Yen and Yang...Can I combine my creative heart and soul?

My yen and yang; photography and art. I see one of these as a help to the other, without one, the other suffers. On the world wide web, photography is all the buzz. Make just one wedding photography comment on Facebook and it will be clear how many opinions there are regarding the profession (or in some cases hobby). Wedding photography is a hotbed for great and not so great photographers to defend themselves publicly. 

What about fine art? Why is the world of painting and drawing so dead on the Internet? I can see photography as fine art too, I just have a hard time with some of it. Call me a purist, but as a fine artist and a photographer, it is clear to me what the difference between photography and art really is. Then again, it is subjective, and has little to do with this post. Then again, at the heart of it...it does matter to this post.

Even though my art and photography coexist in my creative heart and mind, it is easy for me to use photography as a crutch (think easy buck and instant gratification). Though I work hard at creating good photos, I often forget how much effort goes into creating an oil painting of the same subject.

There lies the rub, the time factor. Can I charge for my time like a photographer, or should I charge my artist rates as a photographer? I find this to be terribly difficult, and I also imagine, this is one reason why photography is buzzing the Internet more than oil paintings. Think about this, there are thousands of photos uploaded to social media every second of every day. How many of them are photos of a painting? If I told you a commercial photographer could charge a beer manufacturer his time, costs, and even license usage for a few photos at a rate of $15,000 per day would you believe me? Would that same beer manufacturer pay for a series of the same images as oil paintings? If so, would they be willing to pay for it?

I would love to do a commercial shoot with a craft brewery, then turn around and paint the selected images for their campaign. After painting them, license the images of the paintings to them and make the same amount as the photographer who would be paid to make commercial photos. Why? Because I can do both...is there a market for that? Could I charge $25,000 for 4 images like the photographer? My guess is, no...there is no market for it, and the art directors of the ad campaigns would never use a painting when a photo is all they are after. The phrase "good enough" comes to mind.

It may be worth a look, me combining my passions...my yen and yang of my creative heart and soul...into doing commercial product paintings for leaders of the craft beer industry. Maybe if one of my friends at Stone Brewing Company reads this, they could call me to discuss it?

Cheers

In Progress

I was hoping to be done with this by now, but then again, a work in progress is better than not working at all.

I often use the Macbook Pro to show my reference photos...I'd rather do it this way than print the images. Alternatively, I would much rather work from life, but that is for another post.

When you paint, how do you work? Do you include technology, work from photos, only work from life, drink Monster Energy? I would love to know how you work.

- Cheers

Cleaning House

Have you ever thought about how the past may alter the future? Do you believe that stress can come from dragging all that baggage around or having too much stuff? Since October I have been trying to get back to painting regularly and one thing I have noticed is that I am being strangled by stuff and the past.

I decided to start deleting old posts here on the blog that "A" don't relate, and "B" don't provide value. This is hard for me, because blogging here has been a lot like a journal, a record of what I've been doing as an artist since I started blogging. One thing I noticed is that I am doing a lot of planning, but not a lot of doing.

As artists, we tend to be pack rats. We hold onto old art that has not, and probably, will not sell. The art isn't our best work, but we can't throw it away. Nonetheless, that "baggage" we are hanging onto, those posts that have little or no value, and the stuff cluttering our lives, our studios, our workshops, etc, etc, may be holding us back and/or causing stress.

Clean your studio, throw out old "non-selling" artwork, delete files on your computer that don't provide value or need, and if you're a blogger and have posts that no longer relate to your mission...clean it up. Make room for new ideas, and new art.

Cheers

UPDATE: I deleted nearly 170 posts from the blog.

It's Time

Alternative Revolt Magazine - © Alternative Revolt

Still here? I know, I know, I've been gone for over a year. Many of you may know that I have been working full time for "the man" all while performing my duties as the Director of Photography for Alternative Revolt Magazine, my freelance photography work, and of course my work over at The Thirsty Muse.

Levi Benton - © Michael Warth

I've all but quit working as an artist. Though I have painted a few new works, I have really been lazy when it comes to fine art creations. Over the past few months I have been putting new work together, gathering the proper and much needed supplies, and have great plans to get back to what I love. The magazine is gone, and it really did take up a lot more time that I ever thought it would have. Furthermore, The Thirsty Muse takes a lot of time to produce and it does eat up a lot of my free time. With that said, I don't want to wait for January 2013 to start fresh with the new business model for Warth Arts.

I had a lot of fun at the magazine and I will miss it terribly. Meeting and photographing world famous rock stars (as pictured here at the left: Levi Benton of the band Miss May I), writing the popular 'Hopping Mad' beer column and even doing interviews with bands. The stuff back stage, on the tour busses, in the photo pit, and around the venue with literally thousands of screaming fans is something I could never try to explain here on the blog. Just know I made some awesome memories, great friends, and thousands of photographs I am deeply proud of.

