When is art a deception?

For a long while I have admired a certain photographers work.
I marveled at her detail and clarity, her ability to see beyond everything she photographs and her ability to capture colours.
As an artist (of the painting type) I can, and often do wonder at the many forms of art presented in different venues and styles.

Today I was looking at her latest posted photograph and asked her how she was able to photograph a scene and have it "Look" like a painting.
Her answer was "I take pictures as I see them."
Not an answer, but the best I was about to get from her.  

I was then informed (by someone else) that her photography was retouched in a photo type program that "Puts" different slants on the original picture.

Now, to my mind, if you want a painting, you paint it! and if you want a photograph you take a picture....but No!
What you do is take a picture and then manipulate it into a painting.
You pass it off as your own creation with no reference to the computer program that really made the image as it appears. 
To my mind this is lying, cheating, pulling the wool over the viewers eyes.
Yes, I know that a lot of photographers retouch portraits, and I can agree with this.
I can even agree with some colour manipulation, but we are not talking retouching here.
We are talking about changing the integrity of a photograph, turning it into something else and then sitting back and reveling in the accolades because your work is so unique and original.

If you are a photographer so be it!
And if you are a Painter, again, so be it.

But for a photographer passing off a manipulated photo as a painting is just wrong.
Worse yet, passing of a manipulated photo as an original work by yourself is just wrong and deceitful.
Especially since you do not even acknowledge the use of a computer program that actually does your work for you.
Is it a form of plagiarism?
Maybe a form of deception?
Whatever.

To my mind it is wrong. But then again maybe I am out of the loop.  I must say I was very hurt when I
                                           finally realized what she had been passing off as her work for so long.

How I feel about art in general for the most part:

You either like it or you do not, how you feel about it is important, and While others might love it, you might see nothing appealing in it
Even if "Joe Blow" from the worlds most prestigious Gallery insists that a work is the Best (insert accolades here) of the century, that will not necessarily make it so in your mind.
The Art world is famous for  stupid prices.
Sadly, almost all the work that is heralded as "collectable" at outrageous prices is for the most part abstract and without reason.


Real people buy art because of how the colours appeal to them/to work with the design of a room, or because they like Sunflowers. Real people buy art because they like the size, the medium or because this specific work reminds them of something. Some people buy it because a particular work makes them smile/feel rested/has a personal message.

Real people buy/like Art for personal reasons.

I paint because I love to paint. I work in many different styles and can replicate a flower in wonderful detail and or produce a work that denoted chaff from harvest blowing in the wind in a complete abstract form.

Art is selective and personal. So whatever you like or don't like, no matter. If it pleases you, that is good.
I guess what I am trying to say here is, No matter whatever others say, be true to what you like. Don't be scared to say "I hate that!" or "Not bad, but I wouldn't hang that!"

Feel free to ask "how did you do that?" even if you are not particularly drawn to a work as opposed to how it was created.
Be selective, and remember that just because Van Gogh' works sell for a gazillion dollars now, years ago he really was a starving artist.
And, I have to admit that I do not like a lot  his art.

So I have been away for a while. Learning new things and methods.
I have changed my style somewhat and have to admit that my many months painting"traditional" type art has helped me understand where I am now.
Bear with me while I get back into the wonderful world of Blogging, and imparting my thoughts and feelings re my art (and art in general) here.
It is good to be home, hopefully you will welcome me back.

"Rachels Muse I"

Many of you that follow this blog are aware that I have a dear friend that is an accomplished photographer.
And, you then, are aware that I often use a lot of her photographs as inspiration for a painting.
Thanking someone that inspires you is a very hard thing to do.

A while back Rachel posted a photograph that she took of her son holding his Oboe.
I fell totally in love with this Photograph and decided to paint it.
(What on Earth was I thinking?)
So this painting is for Rachel, Just because.

I am known for my inability to paint the human form.
Yep, even hands.
But I got to it, and after weeks of working on this painting (Some of which I was quite ill and did nothing), I am finally at the stage where I can begin to refine Jacobs hands.
Scary to say the least.
I have to finish the area where the reed is, and will do that a wee bit later....Kind of like a gift to myself when I finish those talented wonderful hands that belong to Jacob.

Hope you like it so far.
The background is not finished yet, but will remain painted in a matte black.
Please let me know how you think I am doing here, and anything as well that needs work.
Your eyes are important, as often while working on a painting such as this one cannot see the obvious flaws.
~~Kathleen

Getting it right

"The Edge"
Acrylics on Canvas
12" X 12"

Every once in a while, as an artist, I wonder how did another artist get that effect.
Not havng had any formal training in art (and the application there-off), I read a lot of art books, go and see other artists works at gallery's and shops, and try when I get back home to achieve the shading/shadows/light effects in a realistic manner.
Most often this exercise results in a lost painting underneath the blobs/and strokes that were to mean something.
So, I paint over it and away I go again.
Yesterday I painted this little Jewel.
Yep the lighting and shadows and depth happened as I painted, and it all made sense.
I finally did it without agonizing about the method.
Maybe one has to learn things, and just wait for the right time to implement them!
Enjoy this painting, I like the mysteriousness of it.
~~Kathleen

"Real Women VI"

The Sun, the Moon and the Earth join Forces

Acrylics and mixed media

on canvas

12" X 14"

Well, we have the Olympics being hosted in British Columbia this week. All of Canada is showing their Maple Leafs on their sleeves. (Yes, and our Hearts as well)
Enjoy them and appreciate the enormous amount of work these athletes put into training for these events.
Who wins is not important to me, as just being there as a participant means you are not only the best in your country, the world thinks you are the best of the best! :)
~~Kathleen

Landscape

"Frost on Larches"
Acrylics on Canvas
12" X 14"
SOLD

Gosh I have not done one of these for a long time.
Hope you like it.
It is based on the photograph I posted below when the Hoar Frost claimed our world!
Hope you like it!
~~Kathleen

"Real women V" (series continued)

"Assistance"
12" X 14"
Acrylics & Mixed media on canvas
She stands tall, she is proud, and she is a successful Business Woman!
She also walks with the assistance of a cane.
She faces up to her life, and makes it work.
There is nothing that she cannot overcome.
I like her stance.
Hope you do as well.
~~Kathleen