# Laugh at my horrible art **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [August 2, 2003, 5:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/laugh-at-my-horrible-art/192506 "2003-08-02T05:13:51Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![LudditeAndroid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/8baadc/32.png) [@LudditeAndroid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LudditeAndroid)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2003, 10:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/laugh-at-my-horrible-art/192506/61 "2003-08-07T22:51:09Z")
I’ve sold my own art before. Not anywhere near as difficult as I thought it would be, but it had the unexpected side effect of greatly lowering my enjoyment of painting, so I quit selling. I don’t want to be painting something I’m passionate then start thinking, “If I keep going with this color scheme and subject it won’t sell as well as one with this color scheme and subject. Oh, and cats, cat paintings sell well maybe I should add a cat.” Started to feel like Thomas fucking Kincade. Unacceptable. I stopped selling, and have a pile of paintings under my work desk to prove it. But they’re in _my_ style. Anyway, I was only making $3 to $18 an hour profit on most of them. Not work hating myself or despising the work over. If I had to, I would recommend Stars and Planets, Color Paths, and Go. Well, to be brutally honest, I’d recommend you also physically paint or draw something. If you only do digital art, it may be harder to be taken seriously. People might start thinking “He does everything on computers because he doesn’t have the talent for any other medium.” ---
**Author:** ![Bill\_H](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a5b964/32.png) [@Bill\_H](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bill_H)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2003, 11:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/laugh-at-my-horrible-art/192506/62 "2003-08-07T23:11:04Z")
**LookitMe** wrote > [@](#): > > Sorry, I can’t laugh at your art because these aren’t horrible, Bill H. I actually like them. In fact, I will bookmark your site so that I can check back periodically to see if you’ve added more. > > Thanks for sharing these. Thanks Mom. ---
**Author:** ![Bill\_H](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a5b964/32.png) [@Bill\_H](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bill_H)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2003, 11:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/laugh-at-my-horrible-art/192506/63 "2003-08-07T23:12:05Z")
No, sincerely I do thank you **LookitMe**. Any in particular strike your fancy? ---
**Author:** ![LookitMe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7bcc69/32.png) [@LookitMe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LookitMe)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2003, 11:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/laugh-at-my-horrible-art/192506/64 "2003-08-07T23:35:58Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Bill H. \* > \*\ ***LookitMe** wrote > > Thanks Mom. \*\* You’re welcome, son. Did you remember to clean your room and take out the trash? Love, Mom 😉 ---
**Author:** ![LookitMe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7bcc69/32.png) [@LookitMe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LookitMe)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2003, 11:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/laugh-at-my-horrible-art/192506/65 "2003-08-07T23:37:49Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Bill H. \* > \*\*No, sincerely I do thank you **LookitMe**. Any in particular strike your fancy? \*\* I like them all, but if I had to choose any, I’d pick Sunset 1. Very soothing. I also like Arrows and Balls. Reminds me almost of MC Escher’s style. ---
**Author:** ![capybara](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/capybara/32/202_2.png) [@capybara](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/capybara)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2003, 11:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/laugh-at-my-horrible-art/192506/66 "2003-08-07T23:57:08Z")
Sorry to get back so late. I meant the boundaries of objects in the pictures-- you know, play with textures and the relationship between the objects and the space around them. And, yeah, what I meant by formula was “large sphere in this corner, smaller sphere in the opposite corner”-- a number of them follow that composition. A couple of artists you might look at that do non-objective geometric things like this are Kandinsky (his later stuff) and Hans Arp. Miro also. Might give you some ideas of what more complicated compositions might look like. Somnambulist: Uh, sure? Maybe I should start the “ask the snob who’s looked at too much art!” thread. . . no. “I’m not an artist but I play one on TV.” Warning: All my input is very academic, as you’ve noticed. ---
**Author:** ![elfkin477](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a9a28c/32.png) [@elfkin477](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elfkin477)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2003, 12:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/laugh-at-my-horrible-art/192506/67 "2003-08-08T00:15:54Z")
I like them Bill. I’m just learning how to do collages ( seriously, I got a program two days ago and I’ve made two so far for my fics --\>[http://www.geocities.com/mulderscreek/beyond.html](http://www.geocities.com/mulderscreek/beyond.html) I need to change the text color on the first one) but beyond making skins and textures for The Sims, my skills with computer art are quite limited. So are a lot of people’s. Your art _would_ make interesting computer wallpaper. Maybe you can bundle these and a few more on a cdr, and sell them for $2-3 a disk on ebay while you wait for more serious buyers? Probably not, but it’s a thought. ---
