Both Artist & Photographer!?

Isn't a photographer a visual artist? I'm very much an artist working in the medium of photography.

I am oftentimes one or the other and more often than not both. I've been called worse. -W

I am not a painter, but I do photographic artworks. Did you mean "Both Painter and Photographer"?

Anyway, nice to meet you, Brooks!

by artist - what kind do you mean? i do digital art and photography, and stained glass when i had the time.


---Mike Savad

Nice to meet you :)

I've found that maybe not always, but many times an "artist" is artistic in any number of mediums. I practiced drawing in graphite, ink and chalk in my earlier years. When I was about 10, I started painting. At a young age I became interested in special effect makeup after being inspired by sci-fi and horror films along with related magazines such as "Famous Monsters of Filmland", and "Fantastic Monsters".

I experimented with different paint mediums including tempera, oil, acrylic, and watercolors. I sold many paintings for very little by bringing them to work to try and get enough money for the down-payment on my house. Most of the other paintings were done for my parents and siblings as Christmas gifts.

I picked up the camera and started getting some experience with it until other interests swayed my attention. I found I could not indulge all my interests at the same time so I had to drop some while picking up others. I taught myself to program in basic, and Visual Basic and channeled that into my day job. I also do impressions, play the piano, and console organ. I've dabbled in other instruments such as guitar and violin.

Other interests included cooking, fishing, crabbing, pool, bowling, baseball, basketball, dancing, movies, video, electronics, magic, psychic phenomena, and others too numerous to mention. I became interested in optical illusions which led me into the world of 3D photography which has been around almost as long as regular 2D photography. I can't resist experimenting in almost anything I try. I'm presently focused mostly on 3D as well as 2D photography.

I wish I could have the time and means to try everything I'd like but the common ground for most of my interests and hobbies is simply creating, which is what satisfies me the most.

Hello Brooks and welcome. I agree, that there is so much in common about being an artist who does art via the brush,pen,etc,and digital art - and the same artist who does photography. The obvious common gift is...having an eye........no matter the medium.
I still do physically supported artwork.
I also do electronic artworks.
I also do photography.
To explain, just a little........making art has always been my preoccupation. Due to health and other reasons, I recently turned to electronic art and photography - and am finding fulfillment again (because my new premises isn't reallly conducive to using my fav media: charcoal,paint,turps,etc)..........

Welcome.

Hiya Brooks,
Welcome to FAA...that is if you're a newbee. If you aren't a newbee, welcome anyway since I haven't said hello to you yet.

I have done it all and in spades too. Everything I have created either with a pencil, brush, computer or camera has helped me along the way of this artist's trip. I wouldn't call myself a "Jack Of All Trades" because I have spent enough time and energy in every field that I have been able to make a nice living using all my talents.

welcome , Brooks!
I believe that an artist is an artist, regardless of the tool in her hand...I use both brush and camera.

welcome!.....are not all artist photographers while not all photographers are artist?....LOL!

Welcome Brooks, I like to try my hands on many things, brush, pencil, pen, camera and even knife.

I'll be your friend Brooks... :-) x

Hi Brooks! I consider myself both an artist and a photographer.

I like to dabble in many mediums myself! I do both painting and photography (among many others) although inevitably I usually end up painting my best photos lol

Hi, Brooks. I was formally trained in studio arts and also do digital paintings and photography. The computer geek and artist in me finds that the digital mediums (camera and computer) perfectly merge my two worlds ― technology and art. That intersection is my happy place.

Hi, Brooks. Welcome to FAA. Love Ashland. Used to go to the Shakespearean festival there. Don't even know if they still have them. That was long ago.

I'm both a painter and a photographer. And other things too. Love to do it all. Nice to meet you, Brook.

Hi Brooks, I was having a discussion with my partner just the other day and he said something very interesting. He said an artist has to dig from within to bring something forward while a photographer needs to connect to something external. So one is internal while the other is external. Now that's not to say one is easier than the other, or less artistic, but it does seem to identify the essence of the two. We are both by the way!

