A new vocabulary

One of the charms of the German language is that you can improvise any words you don’t have handy. They may or may not be in a dictionary (nobody knows them all). All words have come into any language through inventive usage, so some of the creations above might find themselves in daily mouthwork quite quickly. There is a already a tendency to drophyphens in US English, which must be confusing for nonnativespeakers (e.g. icecream,ice-cream, ice cream) but opensup a plethora of possibilities. To continue with the Germancomparison. Normal everyday joinedupwords translated into English could include (taken from this morning’s puzzlepage in a dailynewspaper) crosswordpuzzle, bamboobear, daycurrent,horserunningtrack, solutionword,outfilled, countrygood….. an endless delight! Artywords might include (in literal translation) chinabrush, onpointer, artstuffbottle…..

Can I step to an aside, for a moment? Does there, anywhere at all in the industrial / post industrial world, exist a glue which will permanently fasten a paper backing to a frame? It doesn’t seem to matter if I get something professionally framed, or do it myself. I seem to be constantly regluing. I am beginning to think “duct tape”. (Another example of “planned obsolescence”?)

“Exhaustipated” : too tired to give a crap (sent to me by retired parents)

Gattem, a prophet, leader or guru who has a remarkably brilliant and wicked sense of humour.

Virgist- an artist who keeps all her artwork hidden for fear it might be rejected.

“justifartist” = anyone who believes that art must be created for no other purpose but to be offered up for sale. “justifart” = art that has no value, but what the marketplace decides. “critidodger” = anyone who gains self satisfaction out of his or her artistic output, without the need for the affectations or the “rewards” of social feedback.

I have an ungrept in the house and a studio full of age-otoris.

Bebacker…the person at an out door art festival or a gallery exhibit opening who takes up a lot of time, says they’ll be back and never is.

Me again for Practical Kat: If I had your email I might be able to help since I’ve been doing this successfully for 50+ years. Just park your email here if that’s not out of your safety zone.

I have a few more Robert. 1. Grantsnuffler. This is the idiot who sits and waits for the results of the grant they applied for 8 months ago. Meanwhile they are doing nothing. 2. Angrybletus. This is the person, who instead of therapy has decided to try and express their demons through their art. And you actually have to look at this criptique stuff. 3. Golfitizit. This is the person who should have taken up golf instead of painting. 4. Momlikesititus. This is the person whom when asked your opinion really only wants to hear how much you like it because their mom likes it. 5. Helpmesellthiscrapola. This is the person who is just starting out and wants to know how to market and sell their works. Starting with asking for our mailing lists. 6. Wasteomytimeo. The client who comes to our studio with the premise of buying, but really just wants us to look at their crummy photos of their trip to the grand canyon.

Now that you mention it, Robert, I have an art storage room over-flowing with “age-otori”. I now consider them important stepping stones, ‘though in the past I have called them lots of other things. I like your borrowed word better!

feedback for John Ferrie and encouragement for Anonymous, of the previous clickback (re: A Difficult Situation”) John, I don’t think we need a new word for “judgementalist”. There is a lengthy list of persons who drew and painted their way out of difficult situations. I would find that option to be far superior to being drugged into a stupor by the pharma-poisoners. And, a pencil or brush is a far more preferable weapon than a rifle or a butcher knife — or a bridge jump, for that matter. Anon, you hang in there. I would suggest you have a look at some of the works of John Rombola, Elizabeth “Grandma” Layton, and the German, Karl Appel, for some examples of just a few persons who have encountered their own versions of the “dark night of the soul”. Or, how about Vincent Van Gogh? I do not, however, recommend the works of John Ferrie. And, John, you don’t “have to look” at anybody’s work — unless you are their teacher. In that case, you are being paid to do so.

@ Dwight: Thanks, in advance for any suggestion. I have a mail box at gmail dot com you can use. copol147 It’s one I don’t look at often, but I’ll do that for a few days.

Love the “Lugg” since I have one of those at home. How about “Timewatcher” for those wonderful “how long did it take you to paint that?” people.

@Barbara– When asked by a timewatcher how long did it take to paint that, I usually just give my age.

