Be a Better Artisit

In the photography world there are two very common quotes on being and becoming a better photographer or artist. Now mind you I am not entirely sure who said either of these but they are great quotes and I will give credit to the two people I have heard say them. I think there is a third consideration as well.

Jay Maisel "If you want to make more interesting photographs become a more interesting person"

Jim Richardson "If you want to be a better photographer stand in front of more interesting stuff"

Both of these can be true for any artistic medium and have much meaning. As a new gallery owner I think there is a third and possibly more important step we can take as photographers and artists to create better more interesting art; what ever that means. I think we need to become a consumers of art.

Leading an interesting life adds to our life experience. This in turn, with luck, makes us more interesting people, which will help us create points and markers in life to draw from to create better more interesting art. In the same token, being in front of more interesting stuff, as Jim says, will help make not only more interesting photographs, but also more interesting paintings, drawings, sketches etc. as well. No matter your chosen medium, the fact that the stuff is interesting helps inspiration flow more easily which in turn helps creativity. Of course if you put the two together then you’re off and running. I will admit that there are two entirely separate conversations to be had on each subjects. Now that I have gotten you this far, we will to talk about number three.

By definition consumption means: 1.the act of consuming, as by use, decay, or destruction.I am not talking about that later part of the definition but really the first three words.The act of consuming 7. To use up. This, in my case, is just as applicable. I am talking about being a consumer of art, and art in all its forms and mediums. To take it and to use it up is to CONSUME as much art as we can. Any act of painting, sculpture, ceramics, glass, pottery, drawing, writing, music, wood - working, jewelry making, movies, and I hate to say even TV within reason, is consumption of art. I am talking about any variation one can think of in any medium. Please accept my apology now if I left anyone out. All forms of art can, and should in my opinion, influence you and your chosen medium. What I am trying to say, is that this is just like by becoming a more interesting person through experience. Experiencing and consuming art, whether it be in a museum, in a friends garage,or if you are lucky enough to be able to buy art, will in my experience, improve your art. This does mean that you have to be open. If you are open to what other artists are creating, and you take time to learn about the art and the artists, then you are building a library for your own work and it will certainly begin to inspire you.


All of this comes down to one last quote. "out of nothing - nothing comes". You have to have input and influences. You have to experience life by being in interesting and inspiring places in order to take it in to be able to give something back. This will lead to meaningful inspiring output of your own.


As a new gallery owner I am experiencing this first hand everyday. I have the pleasure and gift to have amazing art in our gallery from amazing artists. These are artists that I respect and learn from. The point to all of this is simple….. Get up and move your *** in order to consume art, take it in and then chew it up and put out your own art. Then maybe, just maybe, your art will be the inspiring consumption for others.

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