I would say that photographers are kind of artists even though they might not be able to draw by hand but have a mind to capture interesting detail of a scene or whatever it is. They can see what regular people cannot see. So yeah, in their mind they are artistic.

Another artist using many tools, to express myself, Happy to be here, hope to learn and exchange with anybody that is interested, originally from Norway.

Wonderful messages, all! Thanks so much. Great to 'meet' new members & become acquainted with others I've seen, but not yet communicated with. Yes, I did say visual artist [painter], but best to include all the arts, as each goes to make us so much more well-rounded & creative...the gift that keeps on giving. And, certainly, a photographer is an artist! Don't want that to get misunderstood. Heavens! I've been creating since I was a child, played piano by ear at 3! I paint, draw, design, create digital works, write music & poetry, sculpt and so on. Hi Abbie, Jani, Dan [yes, we still have OSF here, going strong], Marlene, Patricia, Mike S., Barry [my friend], Harold, Vivian, Susan, Brian [wow!] and all the rest of you Some are familiar faces as I've hosted many contests. I like your answer Marlene, the internal/external. Interesting way to think of it. Keep replying! Will check out your pages.

Thanks, Brooks, but that was not my comment ;)

Marlene are you Kelley's partner? Does your husband knew about this?

I'll answer that, Alfred, with a no.
I'm a one guy kinda girl...just as my honey. ;)

I have classical training in painting, sculpture, and photographer. But I found my art-form of choice outside of formal education - a form of digital art called 3D rendering.

Wonderful work Brooks!

Warning, do not look at Brooks Onion... it will bring tears to your eyes... No, seriously, it will bring tears to your eyes... either that or my wife is cooking onions in the kitchen. lol

Hi Brooks and nice to meet you :)

I knew what you meant regarding artists/photographers and that you do consider all creative disciplines as art and therefore, those who create as "artists." With that said, I paint mostly in oil, sometimes acrylic, dabbled in watercolor, draw, shoot photography and also enjoy creating digitally.

I took a few minutes to visit your site before commenting here and was immediately drawn to this piece which is, in my opinion, outstanding traditional fine art:



Your entire gallery is simply wonderful!

--Donna Proctor

Edit @ Floyd - Re's Brooks' Onion - I know, LOL... I know ;)

Thanks for all your great comments. Sorry, Marlene, meant to say Kelley re the internal/external comment! Tried to keep everyone straight. Lol. Pretty funny re my 'onion', Floyd! Thanks for the 'wonderful'! Appreciate it. Hi to Daniel...and Donna, too! Nice to 'meet' you. Thank you SO much for going out of your way to check out my gallery, Donna, and actually post a piece of my work here, above. Kind of you! Will be visiting all your sites as well. Have a wonderful Sunday & week ahead. Am going to be checking back in on this discussion later in the evening, so keep the comments coming. Need a little creative time!

Welcome Brooks!

I believe we are ALL artists. ( no matter the medium) I use different mediums, but my favorite medium is watercolor. I like to take photographs to.

Art Is in All Of Us... You just have to find yours.... :)

Brooks, you got me laughing, this is the perennial question, are photographers artists? Unfortunately, this is a hot button for photographers, and you got mixed up in it. Assuming you didn't add this discussion to push that button, I think I understand your point. You are looking for people who cross over to other mediums, in this case 'visual arts' and photography. There are many such people here at FAA, and I am sure you will make many new friends. If you really want to become friends with some of these people, then start commenting on their work. Send them a message or question. Look for artists in your area, and contact them. Click on the artist button, and artist names will appear geographically, with those living nearest to you first.

As to the photographer as an artist question, here is my opinion:

I am a photographer and an artist.
Oil painters are painters and artists.
Water colorists are water colorists and artists.
Craftspeople are crafters and artists.

Some people do any or several of these things and are artists. Some people do one or several of these things, but you would never call them an artist.