Avenged Sevenfold - © Michael Warth

The work at the magazine taught me a lot about life, and what doing what you love is the most important thing in life. I have met individuals who have picked up a guitar, drumsticks, singing, etc., and made it their life's work. Many of them know I paint and wonder why I don't just make the leap and do what I love for a living. That's a long story for another post.

As of now, I have several canvases freshly "toned" and ready for me to start new work. The plein air bag is always packed and ready for an adventure, and the studio is due to be cleaned up and ready for new levels of productivity. I hope you will join me here on the blog to learn more about my paintings, the process, and the adventures I take on to make new art. It's Time...time for me to get back to the things I'm good at, and what I love to do. At times, I'll share what I'm doing in the world of photography, writing, and maybe even a little bit of my personal life.

A recently completed plein air painting...

"In The Field" 8" x 6" Oil on Canvas - © Michael Warth

It is What it Is

Many of you know I am on a quest in life to live the journey without regards to a destination. In other words I am trying to live in the moment and stop worrying about the future, or at least stop letting the future rule my life.

Each day we are bombarded with choices. We judge and express ourselves without clearly asking "why" when we don't understand something or feel like an outsider. Why do we judge? Why do we set expectations in stone? I for one feel expectations may be the one thing that creates turmoil and anxiety in our lives.

What does any of this have to do with being an artist, photographer, and/or graphic designer? It's simple really. Stop creating expectations for yourself as a creative and simply create. One's ability to learn may be dictated by their interest in the subject. Therefore if you love to create then learning more about it is a breeze, right? Stop expecting to fit into the worlds mold of what a creative is supposed to be. Learn because you want to; not because you think you need a degree because your expectations tell you success comes after a degree!

Another topic for this "it is what it is" post is the judgemental word with expectations written all over it. The word itself kills creativity faster than a documentary on business ethics. There are even those individuals that regard the word I am talking about as the official label given to those who are given the sole privilege of doing their craft while others must remain hobbyists banished from ever eating at the big kid's table. The word; professional. What does it mean? Why do we need this adjective to label a career anyway. I love to hear folks call themselves a professional artist. Have you ever heard a surgeon say, "I am a professional surgeon." Would you want an amateur surgeon? Think about it for a moment...can you see why expectations drive the proverbial boat? In art, either you are, or you are not. Drop the professional label because it really makes one sound like they are compensating for weak creativity and poor business practices.

It is what it is...there is no reason to judge or to expect. What are you? Are you creating because you want to be something else, or are you creating because it is who you are? When I was a kid I watched a lot of Popeye the sailor cartoons. Popeye would say, "I am what I am" - it stuck with me. Be yourself, be the artist/person you want to be. Keep life simple and slow, enjoy the journey because the destination will get here faster than you think. The eternal dirt bed does not appeal to me these days, I am a simple man, a dad, a husband, a factory worker, a struggling artist, a dreamer, a son, and so much more. Don't limit yourself by calling yourself a "professional" or an "amateur" anything. Don't limit yourself shooting for expectations that others have created. It is what it is...I am what I am...be who you are. Stop judging, stop expecting, live life the way you want to and experience happiness filled by content, and harmony.

- Michael

Rembrandt - my favorite three by the master painter

Hi All,

I wanted to share three Rembrandt paintings with you for today's post. Most of you are aware that Rembrandt is my favorite artist. The paintings that follow have specific meaning to me and I'll share why each painting intrigues me.

Rembrandt - The Mill - Oil on Canvas (1650)

Many years ago I discovered my father (also an artist) loved The Mill. We were discussing Rembrandt and were amazed that we have never discussed the fact that we both admired The Mill more than any other Rembrandt painting. I find this fact very interesting since we never really discussed our favorite paintings before.

Rembrandt - A Girl With A Broom - Oil on Canvas (1651)

A Girl With A Broom is one of those paintings that just has that warm Rembrandt glow. I remember a reproduction of this painting in Mom & Dad's house growing up. I never knew it was a Rembrandt (of course like many youngsters I didn't really care who painted it - I just liked it). I have to admit it freaked me out a bit because the girl has one of those stares that follow you around like an old Scooby-Doo cartoon. However, this is one of those paintings I was exposed to as a child and later "discovered" who painted it. 

Rembrandt - Portrait of Artist's Father - Oil on Panel (1631)

The last painting is of the artist's father. I haven't had the guts to try to paint my Dad's portrait yet but someday I may try. As an artist I can appreciate the importance of this painting to the artist himself. I can imagine what Rembrandt might have felt as he was painting a portrait of his father. I consider my father to be my greatest teacher and Rembrandt to be my greatest inspiration, therefore this particular painting is one of my favorites.

- Michael