**Author:** ![joshmaker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/a587f6/32.png) [@joshmaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/joshmaker)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2003, 12:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/laugh-at-my-horrible-art/192506/68 "2003-08-08T00:28:33Z")
Here is an idea that might be interesting with your style of work: How about finding real world textures such as leathers, stone surfaces, tree bark, etc, and putting them into the computer with a scanner or digital camera then using them to make your art. I think the combination of real world textures with abstract shapes might make for an interesting composition. ---
**Author:** ![Bill\_H](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a5b964/32.png) [@Bill\_H](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bill_H)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2003, 7:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/laugh-at-my-horrible-art/192506/69 "2003-08-08T07:25:47Z")
Thanks very much, **LookitMe**. ---
**Author:** ![Bill\_H](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a5b964/32.png) [@Bill\_H](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bill_H)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2003, 7:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/laugh-at-my-horrible-art/192506/70 "2003-08-08T07:29:45Z")
Thanks, **elfkin477**. I love yours, and it’s given me some ideas to play with. Also, I like the idea of offering them as wallpapers. Appreciate the feedback. ---
**Author:** ![Somnambulist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ed655f/32.png) [@Somnambulist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Somnambulist)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2003, 10:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/laugh-at-my-horrible-art/192506/71 "2003-08-08T10:37:54Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Bill H. \* > > Thank you very much. Could you tell me which ones in particular you liked, and also which you didn’t? One of the main reasons I’m asking (and appreciate very much the feedback) is that I’m framing several for this exhibit, and have to decide which ones. I have a tentative list, but I seem to be changing it each day. \*\* Like others, I like ‘Touched’ (and it’s growing on me the more times I look at it), which has a vibrancy to it… I also like ‘Synthesis’ and ‘Space Croquet’ (not sure about the title though!). The one that is really sticking in my mind, and I’m not quite sure why, is ‘Arrows & Balls’ – oddly, it flips between emotions for me sometimes calming, sometimes menacing… Some of the others seem a little contrived maybe (or formulaic as capybara describes them) – ‘Links’, ‘Topo Disk’, the ‘Sunsets’, leave me a bit flat. **capybara** …you can view some of my work on [www.danleighton.com](http://www.danleighton.com) - some of it is definitely a bit dated now but was fairly popular 15 years ago. To avoid hi-jacking this thread, perhaps you could forward your critique via email from the site? Tks ---
**Author:** ![fessie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/c37758/32.png) [@fessie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fessie)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2003, 2:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/laugh-at-my-horrible-art/192506/72 "2003-08-08T14:33:07Z")
I’m one of those annoying art snobs, so I try to keep my mouth shut if I don’t have anything nice to say. Here I can open my mouth b/c I do find your art interesting. I’ve definitely seen much “worse” stuff in galleries (and people sometimes buy it, too). I think your textures are fun, and you generally do a pretty good job of filling the page, or making use of your space. Your compositions are simple, but they have balance. Vivid art is really popular, it’s great that you work in saturated colors if that’s what turns you on. Here are my suggestions: 1. Keep exploring and experimenting - without worrying about whether or not people will like it. It takes time to discover your voice and listen to it. Don’t be trapped by your success - that’s the down side to making money too soon - you don’t want to become a “Johnny One-Note”. 2. Go to museums. I love Capybara’s suggestion of Kandinsky. Pollock did some neat textures, though his palette isn’t nearly as bright as yours. I was thinking Rothko might give you some ideas about color/space/depth issues. Since you’re working in an electronic medium your colors will tend to be flat if you don’t watch it. You really need to see the art in person, reproductions just aren’t the same. 3. Read _Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain_ by Betty Edwards, and do the exercises. If you don’t think you can draw, that’s probably because you never had a decent teacher. Really. Good luck, and keep creating! The world needs more artists! ---
**Author:** ![Bill\_H](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a5b964/32.png) [@Bill\_H](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bill_H)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2003, 7:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/laugh-at-my-horrible-art/192506/73 "2003-08-08T19:13:50Z")
**joshmaker** , I like the way you think, and in fact many of the pieces do have textures from real world things, but deeply buried. For example, Sunset 1 has a wood grain that goes through it (the dark horizontal lines). Leaf Eye and Color Paths have a leaf in them. In fact, they are really variations of each other. If you look close you can see the leaf veins are the same, and many other similarities. Dark screen uses – you guesed it! – a screen door. The same leaf is in the background of Arrows and Balls. But I think your point is to really bring those textures out front, and I think that’s a great idea. I’ll play with that. Any particulars you liked or didn’t like? Thanks. ---
**Author:** ![grayhairedmomma](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/47e85d/32.png) [@grayhairedmomma](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/grayhairedmomma)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2003, 9:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/laugh-at-my-horrible-art/192506/74 "2003-08-08T21:24:04Z")
**Bill H.