Duplicate

Thanks, Kim! Appreciate your comments. Lol. And, no, I didn't bring up the topic/question to cause a reaction...and, as such, I haven't taken any of the replies in that vein. I think most members understood. There are always a certain few who will find something or someone to take to task over the smallest things or have something mean whatever it is they want it to mean whether it's what the original someone meant or not! No harm done. In face, quite the contrary, as I've received some wonderful replies, private messages and support. I've been an artist since childhood and a visual artist [painter] for 35 years. In fact, you can see some of what I've been up to via my profile bio. Will check your pages out, too. Thanks, again, Kim. Good to 'meet' you.

Donna, thanks so much for your kind words & support. You truly are an artiste in every sense of the word. Returning the 'favor'.

Hi Brooks ! Welcome!

I do both and have combined two to create a third called "Sculptography"

I also take poetic licensee with my work but really only have a learners permit since I combine sculpture and writing.

Hi Tony! Nice to 'meet' you. Will take a look at your gallery. The 'sculptography' sounds very interesting. Thanks for the 'welcome'!
To answer the 'private message' sent yesterday re this discussion: I agree. There are a handful of folks [here] who can't help but 'nit pick' and be contrary, no matter the subject, unless, of course, it's theirs or a friend's. It's in their DNA. I get it, they don't...and oh, well! I've seen some rather sensitive souls get raked over the coals in some of these discussions for posting a simple, well-meaning question or topic. Feel for them. I may not look it, but I'm a pretty tough cookie, having been through a LOT in my life. Those who understand do, they who can't, don't. It's their baggage...and not 'my bag'. Life's way too precious to waste on such silly things. Thanks so much for your kind words, btw. Appreciated it.

Appreciated your message, Kim. However, I am not a newbie. Been here a year & know the ropes. Hosted many a contest, received scads of features & won/placed in myriad contests. I also support other members. Glad to meet another. My meaning of 'artist' was one who paints or creates with brush, pen, etc. Photography is an art as well, of course. This I know first hand. I was simply saying that being both adds another dimension to one's work...both the art & photography skills. Simple as that. I see a lot of 'photographers' here on FAA and not that many 'artists', meaning painters...and would like to see/meet more! It takes a whole other set of skills & techniques to create a painting or piece of art than it does to take a picture, even an artistic one. But, both are valid as art, even if one isn't necessarily an 'artiste'. In any event, thanks for your thoughtful & heartfelt comments. I enjoyed your gallery, btw!

Happy to meet another painter/photographer/all-around-artiste, Jani. Thanks for your comments. Love your style!

Brooks, I'm more of a painter/artist than photographer, yet do some photography as a compliment to what I do. Today, I think photographers are also artists, just using a different medium. And not sure yet how to classify the digital art. Is it a photograph? Nice meeting you!

Took a quick run through your gallery and this caught my eye. I prefer the deeper more philosophical works in general.

Nice to meet you Brooks, I am an artist of many mediums. My preference is Oil on Canvas, however love to hike with my camera and see what I find!

Hi Mary! Enjoyed your comments...and your gallery. Wonderful.

Thanks SO much for visiting my gallery, Tony, and, then, feeling so moved to share a piece that touched you. Appreciate that! Kind of you. And, thanks to Amy-Elizabeth for her comments as well. I, too, love to hike, be in nature, and always have my camera in hand ready to go! Will take a look at your work. Have a wonderful day.

Hi Kevin, my first responder! Meant to get back to you earlier. Visited your wonderful gallery...and, yes, photography can be an art and a photographer an artist. That is not what I meant, though. If you read some of my comments above, you will understand my drift. Folks seem to get pretty sensitive about this issue, I'm finding, but that was not my reason for posting this. I simply meant that being a visual artist, referring here to free-hand created paintings, drawings & the like, and, then, also becoming astute at another art, say photography, allows one, in my [humble] opinion, a keener sense of well, vision, and certainly more depth as an artist. I see a lot of photographers on FAA, but not as many 'artists', as in painters, and was hoping to find more! Hope that helps. Enjoyed your work.

Hi Brooks. I TOTALLY AGREE. I am a fine ARTIST and a PHOTOGRAPHER. I too think it's great to be both! "Not only broadens our horizons as far as experience & skills, but adds more depth to our work". I can see the ARTIST in your PHOTOGRAPHY. I can see your beautiful "soul" in your work.