Liarkinding: Complimenting an artist on a painting you hate because you don’t want to hurt their feelings. Clownvisagia: Going out in public unaware you have paint on your face. Saddergaller: Depression because you didn’t sell well at your show.

Measurebator (borrowed from lab lingo) – person who has to know the exact recipe for every color in your painting. Beecow (repurposed from an old world saying) – painting that looks like two different artists painted it. Telephonanist (borrowed from family) – gallery owner who keeps you on the phone for an hour explaining in detail what exactly you should paint, why and how and the life story of every client that ever walked into the gallery, and that of the gallery owner herself.

“Doug the Lugg”. I’ll get even Robert.

Hubby blindblinkers … the man thinks anything I do from breakfast on up is superior to anyone else on the planet – the worst possible person to ask for a critique.

Snooler: An Airedale. Leaves snool on windows, doors, and one’s glasses.

Well done, you have “Cowmooned” yourself on this one!

I have read your pieces for years and even as a 3D artist much applies. HOWEVER today you have topped them all. Wonderful. In teaching English as a foreign language students often ask why English does not have a word for………. I have to tell them that English developed as a language of business (It did) and business people are highly unimaginative.

ha ha ha! Robert you nailed it! Signed, Arstratto L. Snooler, PSA, OPA (lol)

For some reason I have a need to build on this one: Slovotto: a person at a classy dinner party who remarks (or believes it is acceptable to remark) to an invited artist guest that she still has paint on her hands.

I laughed so hard at your additions to the artists’ vocabulary. My favourite is the “fogscaper”, a person who gushes over your work, in your presence and says he/she is “absolutely going to come back and buy it” and of course never does. Coward.

Exhaustipated: a combination of exhausted and constipated used when so tired you can’t move. “I painted all day and all night and now I am exhaustipated”. My daughter and I invented that word.

Loud applause! Bravo! Bravisimo! Send this into Webster’s or at least the slang dictionary; painter’s section.

Scumollector: man who offers to buy my painting if I will go to bed with him. (Really happened; I wouldn’t, he didn’t) Loved all your terms! And also Prince Phillip’s.

Loved this, it is hilarious! I am trying to think of some…. maybe not quite as clever to make up (are they called portmanteau?) words….. Always enjoy the letters…. after so many years of receiving them, they are a mood lightener, and insight bringer. Thanks for this!

Doppelanticus (or Doppelantica) – someone you notice on the street who looks like someone you know, but it couldn’t possibly because he or she would not have changed for 30 years.

Rapidimo: is an artist who races through the work just to get it done. Scrudgemuffin: artist who makes a huge mess as he/she works (often a small child).

I have a word – it’s not really related to art but could be. I’m sure that every family develops a special language as the children grow and learn to speak. Here is one of ours: “Poschunt” …. or it could be ‘poschent”. As far as I can discern, it means “supposed to should not”. As in “Mommy, you poschunt make me go to bed if I’m not sleepy”. Or, perhaps an artist poschunt copy a calendar picture and claim it as his own. Thank you again for your humor and your insights. You so often hit my nail right on its head! As a journalist (and I use the term very loosely for what I do), I know how difficult it sometimes is to come up with something to write just one day a week and you manage to do it twice while continuing to paint and produce art. I admire that.

“Slovo” means “Word” in Ukrainian, Russian and a few other Slavic languages:-) I love incorporating “slovo’s” in my paintings.

Ungrept: A wife who doesn’t understand she’s living with a genius. Might this be “spouse” and not just wife? LOL

You certainly brightened up my day! We are under 2 feet of snow here in Alberta and it’s dark outside and miserable. The new terms you posted are absolutely spot on, and so funny! Almost spat out my morning coffee on some of them. What fun!

Love this post!!! I just committed age-otori and am trying to undo what I did, but don’t know if I can get it back! I also think we need a word for when you are working from a photo and put a color down, then suddenly you see that color in your photo, this happens to me a lot. Maybe calling it “colorsight”. Also, we need one for small changes that can make or in our opinion break a painting! These are things that only we would notice, so maybe “artistinstinctivity”.

