Do Some People Hate your Art Work?

Interesting read, thanks Janis.

Good reminder. Thanks, Janis.

if we all liked the same thing it would be a boring old world…..and I am sure what is called ‘mediocore’ as he says would also be loved and hated by some people if the audience viewing was wide enough. My husband and I saw some amazing artworks last night at an exhibition and were startled to see what won a prize was an abstract of pale pinks, greens, yellows slapped onto a canvas in a childlike style that looked like it took 10 mins to do….I did not hate it but did not like it and could not understand how it could win when next to it was a painting that showed so much talent…the mind boggles (so they say)....art is subjective and like Clint says if people hate your work you are on the right track….obviously some people loved this style to vote for it! Good article Janis…

Most famous artists, if not all, had serious detractors. Breaking new ground is part of what art has come to mean, and breaking does not feel good if it is your work being broken and then disregarded. There is however very famous art that is not so controversial. There are also very popular artists who are hated by other artists. Anyone who thinks there is an artwork that is loved by all, probably is assuming way too much…

I never thought about this being a good thing,but now I see at least they are having a reaction and thats the idea ,no reaction may imply mediocraty .thanks. these articles are most helpful.

Hate is such a negative word and projects such anger and negative energy to the universe…..
Mediorce is not acceptable….............

we missed the judging.. but there were some amazing pieces and yes I do agree that paintings that are not realistically protrayed but evoke emotion are very good…there was one with a few lines strung across it called String Quartet which said a lot but only had a few painted lines on it placed strategically and had an impact…..but somehow I could not understand the other one …..

I was considering a reasonable benchmark would be the groups on the bubble, number of members and artwork …........ but then, Watson could put all these people in the mediocre class ….. An interesting guide, would be the amount of sales from each group, in relation to its member numbers …........
You have provided food for thought Janis …... :))

I feel like typing a huge YES not one person I know likes my art,, three family members do and three top Australian well known artists, good for my ego there!!! One gallery owner, LOL but he frames my work so he has a $$$ vested interest , Many judges who awarded me prizes must see some good ! Janis ,I reacted when I saw that word *HATE becuse I frequently get/got that thrown at me I HATE that , [oh they love[d] my old works pretty gum tress ]not here all sold ] P.S. I don’t care of course. it’s all ho hum in my dottage!!

ammendments LOL I meant to say’ hardly anyone ’.. not …’not one person’ Janis thanks for taking so much time to do these!

this is truly interesting… as I am struggling at the moment trying to know what exactly is the worth of my “art”...!
in french we say that nothing is worst than indifference… love it, hate it, but please by all means do not ignore it…
in a site like RB it is somewhat hard to have an exact and constructive return on what we share as we are supposed to be “gentle” no matter what in our reviews… therefore, unless we are tight with some recognized artist or critic or collector, you are mostly sleeping in yhe infamous comfort zone…
for example, what should I think when noticing that I have a small but enthusiastic fan base, a collection of features and challenge wins, but not home page features and erratic sales that count on less then 10 fingers !!!?
I am truly at a crossroads regarding this part of my life… should I go on or should I pick another way to express myself ?
I have absolutely no confidence on my artistic worth, doubting every single image I dare to show here… I am told that it shows a common trend to true artists out there,,, fine… but sometimes it may be helpful to have a mirror saying something else than the conventional comment without deeper references !
haters, dare to come forward !!!
my best, francis.

don’t think we are allowed to take photos of their work on the wall…..and the expo was in a movie theatre complex… ..

hate is jealousy and anger…..........
mediocre is a word and performance that is not acceptable….......
one should always strive for excellence of their ability…........

I wonder how many times in life we are told our work is great, but the person making the comment is just being polite and really thinks the opposite……hmmmmm….

Ooooo, are there people really like that, and why?

Just an observation Janis, why would anybody say one thing, in regard to artwork and not mean it ?

Richie mustn’t have been to England :) I have heard people here say things like, “Oh, isn’t that lovely” and then when the artist is out of earshot, “what a load of rubbish”. It all depends on whether there are any social advantages in keeping friendly with the artist. I’ve never been to Australia, but I get the feeling Ozzies say what they mean, which is a good thing.

You wrote: “Being hated is a good thing.” Someone on Redbubble recently threatened to slit my throat, so does that mean I am improving as an artist? Sorry – I have a warped sense of humour (Redbubble got rid of them anyway).