I think people get a little confused with terms. An ARTIST paints and does sculpture and such. The VISUAL ARTIST can be a photographer as well, incorporating artistic elements into PHOTOGRAPHY. But I feel that photography alone is not always to be considered ART. A good photo can be done by almost anyone, but a good PAINTING can ONLY be done by a good ARTIST.

Many thanks for your comments, Bill! Appreciate it. I think you've said it best! Love the last line. Visited your gallery and found this beautiful piece.

Thanks Brooks, I can see why you picked "I Am" with your fine taste.

I'm glad you agree that "A good photo can be done by almost anyone, but a good PAINTING can ONLY be done by a good ARTIST."

Brooks, I just looked over your portfolio. You have some extraordinary work, both in painting and photography. I commented and favorite a few.

Hi Brooks - I just wanted to jump in and say thank you for posting one of my paintings. That was very sweet of you :)

Thanks SO much for checking back in, Kim & Donna! Appreciate your visits to my gallery & kind comments of support. My pleasure to share your works of art here...and I 'thank you' for doing the same. Wonderful to 'meet' you both. Have a beautiful day, which I'm certain includes some artful creation!

I occasionally look through the FAA discussions, especially ones that have posts by my favorite artist, and this one seemed to take an interesting twist. The original post was intended as a type of meet-and-greet for artists of a similar ilk to Brooks. Among the myriad posts were people concerned with who is a "visual artist", mostly stating that there is no difference between photographers, painters, etc.
While my opinion is that there is a tremendous difference between the artist who creates works using various physical mediums and the photographer, I direct you to the HOME page of this elaborate web community, FAA, where one of the first things that is seen are the words "Purchase Museum Quality Prints from the World's Greatest Artists and Photographers START SHOPPING".
While it takes an artistic eye to shoot great photos, etc. it takes an artist to create something compelling from bits of this and that and the other!

Best of luck to ALL- and to everyone who is not a FAA member artist or photographer, "START SHOPPING"!!

I do digitall art and photography.
I don't consider myself as an artist.

Hello Brooks. I don't do any painting or the like. I do mostly photography and digital art.

HC Bresson, still the best of urban street photographers, was also a painter. In fact the last 20 years of his life he dedicated to painting and not photography.

Wow, John, thanks so much for your insightful, thoughtful reply. I see that you got IT. Also see that, as you say, even FAA makes a distinction between 'visual' artist & photographer! Lol. People do get a little sensitive about labels, it seems, reading some of the responses above. You are right, my post was originally meant to be a 'meet & greet' for artists/photographers and to talk about what, if anything, being both adds to our creative experience[s] one way or the other. Appreciate your reply...and the 'good luck' to all! I know I could use some after the work & effort I put into my site/galleries.
Hi Martin! Looking forward to seeing your work, both digital art & photography. Good to know. Appreciate your time.
Dan, nice to 'meet' you. Thanks for visiting my gallery & leaving your nice comments. Appreciate that...and look forward to checking out your work as well.
Robert, thanks for your comments! You are right about HC Bresson. I find that one does overtake the other, at times, and right now it's my paintings that have taken a backseat to the photography. But, I am still using some of my 'painterly skills' to enhance or abstract some of my photos, which can be a lot of fun.
Btw, I don't want to discourage anyone from contributing here. Happy to hear from any/all members, whether artist, photographer or both!

Hi Brooks. Creative people often express that creativity in many venues. I was a concert pianist and as a musician was called an "artist". When I turned to art after a hand injury I tried many mediums and had success and won awards in watercolor, pastels and oils. I turned to photography to find references and inspirations for paintings but learned to appreciate it as a medium in itself. We creatives are all artists to varying degrees. Aren't we lucky. We should always be grateful to be able to enjoy the gift.

Hi Brooks:... I love to paint, draw, and take photographs.. I started by taking photographs to work my drawings from and then enjoyed both. I keep my camera in a ready bag and grab it every time we go out. You just never know when an "art scene" may occur. Nice meeting you!

