There are certain words that really bother me, make me cringe, or even hold my breath when I hear them. A lot of people have the same issue with certain curse words, especially women with words like cunt or pussy as an example.
I am really bothered when people use the word “style” when referring to a fine artist’s work. I will usually correct someone when using this, especially when referring to my own work. I guess you could just call me a “fine art snob”.
One of the major distinctions between illustration and fine art is that illustrators have a specific style in how they work, while a fine artist “reacts” and “approaches” subject matter. Yes, a lot of fine artists have similiarity within their work but it is not stylized unless influenced specifically by illustration.
Personally, there is a wide variety within my work because I approach things based on the concept and subject matter. I don’t want to force a “style” just to create consistency within all bodies of work. I think it’s important to have an honest reaction to your subject matter, even if that means that you have many different approaches with all your work.
Please, please when you are discussing fine art use the word “approach” instead of “style”.
Another phrase that really bothers me is when people say “artsy fartsy”. It is a repulsive term. It really undermines the fine art and makes it seem like you are dismissing it as low-brow or bullshit art. I know it’s usually used in a more playful manner but I am very bothered by this term no matter how it is used. I think it’s much worse when an artist refers to himself or herself as being “artsy fartsy”. Why can’t you just say artistic or creative?
One more thing that drives me crazy is what many artists write for their artist statement. This really isn’t a pet peeve word, but it makes me roll my eyes every time I read the sentence. “I have been creating art since I was a kid…..” “Every since I can remember I have been painting” “I started drawing when I was 5 years old…”. Don’t write this EVER in an artist statement!
EVERY artist started drawing when they were a kid. Actually every body on earth started drawing when they were a kid. You shouldn’t talk about artwork you did as a kid unless you are still a kid or teenager. I even see artists that are in their 40s that still have this in their artist statement.
You don’t even need any information about high school in there. Just put a quick sentence on what degree you have if you went to college. That is good enough. Move on. Talk about what you’ve been doing since you have been a serious artist. Of course it is okay to mention childhood if your work is influenced by it, but don’t say you’ve been painting since you were a kid. It’s a given.
There are other pet peeve words or sentences in relation to fine art that bother me, but these are the major ones that always come to mind and unfortunately I see or hear way too often.
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Comments ( 3 )
I can commiserate . My circumstances require that I am forever subjected to all forms of art bullshittery. The truth is when I say someone has a style I usually am talking to my husband and it’s short for someone who’s pumping out product that looks slick, mass-producable and thus pointless. I only use the term artsy-fartsy as an insult that specifically means: low-brow bullshit art. As far as art school shenanigans go, I too find the “making art since I was a wee one” such tiresome bullshit I generally try to projectile vomit right away. Seriously people, your kindergarten fingerpainting projects count for exactly what mine do- NOTHING. The other thing which, quite frankly, I plan to knee-cap some grad student over in the near future is this sentence in an artist’s statement: “My art seeks to inform the viewer of….” Look, very few people need to be informed about anything by a person who’s sole qualification as informer is an art degree. Oh, and don’t get me started on the “art is elitist” crowd. I might go postal. Oppy. That was rant. Good luck with the grad school bit. Go someplace that has money for you.
Joe Bloe added these pithy words on
Feb 01 08 at
12:16 pm
So what’s your ‘Style’? haha. j/k. I checked out some of your work. I really liked your charcoal pieces. Keep it up!
BTW, i don’t think your stuff is ‘Artsy Fartsy’ at all.
Daniel Chan added these pithy words on
Feb 01 08 at
4:20 pm
I know a lot of times people will say “I like your style” or “what style do you work in” and these people usually aren’t artists and don’t know much about art in general. In this case, I just ignore it or sometimes I’ll nicely correct them and try to explain it to them. It mostly bothers me when fine artists or people in the art world use the term “style”.
I still don’t even use the term “artsy fartsy” as an insult. I think it’s because the word “fart” is repulsive to me. There are no curse words that repulse me but the word “fart” is so awful I can’t bring myself to say it or listen to the word when spoken. So, combining it with the word art is of the utmost sin possible for me, even when describing low brow art.
There are actually quite a bit of pet peeves I have when reading other artist statements. Maybe when I have more time, I’ll search the web for examples and post them as “Things not to do” for artists.
Thanks for the comments and compliments on my work.
J. M. Culver added these pithy words on
Feb 03 08 at
6:16 am