Nobody seems to like real paintings. Just stuff that appeals to the basic in them. But most might buy something that they imagine, they could live with, say on their living room wall.
I only paint the things I like, and not for a particular market. I will not sell anything, because I never get seen enough. And my paintings are very unfashionable, boring to most, probably. No silly cartoons, etc, which seem to appeal. But it’s all part of my own therapy. It’s just nice to get any feedback, no matter what it is!!!

there was no link …there was just the artist’s name, price, and telephone number for sales…all of them had the same..just a name, price and telephone no. Have no idea what the name was now but if still hanging when we are there next will check it out for you :-) They are all local artists of the mountains here.

at home nobody understood my poems, and even though they seemed quite simple to me. And so I tried to change, but then I realized that I can’t change my emotions, and I can change who I am, because that;s what my poems were, a piece of me :) great topic!

Thanks Janis it is a good article. Where you have one painting you can have three different opinions. I remember completing an assignment on Jackson Pollock and normally I would not have liked his work but found it very interesting and understanding his painterly methods. We have his blue poles here at the National gallery. Someone also put his work etc.through a program and came to the conclusion that he was bordering on being a genius. I have done a series of paintings like his and found in one exhibition someone who liked one so much that she came back three times wanting to buy it but her husband discouraged her as it was too big for their bedroom wall! One exhibition I attended a few years ago consisted of a great many realist and beautiful paintings and the one that won the prize were twelve stones placed around a sheet of plastic and called the 12 afossiles. The concept was clever but I personally thought it should have been called a piece of installation art. When we lived in the U.S. someone told me if I had the money to pay him he could promote my work in New York and he was a barristor cum art critic. I didn’t have the money nor did I want my work recognised via that method. I paint and enjoy it and hope people get some enjoyment from it and looking at it from a mother’s viewpoint, when I go up yonder our son will have his pick!!!

I think a lot of times it’s publicity that goes along with provocative artwork that makes people hate the work. You have to look at the work itself. I love, love, love Pollock. I hate i phones, they’re too slow. I never liked Mondrian and still don’t, but came away from a retrospective show mightily impressed with his methods and with infinite respect. I love Mapplethrope and love, love Joel-Peter Witkin, i don’t like Serrano, all three are hated by many. The body of work by Jeff Koons i think is his best is the one most think is his worst. I absloutely detest Alex Katz’s portraits and figures, i love his nature and landscape paintings. The British hate Howard Hodgkins, i love his work. They hate Damien Hirst, i love his sculptures but think his paintings are shit. And on and on, you have to look at the work and ignore they hype good or bad, and take it case by case. And you’re allowed to revise your opinion either way down the line as time goes on as well.

But then again, there are artists like David Hockney, who hates his work? some, probably. But the fact that his work is so likeable doesn’t make him less of an artist.
I hat to see you be so quick to write off all installation work. There’s plenty of crap, to be sure. But there’s also a lot of stunning work around too, that gives you things you just don’t get from painting of other traditional forms. Like Bill Viola, Nam June Paik, Rachael Whiteread, Olafur Eliasson, Andy Goldsworthy, just to name a few. It’s of course better if you’re able to see the work in the flesh as opposed to just pictures, i do miss living in NYC when i could.

Wonderful article Janis to make us inspired and be AUDACIOUS, Again you have given us and insight of your most generous self and spirit. thank you.

No matter what you create and how you create it, some people will love it, some people will hate it and just as many will be indifferent to it. No point worrying about it either way. The only opinion you should really concern yourself with is your own.However, if you want to be concerned about any other the others, make it ‘indifference’. At least the others noticed it and had a reaction of some kind. That’s the best you can hope for.
And regarding the iPhone. I have one and love it to death BUT, I didn’t spend AU$700 on it and nor would I have done. I paid AU$200 as part of my phone plan. Considering the way it has changed my life in so many positive ways ( like being able txt my kids in the UK without having to hit a button a zillion times to get a letter, plus being able to email them, Skype them etc etc from anywhere I happen to be, even in a power blackout, (like it last night)) that I consider it to be the BEST $200 I ever spent. Does that sound ‘idiotic’? If so, then I’m happy to be one. X

This article is hitting the marketing button right on the nose! That’s what marketing is all about, finding that niche or pocket of love/admiration/need/want and selling to that group! . There is an old saying that without pain there would be no joy and I guess it holds true in lots of different areas….