I LOVE your vocabulary terms posted today! So right-on and provided a good chuckle. I adopted Prince Philip’s ” dontopedology” for my own chronic condition when I read it somewhere else a while back. Today, I will add “arstratto” to the mix. Family health issues stopped my painting a few years back and while they are no longer pertinent, I can’t find a place to insert private painting time into the business of every other chore or activity that is screaming for my attention. Frustration is the result! Help!

Pleinaggorate- verb, the act if conversing too much to an artist while they are plein air painting. Pleinaggorator- noun, the person who is aggravating you by talking too much while you are plein air painting. Conceptingurge- verb, to suck in another artist’s ideas. Anxiartitis- fear of starting to paint, fear of galleries and all things art related. Anxiclientus- fear of openings Gennantici- committing the act of anticipating an email from Robert Genn Amazingly, the iPad did not autocorrect any of these.

Scrotarm – (pronounced scrooo-t-arm)- a term used to describe the loose skin that hangs from the underarm. The condition is actually muscle loss caused by lazy painting.

Every once in a while I have to remember to thank you for keeping me sane while I work alone in my studio. Thanks!

Loved the new words. Keep in mind, the word “lug” has this as one of it’s many meanings, so you may not need your extra “g”: 1. Slang. A clumsy fool; a blockhead.

An excellent note. Simply, clearly stated. I call this writing an “epiphandom”. Speaking of fans…..I thoroughly enjoyed doing this as a demo for a college class and it had many fans. (Sorry, that just slipped out :o).

Prepamania: The gathering and sorting of painting materials to the extent that the act of painting itself takes a back seat to preparation. Garbdenia: Artist who can’t pass found objects in the street or dumpster without picking them up for future use in a collage.

Intertwangled- totally confusing but self explanatory, as in trying to bring order out of chaos, whether it be in art or in life itself. Which may be a discombobulated definition in itself. Discomboobalated: complete disconnect, as in husband and wife trying to communicate; a mystery.

To “feedbackerist”, The best thing about this forum is an exchange of ideas, thoughts, pros and general support of art. It’s really too bad you cannot read into the whimsy of my comments. Instead you chastise me here and then hide behind your statements with a fake name. I respond all the time on here and have made many friends. As an artist who tries to help others, these are some of my experiences. Nothing is the beginning, nothing is the end. Lighten up, geesh!! John Ferrie. That’s john Ferrie. John@johnferrie.com. See, I’m not afraid to post my name or email!!

I’d like to suggest SHERPART … sherpa joined with art … the non-painting companion who helps the artist lug everything and set up for shows!

Snotfondler: A critic who fails to write up or even attend exhibitions of artists who can really paint.

Yakalot—fellow student in an art class who talks more than paints

And “feedbackerist” I don’t see you taking on anyone else on here. There are some real meanies!

‘Ninnymuggin’ from the Christmas movie Elf. Don’t know what it means but the grand kids laugh when they hear it so it must be important!

Eldercranker: An older artist who developed a simple, easy to do motif style some years ago and because of some continued demand and recognition by monied collectors and tired dealers continues to grittingly do the same thing because, well, it’s a living.

Sketchskipper- A person who wants to learn how to paint but who wants to skip the labor intensive chore of learning how to draw first. Curaborial- Curator- artist who only juries work into shows that looks like their work.

Memimpaired–Person who consistently “forgets” to meet deadlines to enter contests but is sure that if only she had entered she would win.

The Nigerian Jazz musician, Fela Kuti coined the word assemblage, “democrazies”. I knew a young poet, long ago, who was very effective at this device. Don’t know what ever became of him, but I hope his “word art” somehow survives.

domest’-irrup’-tion – The incessant duty of chores. class’i-fic’-tion – Put forth as excellent and you wonder why. un’dermin-ol’-ogist – The one who relishes in suspected failings of others. pan’der-ran’ter – The loud and gushing fan. bliss-blindness – The condition experienced after your first successful show. bemus’ey-dooz’ey – A complicated, difficult and very large painting. stutter-puttering = The inability to focus on the work. sleeper-optic – The boring composition. flasher-optic – The shocking painting. tender-optic – The sentimental painting. candy-optic – The colourful painting. …and finally I’ll include this one from personal experience: o-vert’-i-op’-sis A condition held by those who must be ‘in-your-face’ when they speak to you. These o-vert’-i-op-sis’-tic predators tend to look for weaker prey – the shy and timid. Solution for all: the studio.

