Animal Art

Method artists may feel different from the following definition. Method art is simply a manner in which you produce a specific kind of art. For the above artist, the method is by setting an animal down as their tool and seeing what comes of the animals directed whims. Other kinds of method art, by my definition, are sitting on the back of an old bus travelling down a rocky rode and simply holding a pencil or pen on a piece of paper. You will not be able to keep the writing instrument still and you do not want to. Instead you allow the natural movements of the bus over the terrain to guide the instrument as it will around the paper. When the ride is over you have a piece of art.

The same can be said of the dog or elephant. If the elephant chooses to upset the can of paint over the entire canvas and then step on it, will this be considered great art? Or will the handler toss that as a failed attempt and set a clean canvas in front of the animal to start over again. What if the dog just walks to the middle of the canvas and falls asleep? Will the owner wake it back up to continue the journey or continue the 'painting'?

When we are creating art, we are seeking to communicate something. We set out with a purpose to find a specific way to communicate our thoughts onto a piece of paper or canvas or whatever. We do not happen to fall into a vat of paint, roll around on a convenient canvas for a bit and then go about our business. We don't bumble around happily until someone puts a brush into our hand with some paint on it and press it against a canvas that happens to be there while someone shouts 'good boy', 'that a girl', 'paint paint paint'.

So don't be confused into believing that ole Fluffy is Picasso re-incarnate, or Rover is Rembrandt in disguise. Animal art is Spot with a palette and a beret, not what Spot produces in the studio. Bad, Spot. Bad.

Rant ended.

Go To Page: 1 2

Articles in this Topic    Discussions in this Topic