At the bridge of the failed painter, I stoop and check the sagging timbers before placing one foot, then the other, on this sorry decrepitude. It cracks and pops like a first fleet ship, but the sounds are not ominous; more the rattled wheezing of an invalid friend. I proceed with care,sucking the thumb pricked on its splintery balustrade. Ahead, lies the gate and welltrod path and, branching like spider veins, the merest hints of tracks―overgrown, leading to a wilderness filled with possibilities. I stand and consider. Buttoning my duffel coat—a veteran of the moth wars, I step off the path, and into the weeds.
©L.M.Noonan



Some things change some things are as they always have been

I have decided to try and stay positive about the future of art--bit of a change, yes I know.
One of the reasons is that young people everywhere are still dedicating themselves to this lifestyle.
Despite the setbacks, the lack of recognition, the uncertain future and the knowledge that I will most likely never make a living that is above the governments definition of the poverty line, how can I in all honesty try to dissuade fledgling artists from living their lives in the only way possible--my sons for example?
We are not really talking about choices here, because to lead what society deems to be a mainstream lifestyle is tantamount to a kind of suicide of the senses or is that sensibility.
Yes they will be hurt, they will suffer, they will yearn for that elusive pat on the back; but then who's to say they won't achieve what they set out to do.
I can't preempt a future that is in a state of flux.
I may be a dinosaur witnessing the extinction of my kind but I must still nurture the dinosaur eggs.

I ran into an adolescent dinosaur at the local video store the other day.
Both his parents are visual artists and no doubt hoped he would take up a sensible profession.
The sweet young boy I remember has turned into a handsome--still sweet; and intelligent painter. 
Hope springs eternal and I am buoyed by it.
If you're interested in Joe's work please visit his website.

http://www.josephdaws.com/

the terrace 
'Terrace' ©Joe Daws 2009, Oil on Linen 122 x 182 cm
This painting is from his current exhibition at Doggett Street

 

PS....David Howard posted a review of Joe's works on Art Smelter

1 comments:

JafaBrit's Art said...

Well I didn't give up doing art full time, but busting my backside promoting it, trying so hard to have a career, yes. It wasn't doing anything, in fact here is a little story.
I bumped into an acquaintance in town (small town and her shop was near the gallery I had work in and just recently closed down) who was surprised to learn I gave up trying to have an art career because she didn't know I was trying to have one in the first place. Apparently I was just doing it all for fun. You know what that tells me, I ain't doing something right. I need to spend time working on my art, not promoting it.

That doesn't mean I would discourage others from trying to make a career of it, their work, the dynamics, their age, their location, all might work to support that. It just isn't happening at my end in the middle of Ohio.

15 May 2009 9:19 PM

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