Hi Karen! Thanks for your comments. Wonderful to hear of your creative pursuits. Wow, a concert pianist, impressive. I just dabble, play piano by ear & compose a little. It's a needed 'hobby'. But, yes, all creative sorts could be called 'artists' when painting it with a broad brush. I like to differentiate, sometimes, as it covers quite a range. In this particular post I was addressing the visual arts & photography, and if being both enhances one or the other. I do have another discussions thread re music that I posted the other day, whether it is a help or hindrance in your creative process. Probably a few pages in by now, but, would love to hear from YOU re that. And, it's true, being proficient or prolific at any or all of the creative arts is a blessing. Grateful, yes.
Good to hear from you, too, Diane! Love your beautiful white dogs. Nice to 'meet' you. You are a woman of many talents as well. Great to hear how being both artist & photographer enhances your work. Will check out your gallery! Have a good night.

Hi again Brooks. Yes, I feel that visual art and photography greatly enhance each other. As your eye for composition develops it will search out that perfect shot with a camera and if you observe the landscape or even a still life as you develop an eye for placement (composition) and values you will translate that to the canvas. Even if the work is far from true realism there are elements that will still apply when you observe shapes, forms, line, contrast, etc. Much like you did in this one. Love it!

Happy Fourth! What a great pastel piece this is! You could have taken shots with a camera and manipulated it digitally. Either medium would work and the fact that you do both visual art and photography helps both in the creative process.

Brooks, if the Art World had all artists like you, surely the world would love Art all the more, for they would be in love with more than just the ART.

I started out drawing (serious drawing), then got into photography...then painting, and now I am doing photography/digital. I would LOVE to do some really cool paintings and drawings, but I wouldn't care to sell them anyway...only prints, so why not do digital and cover a lot more ground? I think it's the chance to "exercise" the creativity within me that I really need, more than what method I use anymore.

Karen, so appreciate your words. Thanks, too, for posting my work referencing what the artist's eye brings to 'her' photography and 'her' photography [skills] to her art/paintings. Lovely of you. I am returning the favor with one of your paintings, the music within displayed in fine form; your life as a musician comes alive in your art...and photography as well. Hope you visit my discussion post I mentioned earlier re music & the creative process.

Bill, my friend, appreciate you stopping by with your kind words & insightful comments. I, myself, have too many of my [original] paintings & drawings staring at me from the walls, as I could not bear to part with them! Yes, prints=good. Your work is a-mazing, outstanding, deep, refreshing, well, you get my drift. Btw, quite the discussion thread of your own going on right now. And, yes, I did see the 'email from Brooks...storm will have to wait' aside. Funny of you. Your gallery is 'stunning'. There, I said it, the most over-used word on FAA, but, in this case, true.

Karen, as artists, musicians & photographers, our eyes, ears and hands want to preserve and share what we see, feel, hear, create or capture! Colors, shapes, contrasts, imagery, lighting, composition[s], you name it, we are on the prowl, with all our sharpened senses! I'm also very passionate about portraying things in a different light, finding new ways of seeing the already extra-ordinary! In that respect, both art & photography are, sometimes, 'in one accord'. Happy 4th to you, as well! Forgot to mention that earlier.

Brooks, thanks for your words and posting "Allegro". May we all find the balance between discord and harmony...in any medium we work in.

Welcome Brooks,

I am photographer that loves to play around with different programs to create something different with my photos. Most of my creations are done using several different programs and combining them to get the result I had in my mind when I took the shot.

Hi Ernie! Thanks for the 'welcome'...and for sharing a little of your creative process, the playing [good word] around w/several different programs to achieve your desired result. Interesting and probably invigorating for you as well. I, too, have begun to implement new [for me] techniques & effect in my work, combining the art & photography, but the idea[s] I may have had in the beginning, most times, morph into something completely different by image completion! Lol. Enjoying your gallery of work. Appreciate your comments. Have a great 4th!

I agree with one of the comments stated. All Artists are Photographers. However, I am happy to comfortably hold a brush and a camera at same time. Nice to meet you Brooks and everyone else .

Hey, Lou! Nice to meet you as well. Can't wait to check out your work. Have a wonderful week, camera & brush, comfortably, in hand!