVay, you got the biggest mouth but you don't seem to perceive very deeply. This remark is what I am saying. The bestowed this attitude on me? What the hell you talking about? I’m building a college to get traditional knowledge out there, I’m building animated videos for kids to learn the science of color, what are you doing but hanging out here and blabbin your opinions? Of course they were bad sports and it made them little men in that way. I was lucky enough that they taught me, but it was a shame that they were this way. Was I saying something else? You need to learn to read a little better. As for worship, I “respect” them for their skills and accomplishments and I show my respect. You do not seem to respect much, your still in the adolescent rebellion stage ready to challenge anything and with your superior knowledge and wisdom, you seem incapable of deep analysis.
I saw all my teachers for who and what they were, but they gave me the gifts of their knowledge so I respect them all. There are a lot of young artists like you, know-it-alls that don’t get along with a lot of people and don’t every reach the top of their chosen endeavors because their personalities are to combative for their own good. You got a long way to go and a lot of livin to do before you have anything close to wisdom McVay, and if you don't learn to be humble once in a while, you never will become great or knowledgeable about anything. Just another mouth flappin opinion with no personal accomplishments to back it up. Claiming you are going too doesn’t get it or destined to don’t get it kid. Most people have an inflated ego but yours is an interesting one.
My views don't make sense to you McVay because you have not suffered for your art and are still on he dole. When all the support is gone, GI bill over and momma's not there, when you get old and retire from whatever job you end up doing because we know it will not be one of a professional artist, you might think back on what could have been but wasn't because you were so damn smart and knew it all.

I’m going to join the long line of others that don’t respond to you anymore, you give off to many negative vibes to deal with.

tsk tsk christian, so angry.

i only respond to the information you put out here. the girl asked for assistance, you tell her to find some master artist and try to get them to share their "secrets" with her. what tripe. you make it sound as if painters are members of a clandestine society into which one must be allowed. any college or university with an art department can give you what you need to achieve what you want out of art: time, practice, experience. sure, a teacher can give you a few pointers here and there, but if you must be indoctrinated instead of learning on your own through trial and error, then what is the point?

i think that you are upset that i am able to express so clearly what it is that is wrong with you, christian, and that i don't worship the ground you or your teachers walk on. you are right, i don't have respect for much because 90% of what is out there is just like you, empty and grasping for a last bit of genuineness...but you can't rehash your sold-out self and expect new people to buy it. too bad you have chosen to sink to degrading someone whose art you have never seen and about whom you know so little...are you trying to discourage me from art? what reason do you have for these petty attacks? i almost feel embarassed for you.

more than once people on this forum have stated that they would rather be poor than to agree to another's conditions for their art, and you have told them that they will starve if they don't do what the "customer" wants. the fact that you perceive art as merely a money-making forum is testament enough that you should not be entrusted with the position of giving advice about art to young people. if we are talking about technical skills, teach away, i could stand to take a few lessons from you. but when we speak of integrity, you are no longer relevant. i would rather be poor(er) and living on the streets again than have my integrity compromised. you may or may not respond to me, but let it be known that you do not because you cannot do so intelligently.

Hi hannah! Keep on painting!
THIS WAS JUST A MESSAGE POSTED BY SOMEDUDE OUT THERE IN THE WILDERNESS OF A CONCRETE JUNGLE AT NIGHT TIME, etc, etc, etc.
Bye!