** , have you thought about printing these on canvas to add a little more depth and substance to them? For the ones you’re hanging in the restaurant, it might be more visually interesting to print maybe 9 of them on canvas, not frame them but mount them on … I don’t know the name but it’s basically a square frame that the canvas stretches over…then grouping the pictures together in a 3 x 3 arrangement. Not under glass though - that makes it more up close and personal. I think that would relieve the mundaneness of seeing the same types of images all over a restaurant and give them more of an impact and mystery as if they’re all supposed to connect somehow. Also - if you want to try your hand at painting you could trace the shapes of one of your drawings onto canvas and try a paint-by numbersish thing just to see how the texture of the paint and cloth affects the feeling of your drawings. all of the above is said as someone who is not an artist, but definitely enjoys it. I love _GO_, btw. ---
**Author:** ![Bill\_H](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a5b964/32.png) [@Bill\_H](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bill_H)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2003, 5:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/laugh-at-my-horrible-art/192506/75 "2003-08-09T05:40:30Z")
**Somnambulist** , you are incredibly talented. I really like your work. Thanks for the compliments and specific comments. Also, which one did you mean by “Links” that you weren’t fond of; I think the name was a typo. ---
**Author:** ![Bill\_H](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a5b964/32.png) [@Bill\_H](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bill_H)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2003, 8:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/laugh-at-my-horrible-art/192506/76 "2003-08-09T08:04:55Z")
Thanks for the in-depth comments, **fessie**. Also thanks for the suggestions. I have been meaning to read “Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain” and havne’t found time, but I will. And thanks for the encouragement. Are there any you like and dislike more than others? ---
**Author:** ![ProjectOmega](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/b487fb/32.png) [@ProjectOmega](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ProjectOmega)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2003, 8:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/laugh-at-my-horrible-art/192506/77 "2003-08-09T08:25:08Z")
No offense, Bill, but honestly, most of those look like the canned graphics you get with the Geocities page generator. Sort of like a “Fisher Price has a manbaby with MSPaint” motif. Not my taste at all. ---
**Author:** ![Bill\_H](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a5b964/32.png) [@Bill\_H](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bill_H)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2003, 7:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/laugh-at-my-horrible-art/192506/78 "2003-08-09T19:13:19Z")
Funny you should mention that, **mornea**. This morning I went around to a few galaries to get ideas for matting, and saw giclees (which is art printed by a computer printer, i.e. what I have) that were done on canvas. And not only were they on canvas, but the canvas (including the painting) was wrapped around a thick frame, perhaps 2" thick. So not only was the picture on canvas, but the picture continued on the sides of the picture. I hadn’t seen that before; it was a very cool effect. Problem is, I can print on nice paper for under a buck a sheet, and do it at home. To print on canvas is very expensive and has to be ordered. So, I won’t do that for this exhibit, but definitely I’d like to try that for a future copy. I like your idea of grouping too. Although, I’m thinking of making 2 or 3 pieces that sort of go together. For this exhibit, I framed 3 sunset pictures (the last 2 on the website, and another first one that’s more matching of those two) in one frame. It looks pretty cool. Also, thanks for the suggestion to try painting based on a copy of one of them. Sounds like a great idea. And finally, thanks for the kind words on Go. ---
**Author:** ![Bill\_H](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a5b964/32.png) [@Bill\_H](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bill_H)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2003, 12:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/laugh-at-my-horrible-art/192506/79 "2003-08-10T12:06:57Z")
**ProjectOmega** , thanks for playing; no offense taken. Any suggestions for improvements? ---
**Author:** ![Somnambulist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ed655f/32.png) [@Somnambulist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Somnambulist)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2003, 9:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/laugh-at-my-horrible-art/192506/80 "2003-08-11T09:26:34Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Bill H. \* > \*\ ***Somnambulist** , you are incredibly talented. I really like your work. > > Thanks for the compliments and specific comments. Also, which one did you mean by “Links” that you weren’t fond of; I think the name was a typo. \*\* …and thank you for the returned compliment Bill! I actually meant ‘Join’ not ‘Links’… some part of the artisitc side of my brain clearly did a sub-conscious translation, sorry. I _was_ paying attention, honestly! **mornea** , the square frame the the canvas stretches over is, rather uninspiringly, called a stretcher. **Bill H** , as a tip, if you are going to try this, it’s probably worth getting someone to show you how to stretch a canvas first. It is quite easy to mess up, and the stretcher can warp badly if not done correctly. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/laugh-at-my-horrible-art/192506.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/laugh-at-my-horrible-art/192506.md?page=5)