I’ve always known that one way to win fame and fortune in the art world is to produce bad art. Not unbelievably terrible art, but just stuff that looks perhaps childish or unfinished. Often this will be praised as “abstract genius” when it is little more than lack of skill and/or imagination.
It pains me to no end to know that a young great artist like James Jean is largely unknown outside the comic book and “young artist” world (i.e. the network of young artists themselves) while hacks like this guy get to meet Muhammad Ali, Larry King and even the President (both the new and old).
Go ahead and check out the story about him presenting his art to Mrs. Obama here. I just read this and kept thinking “really?….really?! … REALLY?!” C’mon Michelle, I’m sure Maleeyah has created more impressive portraits of her mom in her grade school art class. At least those probably had a face…and fingers. This guy, Patrick, seems like a nice guy. I’m not meaning to say he is a bad person, just a bad artist. It pains me that guys like this are able to make a good living doing their “art” while more talented people languish in 9-5 “jobs.”
James Jean doesn’t have to do that, he’s won enough Eisner Awards to ensure that, but many others aren’t as “lucky.”
Like these folks:
and so on.
Of course I don’t know for sure that they aren’t millionaires selling their art to Presidents… but reading their blogs makes it seem like they don’t have the freedom of Patrick.
And this leads back to the debate about what is “good” art. I’ve always stood by the notion that a work must be aesthetically pleasing, skillfully produced and with purpose (for the artist, audience or both). Patrick’s commissions surely have purpose, but they’re hardly aesthetically pleasing (although that is an individual opinion I suppose) or skillfully produced. In the same way I don’t believe that Duchamp’s Fountain is art simply by calling it art. There is a difference in assigning your name to something to denote “skill” and actually demonstrating your skills. Often Patrick’s work (check out the website) doesn’t even look nice, it looks like muddy rubbed out pastels that were left in the trash after art class.
In the old days, the abstract masters would learn how to make art with skill before setting their sights on abstraction. Picasso could actually paint and draw very well if he wanted to. I doubt Patrick can.
I also have mixed feelings regarding my own work. Two friends saw some of my work this weekend that had never seen it before (the new work that isn’t on this website) and said I should show it somewhere. The cleaning guy that cleaned my carpets said the same thing. I still think I have a way to go before doing anything like that, but when I see things like Patrick’s it blows those notions out of the water because (at least in my opinion) my work is at least better than that…. and Michelle Obama bought something from him!
However, even though Patrick’s work is not pleasing to my eye – he does have a consistent style, which is something I’m still working on. Perhaps that is the key.
Haa! Good one! I appreciate your time and energy. Being a hack it is an honor to have a great man like you take the time..I hope that someday I am able to become as talented as you. When I feel I have improved to your standards I will let you know…. That is what art is all about right…let me please those that know more then me. I mean lets be honest you went to school for how many years to study art?? All the money you spent.. it really does show in your work and your insights into my lack of talent.
Its funny I almost look at your work with envy…really! It is clear to see that you are a good student..you follow directions well…Let me share a little secret with you..the next time somebody tells you that something is not right or not good do yourself a favor…ask “says who?” or “Why?” You will find out at the end of the day it is all just the opinion of the person trying to validate their own exsistence with their opinion. Those opinions say more about the person then they do about the work..feel free to write anytime.
I really do love your work
The Hack
Patrick, believe it or not, I went through most of your website and you honestly seem like a nice guy. I don’t mean to insult you personally. However, I just don’t like your artwork, and a person’s work has to stand on it’s own. Surely you have your own limits on what you consider good or bad art as well. Do you think Terence Koh should have been able to sell his feces for $500,000? If the answer is yes, consider the fact that it wasn’t a new idea, Gilbert and George have made “art” from their own excrement since 1983. It is easy to say Art is in the eye of the beholder…until somebody tests your limit.
If you want a more detailed description of what exactly I don’t like about your work I’m perfectly willing to talk about it – but I’d assume it would be a waste of your time (and possibly mine). And you’re more than welcome to critique mine in kind.
However, The point was not to directly compare my art to yours or even to say that you shouldn’t have the recognition you do; I was actually expressing my frustration that others who are (in my opinion) more talented are not receiving the same level of recognition. For example, would a portrait of the president by James Jean not be amazing? I try to go to local art galleries as much as I possibly can, and I’m often sad to see great paintings go without purchase month after month and sometimes even year after year. I would be buying these pieces and supporting these artists if I had the means, which makes me wonder why those with the means are not.
I suppose one reason is that the art that I like is more “context specific,” meaning that the message in the work is much more specific and less open to interpretation by the purchaser. Your work on the other hand is not very specific. Eyes floating in the air and female bodies without faces. It is hard to pin down any specific story, person, etc. in your work. This actually makes it perhaps more valuable to the collector because they can assign their own value. (which is why abstracts and still life paintings always sell well) Which leads me to believe that most collectors are going about their art critiquing quite differently than me. I put great value on the skill expressed in the work. Maybe only because I wish I had that level of talent. I’d like to think that knowing how hard it is to do these things allows me to assess their value better.
I do recognize by the way that you’re better than me in many ways. You’re obviously more confident about showing your work, selling your work and promoting yourself (and I don’t mean that in an insulting way).
And it is great that even in the face of an insulting critique you have a sense of humor (I think).
Honesty. That, in my opinion, is what makes art great and Pat is honest. You can see it in his work. It’s as simple as that.