Archive for October, 2009
I would like to take a moment here and introduce one of our newest members of
The Naples Group
( Naples Area League of Professional Executive Services)
It is an organization that is bringing a lot of new artistic talents to the area as well as rediscovering artists who have been here for many years.
The Naples International Film Festival
This is one of the films that is under the trailers tab that I was very impressed with due to the fact that they are dedicated to bringing awareness to the beauty of what South Florida has to offer.
The everglades is one of the most beautiful places on earth and there is no other place like it in the world.
Because of the efforts of the NIFF and the professionals involved in the making of this documentary which includes one of the most influential photographers of our time in my opinion
Clyde Butcher
Who I have had the honor of meeting at another photographers studio grand opening not long ago here in Naples Fl
John Brady
Another photographer in this video
Rick Cruz
Also shows the passion that he has for the Florida everglades
That I thought it might be appropriate to honor everyone involved in the making of this short film by trying to give some exposure by posting this for all to see.
On my quest to show my artist friends that are involved in the decorative arts that learning from many art forms is essential to our growth. The decorative artist replicates nature at its best and at its worse and understanding the beauty of an array of art forms will only expand the excitement that we feel when discovering something new for the first time and to keep that passion fresh and alive
Enjoy!
Is the artist’s trade another of the ones dieing out
- Posted by PK (Pradeep maheshwari) on September 13, 2009 at 2:02pm
So many of the talented artists are now first creating a digital canvas image and then paining on it to create something that they call original. It is a new way of creating. Easy, fast and a little like the mapped out fill-in-the colors that we used to do as children. The vision of the artists is paramount and this is one way of creating. As good as any other.
But besides this is the the use of digital prints for all purposes. The artist was important earlier because he was the only one who could record life as an image. Then came photography. Now making copies is easy. Creating originals is even easier.
So many trades have died out. Brocades, carpets, furniture, jewelery are all being made and reproduced by machines. Then wither goest our artistry?
I dont believe it is “dieing out” or ever will , But I do believe it is going through a transitional period of confusion. The digital age is going to make more of a presence for a while because of the new technology and like everything else it causes a “trend”. With the new look of today being “chic”, modern, contemporary, will only be around for a couple of years and will come full circle to the traditional, charleston , french country as it has in the past.
I think of this as the “Disco” days of the 70’s and 80’s where a lot of pop art reappeared, and now it has come full circle with what is being called miami modern, and clean sharp lines of stainless steel in combination with bright intensive compliments and split compliments without moving to far into the earth colors.
I am not an Interior Designer but I have been slinging paint and plaster for over 30 years and I have seen these trends come and go.From my past experience, people tire of these modern, sleek looks and end up going back to the more traditional looks which is when we will see more of the traditional art.
I have been trying to point out to interior designers that true decorative artists can be very versatile no matter what the trends are. I have been using a lot of cadmium colors in different ways as to not cross over into that “old world” look that so many faux finishes have a characteristic of. Many of the manufacturers of faux finishing products didnt take into account of the shifting trends which is why Interior Designers steer away from the faux finishes today because no matter what the “trained” faux finisher of today does to the product line they are using it still carries the “old world ” look and feel.
During the faux finishing craze of the 1990’s and 2000 we were in the middle of the traditional, European, Tuscan circle which was perfect timing for the manufacturers of faux finishing products to really hit the market. Because of the innovative design of one product line in particular the market exploded, which brought with it the imported plasters from Europe to try an match and compete with what was going on in the market, hence “faux finishing” became a booming market, BUT they didnt plan far enough ahead for the changing trends and now that we are on the far side of that circle most finishers who have relied on the market not changing are at the wayside waiting for things to come full circle again trying to use the products they were “trained ” with to keep up with the Interior Designers demand for the modern clean look. This is where the separation comes in to being a versatile and creative artist and to be able to totally step away from a product line that just doesn’t work for the existing market and being creative enough to satisfy the market trend and demand of the current climate. The hardest part of the artists is to convince and re-educate the Interior Designers that faux finishing is not just for the kind of interior design that it has become associated with. In a sense its up to the decorative artist to bring to the designers a fresh look and educate them that faux finishing is not just an old world technique but unless the artists themselves step away from the “old world” designed product lines then the artists are just wasting their time.
Designers are trained professionals when it comes to their knowledge, training and experience, just as we as artists should be in our field. A professional Designer can change with the trends and styles by knowing what product lines work for each individual market trend, just as we as artists must be able to be versatile enough to step away from product lines that effect our designs and be creative enough to keep up with the ever changing trends. You see PK products is what has made a lot of faux finishers what they are today and if you take away that product line some are not versatile enough or trained enough to be able to keep up with the changing trends and are lost with out it, so they struggle with working with a product that just simply will not give them or the designers the look they are searching for.
This is why it looks as if the artists trade is “dieing” when in fact it isnt, it’s just reinventing itself and it is up to the artist of today to be innovative and creative enough to be able to step outside that box and give the professional designers what they are looking for. The definition of the word “innovative” explains everything that I have written here in one short sentence……… but I thought that after reading your question that this would be a perfect place to maybe open the eyes of both artists and designers in general and because of the efforts and caring of our trades that the owner of this forum Jim Courtney has Im sure he will see that this discussion will not die at this thread and will probably get this thread out there for as many people to read as possible so I feel my efforts here were not a waste of time for any of us.
I believe that this is an important subject and I am glad you brought this up, because it could very well change many artists lives by bringing up g the importance of continued education for artists is just as important for the professional Interior Designers which is why I have grown so attached to this forum and the ones who contribute to it, because of the freedom that Jim lets us have to promote our businesses and say what we feel needs to be said……
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I thought I seen it all
Until Now
I thought I would pass this new Music Video concept on to all me artist friends out there and see what they think.
I have been playing around with it for a while and
I love it!
Heres a sample video and a link to the site where you can sign up