Nice letter. Japanese examples so very revealing of that culture… as are yours of ours. Escape From Spiderhead!

CANVAGRATION The ceremonial burning of earlier work not suitable for displaying DRARK A work of art created after too much alcohol was consumed ARTBATROSS A large and unsellable piece of art that you can’t bear to part with, despite many studio moves MUCKTAGE A failed mixed media experiment DITZMAHLER A versatile artist who can’t settle on any particular style or subject matter PALLECY The belief that trying a different range of colours will produce better results STUBRUSH A ruined brush that should have been thrown out long ago

Flooral. A painting done on the floor

Marklepsia — the use of several strokes when one will do the same thing. Finisteria– keeping a work around endlessly wondering if something more needs doing. Redelineated– adding outline against contour strokes of a similar color. Flasher– showing toned ground through unpainted spots in the picture, most notoriously orange and red, but often gesso white.

SOLDAMORE – the client that only loves the pieces that are already sold. Never buys anything.

Huetravesty: when the artist is asked to change the colours in a painting or repaint it to match the decor. Huereka!: Upon finding the right hue to describe what one wants to convey. Naturebliss: The feeling of being enveloped in the scene on that perfect plein air painting day. Petmedia: Those dog and cat hairs that end up in your work even if they are not with you while you are painting. Conduddle: a situation where you don’t know how to proceed.

NQWIHIM: gathering a dozen or so starts that need to be painted out/cancelled. (not quite what I had in mind)

Mutoduano: Much to do about nothing

Misvaluator: Someone who comes into your gallery and looks at the price tags on all of your work. The first question asked from the observer is- “How many paintings do you do in one year?”

I never had so much fun reading one of your letters before – I can relate to every word!

Pixclamation: When someone declares: “It looks like a picture!” Pesticipant: A participating artist that eats all the food at a group show. Absaler: An artist that fails to show up to pick up their art at the end of a group show because they are absolutely convinced that it must have sold. Mediogre: A ho-hum artist that loudly criticizes others’ work to bolster their own self-image. Painterruptus: The inability to paint because of the kids, the FedEx guy, emails, the meter man, the phone, life…. Palette-Pincher: An artist that would be great if they only used more paint. Schtickler: An artist that makes a comfortable living from painting the same thing over and over and over…

For Doc Martin, above…your pun or neologism, justinbiber, was brilliant because it was true. If it weren’t cedar fever season, I would try to come up with some…woops! one is trying to come through…justin cedar? …well not quite. Drat.

What about names affecting artists? Norman Rockwell seems like a perfect name for him and the work he did. Could Disney World sound as good or work as well as any other name? I sometimes wonder if their names helped them, at least in some degree, in their direction and endeavors. Maybe some names help or hinder, look at show business. I also wonder if artists with swashbuckling, flourishing sounding names tend to produce work like that more often, with stylistic, extravagant brushwork and flourishes. Shrapnel’s name seems to fit that idea, and I don’t know if this true, but I remember reading that Board was name of the person who came up with the idea of the boardwalk. Of course a lot of it, we’re used to name and person, but it still makes me wonder. There are probably plenty of other examples.

Gerifessor- someone who’s been around for so long he/she believes everyone can learn from him/her regardless of his/her abilities or qualifications

Just wanted to take a moment to thank you Robert for the many times when this forum has challenged, encouraged, and inspired me. I appreciate your frank candor, humor, and generousity. By freely sharing your “Twice Weekly Letters,” you have given us much. Thanks also to you fellow “clickbackers” for your insightful contributions. I find myself looking forward to each installment. This one was particularly amusing and fun.

Thanks Ken Krug. What about Sir Thomas Crapper? Inventor of You Know What. Then there’s Sir James Jeans, physicist, who did not apparently invent Blue Jeans.

Landskype: A painting done on land with a Webcam. Whoopseascape: A painting done on a boat in high seas. Stillfright: A painting done on Halloween under the bed.