smoking in paintings or no smoking?
I am about to do two more paintings in the series of Stinky and Smokey but was worried that they won’t be sellable because Smokey is a smoker! Now I wouldn’t normally worry about political correctness and it is my intent for Smokey to be a smoker. I am not glorifying smoking by any means, I am kinda saying Smokey being a smoker is a bit smelly like stinky- so there, now I have insulted all the smokers. I was a smoker and my husband is a smoker and I really don’t have that much problem with anyone smoking that’s up to them. I just came up with the idea and would like to keep Smokey smoking in all of the paintings. It never occured to me that there would be a problem until a friend suggested I leave the cigarettes out because people won’t want to buy a painting with a smoker in it. Then my husband showed me an article in the Manly Daily -Undertow page 11 on Friday April 24. This article was about Manly Council digitally removing a cigarette from a man’s mouth in a painting that appeared on their website because of their anti smoking policy. This makes me want Smokey to smoke even more. I am wondering what all the other artists out there think. To smoke or to not smoke this is the question
AnitaInverarity
Wow never thought about this- interesting. I’m a stinky smoker lol and we are real people too (with filthy habits) and I think art should reflect all that is real and true to life.
Smokey is clearly a character that needs her cigs- it wouldnt put me off buying and if people are going to self censor more for that reason, mark my words in the future paintings with cigarettes may be quite collectable :))))))) xx
Laurie Lou McKern replied
thanks for your feedback Smokey really does need her cigs
Angela van Bo...
I think smoking was once stylish as that is how it was represented to us in the media and art
very ooozzz ..smoozzz…)I don’t think smoking has that same feel anymore …just thinking of the persons hiding in the cold outside large buildings in the city…or trapped in square in a pub…
But it’s part of your character…and that’s art!! and I have the ooozzz smooozz memories..but probaly the new generation has not :
Laurie Lou McKern replied
thanks for your comments. It isn’t thought of as sexy like in my Moms day and age but it is part of my character and I am reluctant for her to give it up- your comments are really helping me to stick to my smoking guns
Matt Mawson
My wife suggested I add a cigar to this drawing of our jack russell, Bob. I thought it was a great idea. I hope it doesn’t influence other jack russell terriers to take up the habit, though.
Laurie Lou McKern replied
I laughed my head off at your comment and love the image
Genevieve Robey
let the smoke flow! they need to realise that they are paintings and you’re not producing posters for a what’s cool at school campaign or anything : )
Matt Mawson
I found the SMH story on the Manly Council censorship. It’s pure vandalism. Sounds like the work of some silly little bureaucrat. But note the final sentence in the article … “But within hours of being contacted by the Herald yesterday, the missing cigarette had reappeared in the image on the council’s website.” Yay for common sense!
Laurie Lou McKern replied
Hey thanks for the link. I just clicked on ‘censorship’ now and read through it. Very interesting. I didn’t realise how big all this anti smoking thing is. I wonder if making smoking banned everywhere doesn’t make it just a little more attractive for the young rebel. Extra naughty. In Canada where I went to high school we actually had a smoking area outside in the cold behind the lunch room. In art college we could smoke right there in the classroom! I actually quit smoking when I was 16 (started when I was 10 but didn’t inhale till I was 12 lol) and started again when I began college cause I wanted to try it in the classroom. Smoked again till I was 21 before quitting for good. How times have changed. I somehow doubt you could still smoke in the classroom.
Matt Mawson
I’m sure the first part of the story will spread like crazy across the internet as an example of political correctness gone mad. The boring, sensible outcome of the story will be largely ignored.
Laurie Lou McKern replied
You’re probably right.
Sharon Hammond
Let ‘em smoke I say
darkestartist
i used to smoke, for a long time, and a lot. I would make him smoke, because that’s who he is. If someone is the type to digitally remove a smoke from a painting, do you really want to have your work shown there or by that group? If they censor smoking, what other things would they censor? I’d paint what I pleased :) and as unpopular as smoking is, there are entire magazines and organizations devoted to it. You could probably sell the paintings to pubs where smoking is allowed, or places that sell smoking supplies and the like. just an idea. good luck with whatever you decide.
Laurie Lou McKern replied
thanks for your wise comments
Midori Furze
I saw it on the Sydney Morning Herald first.
According to SMH, “Manly Council is renowned for its anti-smoking stance. The first local government in Australia to forbid smorking at its beaches. It has also banned smorking at al fresco dining areas, sporting frounds and within 10 metres of the ectrances to council building.”
Laurie Lou McKern
thanks for the attachment Midori
Sharon Mau
As an artist you are free to express yourself!!
Laurie Lou McKern replied
thanks for your comment Sharon- I have started the next painting in the series and she’s got her ciggy
Peter Searle (...
Dear Laurie, I personally think you would be crazy to allow political correctness to interfere with your Art. Your Stinky and Smokey works are very clever, and if you did take out the cigarette they would lose the impact they have. I’m a smoker, and whilst not advocating cigarette smoking to be something everyone should do, as it does smell etc., and is a health issue, your Art is observational, and you have every right to use whatever imagery you desire. I like to sit in the sun in a park whenever I’m able to go to town, and I have noticed a decline in the number of smokers, but there are still a hell of a lot of us, and until it is made illegal and therefore more attractive to many, I think your sales would not be affected, and your ‘friend’ should pull their head in! If ever it is made illegal your images will probably rise astronomically in price.
I apologise that I can’t accept your Journal entry into Works on Paper, as we are not accepting Journal entries. However I do think you have raised an extremely important issue which should be addressed, so I’ve replied personally to it, and have added it to my Favourites.
Peter Searle the Elder
Very Politically Incorrect
Laurie Lou McKern replied
Thank you for your wise words Elder Peter, by the way loved your 50 portraits.
limerick
I know this is an old conversation but I felt compelled to comment. Leave the smoking in. I think that it is important (even though smoking and smokers will soon be extinct) to respect smoking and smokers in history. I also don’t think that seeing a character in a painting who is smoking will romanticise the habit. It becomes part of the story. I am a smoker in the process of quitting by the way. Good day to you.;)
Laurie Lou McKern replied
thanks for your comments limerick- good luck with the giving up
Lorenzo Castello
To smoke or to not smoke this is the question.
Art is art, smokers stink.
This is not an insult, this is a fact!
A rose with any other name would smell as sweet.
I’d love my lady smoker was a non smoker.