Wessel van der Merwe Art

art@wesselvandermerwe.co.za +27 79 194 1277

My Art Philosophy

In order to be relevant and a serious interpreter and creator of art works we have to know where art comes from. There is value to study some great master or two and it is good to allow it to influence you. Study some art history. I suppose with clear analysis the bottom-line facts about art and artists throughout man's history are :
1. The first contact with art was as a form of communication and in the religions of the day. Was it symbols of trees that represented a tree and so on on so and it eventually became writing as we know it?
2. Artists were passionate, romantic, some extremists and liberals and they influenced the time they lived in and especially the inventions of the day.
3. Most artists initially received solid art training or they were apprentices of other artists. They received initial training in the art of pencil drawing and also later in their special medium they were interested in.
4. They experimented in their mediums and tried to improve not only their techniques but also the actual art material they worked with. Much of the heritage we have today is as a result of their mistakes and corrections.
5. They made their living mainly through patrons and serious collectors - the visionaries who collected their works. They had an influence in the times and the world of their day through their patrons.
6. They recorded historical events, the worldview and philosophies of the day as well as portraits of influential people - almost like the modern day photographers.
7. Some artists created works simply for its beauty or their own private view of life or just for a certain niche market or liking.
The conclusion of the history of art is that art is a language communicating something visually and generally in one form of 'beauty' and the art process was one of ongoing improvement.
So today what is needed from the artist? Do you participate in these values of having something to say and is your process improving and is it in "beauty"?
There are some artist's that only communicate beauty and their sole aim is beauty in order to influence prospect buyers - the value system art wise is very base(money only) and since in most of the cases only a copy of nature(and oftentimes from photographs or some style), in my opinion many photographers can do better. These artists have nothing to say and they are only commercial artists. The one painting looks very much like the next and they tend to wear off in time - they become boring having no "soul" or something more like intriguing areas or drama or even emotion.
The artist must have something more to say than just beauty - or at least then have a very determined different style that makes their work very unique and it needs "interpretation". Having said that we touch the artist's core motives - does he create or just multiply a process for profit - a mere copyist or a gimmick?
The creative process is the first base. The second base, once this process is at a reasonable standard, is - does it say something more significant than just beauty. Is there some underlying message or intrigue or story? That is good and the ideal.
However taking the concept or message or underlying story too far like some modern and post-modernists like some of the "now" art, cause them to communicate falsehood and blatant lies and issues that are far removed from the average people as well as reality and only few intellectuals and collectors rave at the garbage they communicate. It could even be well executed and the process well defined and the artist is really in command of his techniques and medium, but it is only fit for some dark corner of a museum. It is totally out of plumb. The impressionists moved away from that (in their era Greek philosophy, myths etc.). It seems as if some artists deliberately like to confuse or intellectualize their art even beyond the borders of the rational - some images are definitely irrational and figments of the artists mind only (they might even have issues!)
We all must make a stand what we are saying in our art. Deliberately stay with simple ideas and concepts that are relevant and even seen as simplistic by some could be a way out. Or be a social or cultural communicant. But at heart we must try to be truthful in value and beauty and what we say must at least have that something special in it. Honest art. When I hang something on my wall I want to be enriched by it's beauty and what it says to me and not something that distracts me and worries me and does me or others absolutely no good.
What is a good philosophy? Be honest and improve your art in technique and beauty and in develop some concept or message in the final product as well as in the creative process.
If you could communicate something universal or of importance in a new and fresh manner and it qualifies in its relevance and beauty, it is honest and true and fresh; then go for it! In fact that is the ideal!
But if you cannot attain to that then it is even better to be decorative - let beauty stands on its own. Beauty never needed any qualification. Why else would the very same who kick against just beauty have no problem with painting or drawing nudes in precise beauty-fashion??? Where is the reason? (The art school concept of nudes was that if you can draw/paint/sculpt a nude all else is possible - the nude being the standard of all possibilities (of line, form, volume, color, beauty, possibilities of composition etc.)
So what is the final conclusion? Ah just create... Whatever you create - you need no defense or qualification - you can create. As long as you are honest and if over time your art improve and it is obvious that you enjoy the process and the end result. If you can add some message or communication it is an added bonus but above all enjoy your art! ENJOY YOUR ART!!!
For me in particular I like drawing from photos or reality or even imagination and dreams, but at first I draw or paint in a very chaotic and quick way. From this "chaos" I slowly move into order and even going to a point of enforcing very orderly patterns and forms, and within that again some forms or grading of color, texture etc. I enjoy the creative process moving from a spontaneous and playful chaos to one of order, purpose and meaning. One must enjoy the process of your art so that it is good in your eyes...and hopefully in will be good the eyes of somebody else!
PS My art philosophy is still developing....as well as my art!