What "kind" Of "artist" Am I? (this Is Embarrassing!)

why is having a name for it important? i don't have a name for mine. i tell the bank i'm a fine art photographer. no matter what you tell someone, they won't believe you anyway, or they won't know. you can make up a name if you want, there is nothing wrong with that either.

i guess you could call yourself a shadow artist or something like that.

---Mike Savad

Now I may upset some here, but I am going to go out on a limb and say that there really aren't any experts that can say your art is ##### art. It is your art and you can call it anything you want. There really are no rules. I would say that anything you are selling here you can call a Fine Art Print. Categorized as photography if you want to be specific.

The rest that will make sense is to put as many "appropriate" words in your tags, and be detailed in your image descriptions. Those are what will be picked up by internet search engines, and in the search engine here on FAA.

Now of course that is just one man's opinion.. there will be more following.. ;O)

bob

Rhombus Dale Fun Art or Rhombus Mateo Fun Art.
Definition: a 4-sided flat shape with straight sides where all sides have equal length.

Solar Art! Shadow Art. Sun Art.

Really don't need a name for it, it ends up coming from a camera and a lens, so Photography might be good...........

Rich

Thanks Mike and Bob. As I was typing my original post the same thing ran through my head. Why do I have to place myself within a box?

But as newbie, I figured this may be something that comes up often.

It could be "Black & White," "Geometrical," or "Abstract" ..... I also like the idea of making up a name for it. :)

Thanks Viktor!

That's a neat name. However, the shapes won't always be rhomboidal. I appreciate the input!! Gets me thinking!!

Thanks Rich!

It seems like the consensus is I should call it whatever I deem fit.

I like "Solar" and "Shadow."

If you have to ask and if you think it is important, then much like your image titles, "untitled", you would be "undefined", still searching for yourself. -W

I wouldn't disagree with you Wingsdomain.

I am still searching. This post is part of the defining process.

I am learning.

Thanks!

Thank you Philip!

I have never heard of Photograms!

Those are great! Very similar!

Not that I want to be similar....but it helps in my research and my discovery!!

So, my take. I tell people who ask me what sort of hobbies I have, like the audiologist I met with today, that I am a photographer and artist. She asked my media, and I said Photography and digitally edited photographs.

Ask me what media I use, that's the answer you get. It's correct and a great question.

But what "Type"? No, that's not a good question. I decline to answer beyond "An Artist". I refuse to define myself, or seek to define (Limit) myself. I have days when the camera stays in the bag, but the pastels come out, or the pens come out and play.

Don't expend your energy on trying to figure out what 'type' you are, put that time and energy to being an artist and creating your art. Let others define it, if they want. That's their thing, not mine.

To me a fine art photographer is simply one that shoots first, then tries to sell. As opposed to commercial photographers that are hired to photograph things. What style you are is something different and you probably need more time to establish that. It's a good idea and I think it has potential. Have fun!

I'm not a photographer, but in general I'm dismissive of people that have concerns about what labels a piece of work falls into. In general than you don't want to work to be within a label. All the stuff of who will like it, what you should call it, or label it is AFTER you've finished creating it and are just trying to categorize it for the world. It coincidental to the creation.

But artist's style is unique to an individual and should be. You can be influenced by other styles and say in your bio, I often work in this or that but stop there and keep it on the overall work not individual pieces.

There are uninformed sudo-artist out there that think they can prove their work is art by simply following a formula. They will hold up their diploma and the test question answer to what is 'proper' art decide they alone actually know something. Ignore freely the art-Nazis, they are just full of hot-air (it it's doesn't smell good).

You do need to defend your artistic statement, but that's on the level of a thesis. You're suppose to be in new ground and explain why.

So sounds to me that you've ran into one of these insecure artist and can simply ignore them.
--mary ellen anderson

I was a "director" for 25 years. I directed television news programs like 60 Minutes and The CBS Evening News segments, and Mickey's 50th Birthday and like that.

The person's eyeballs who asked me what I did glazed over and they changed the subject.

People have no idea what a director, or producer, or writer, or artist really is or does.

They DO know what a plumber is and does.

Maybe we should all be plumbers. We would probably make more money.

It's certainly good to know a little bit about traditions or genres of work that what you do may fall in line with...but in general, talk is cheap!

It's been my experience in life that the people who talk the most, actually do the least. I wouldn't worry about defining myself by someone else's view of my work, or their need to fit it into some kind of neat little box.

Photograms are aka Rayographs...in a nod to one of my favorite artists, Man Ray. :)

You are a "Sculptographer" as I am.

It is called "Sculptography". It is a combination of both sculpture and photography. I created the term and posted it on a few sites and magazine articles to establish its legitimacy. It is a new medium which combines aspects of both sculpture and photography. The distinction is that you are not just photographing someone else's sculpture or a statue but are creating it yourself.

You can now include yourself in this type of work…just remember where you heard it.

Urban Dictionary: Sculptography
www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=Sculptography Cached
The mixed media style of fine art that combines forms of three dimensional sculpture with the process of photography. Having the artistic character...

Who cares what it's called. You think you sounded like a newbie, you should've read my discussion earlier, lol. Point is, you create something and not only do you create the photograph but you create whatever it is you are photographing... double whammy. I think it's a very wonderful and creative idea and I appreciate it very much. If it doesn't fit a mold, create one for it :) Keep up the great work!! Peace :)

Just wanted to say Thanks to everyone.

I appreciate all the feedback.

Thanks for not "killing" the newbie.

After reading your great responses it appears that I should define myself. Don't let others place limits on my work.

It also helps to have an understanding of genres and traditions so that I know what similar works my art may fall in line with.

Tons of great artist and knowledge on this site!!

Thanks again!!

Shadow sculptures.....

http://www.thisismarvelous.com/i/4-Amazing-Shadow-Sculptures-by-Tim-Noble-and-Sue-Webster

bob

Really like the pictures.Talking about art is like dancing about architecture. There is no word that can encompass your art and what it means to you. Whatever your process is or whatever you call it, it is the emotional response to the finished product that is important. That is what connects you to the viewer. Don't worry about the names, or the so called experts and keep on doing what you feel. Again nice work

What bothers me here is that that "gentleman" laughed at you.

But that says nothing about you and your artistry at all.
If it feels good to you to have a name to place on your work - great.
Most of us do not feel that we always fit in a particular genre.
But that is how you stand out from the crowd.

Best wishes on your artistic adventure.