“Fame, for a painter,” said Pablo Picasso, “means sales, gains, fortune, riches. And today, as you know, I am celebrated. I am rich.” Emerson thought fame only proof that people were gullible. Valuing study and depth of understanding, the 4th century Chinese philosopher Chuang Tzu said, “He who pursues fame at the risk of losing his self is not a scholar.” And Winslow Homer, in yet another moment of privacy, noted, “The most interesting part of my life is of no concern to the public.” Where I live there are green shoots everywhere. Crocuses are here and even daffodils poke through. The park pathways are fresh with volunteers and there are new puppies in the district. In the daily ritual of creation, ordinary plain canvases have paint added and become something they were not. In such a place, at such a time, in such a life, perhaps we do not need to confuse things with fame. Best regards, Robert PS: “Fame is like a river that beareth up things light and swollen, and drowns things weighty and solid.” (Sir Francis Bacon) Esoterica: Last summer I was helping out one of my dealers by personally delivering a large painting to a guy who already had a pile of New York biggies at his various ranches. He was one of those oversize, meat-handed characters who made his dough in oil or something and was now sunning by his pool with his third trophy wife. Contemplating my painting with a cool connoisseur’s eye for about three seconds, he read my name at the bottom and said, “I think I’ve heard of you.” I thanked him for hearing of me, and then his wife thoughtfully added, “We got you because we’d heard of you. You’re fairly famous.” The true value of art? by Cynthia Waring Matthews, Ojai, CA, USA I was dreadfully bitten by that bug of fame. My Uncle Fred created the Waring blender, and my father was a concert pianist. It seemed that the only way to get attention in my family was to do something spectacular and important. I’m not saying my family members were trying for fame, it is how I took it as a young child with my need for attention. I wrote a book, performed a one woman show all over the US, and the elation lasted for about a half hour. Then I read a passage by Henry Miller about art’s purpose was to transform the artist. He had an idea that he took into all his cells, digested them with all the parts of him, all his ideas, desires, creativity, and when he was done he was a different person. Transformed like a butterfly. But the art itself was like dung. He felt embarrassed at giving his books to people because it was dung. There are 2 comments for The true value of art? by Cynthia Waring Matthews Fame as illusion by Karl Leitzel, Spring Mills, PA, USA
“The Sarah Jane at Dock, Edisto Island”
oil painting
by Karl Leitzel
“Bev’s place of peace”
watercolour painting
by Rebecca Gottesman
“Creamer and oranges”
original painting
by Bobbi Dunlop
Jim Larwill
“Card carrying”
original painting
by Karen Weihs
“Winter study”
original painting
by Bill Hibberd
“Iridescent Iris”
original painting
by Marney Ward
Aerial watercolour painting by Ann Sutherland Gruchy, ON, Canada |
Archived Comments
Enjoy the past comments below for The outlook for fame…
Fame
Fame is not synonymous with contentment. Neither is their source identical. Contentment may be enduring and full with the simplest of lives and the commonest of people. They should never be confused and contentment should always be preferred, if the choice must be made between them.
Robert, I was reading your letter to my husband, He said your should have given the “oilers ” back their money and taken the painting!
The most famous person in all of the world was the most humble of all human beings that had ever lived. His fame still inspires humility through servitude this very day. He gave up all to be everything to each of us. The books written about Him outnumber any best seller on the market today. There are multiple thousands of bookstores across the world which carry information just about Him and His life. Yet, those who are the wealthiest and claim their fame do their best to smear His name.It is very odd, isn’t it?
Although many would like the freedom and joy of painting for the sake of painting without fame, it is difficult to pay for the supplies and expenses without selling. And selling is a little easier with “fame.” Really, this is a catch 22.
I have never figured out why fame is desirable in the first place. What possible value can fame give? If it translates into solid income, okay, but beyond that the loss of privacy is too great a cost. Of course there is a difference between being known in your field of endeavor and rock star status as Picasso was. I would much rather have respect. Esteem for skill will eventually turn into income as well and one can still putter through the grocery store in anonymity – and that is priceless. I would never have described your “oilers” as connoisseurs. They’re common groupies.
Paintbrusher, I appreciate your comment and I know who you are talking about and agree with you. However, to say the wealthiest do their best to smear His name is a little over the top. Some people do and always have, but when I think of people like Bill Gates, I don’t think he is trying to smear the name of Jesus. He gives more money than many countries have. There are many wealthy people who believe in Him and do a lot of things in His name. I know several of them myself. Don’t make a blanket statement that all wealthy people are bad.
Today too many are famous for just being famous. Their fame is hollow and without substance and rewarded only by those whose lives are as empty, they raise the famous to idol status. The famous become surrogates for our seemingly miserable lives. Lest we forget the true purpose of fame, we miss the whole point entirely notoriety. Being noticed. Fame equates into money for those who are famous and for those who attach themselves to the famous. Its the trickle-down effect. Most in the world are destined to lead very ordinary lives by famous standards. Now this may not be politically correct to say, but its a fact. Instead of filling our childrens heads with thought of being president or being millionaires, we should teach them to be aware of who they are and that what they do is more important the being famous because of it. Fame is also no panacea. As with lots of money, fame comes with more responsibility than anyone realizes. Fame also limits some from achieving full potential due to the new pressures that arise. Pressures many new famous are unprepared to handle. History is filled with tragic stories of those who achieved fame and crashed and burned and the book on these people is still being written. Being famous forces one to be something others want you to be. Living up to that takes much out of who you were supposed to be. We all look to those with more than what we have and want to be like them. It doesnt have to be a Rock Star or American idol. It could be a scientist, classical musician, teacher, and our parents in many cases. We all want more for our children than we had. The problem is fame distorts reality. Super fame separates you from reality and who you are and who you could be is lost in the translation. Fame can be good if you have a genuine gift or message. John Kennedy, Martin Luther King, John Lennon. Mother Therese, to mention a few. But true fame has a price. Fame takes away our right to privacy. Fame pigeonholes us. Stifles individual growth. We are forced into being what it is we are famous for. Change becomes difficult. We could lose our fame, which is inevitable after some time. Without true substance we have little to fall back on.
My family knows who I am as a person and as an artist, and likes me still. That satisfies me enough.
Great things should be known. Great work should be known. Great people should be known. But for idiots, just the known part is important, not the great part. This has always been true. People have always aspired to power, not greatness.
Oh, I thought paintbrusher was talking about another guy – the one that became popular a few hundred years later…
When you think about all the slaughter, deception, jihad and inquisition done in the name of the famous guys of religion, it makes the idea of fame even less appealing.
Curtis… Thank you for your reply. I apologize for not being more specific and seeming to be somewhat self righteous. My intention was not to smear the wealthy but to make a statement as to the poverty that can be found in riches. Thank God for the well known and the wealthy. Many of them surely adore the Lord and give endlessly to the cause of Christ and surely many are humble. I am painfully aware that even the poor can smear the name of God. But, consider the most famous and rich headliners in today’s media. How did most get there? A few might have reached their heights by being mild tempered, self-effacing and gentle, but not many. There are a few verses from the Bible that will clarify and better describe what I am really trying to say. It is found in the parable of the rich young man in Matthew 19:16-30. In these verses, you will find that Christ turns the world’s values upside down. It is for sure that the wealthy can enter the kingdom of God but with great difficulty and near impossibility. “…It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God. (Jesus, Matthew 16:24)
I quit painting this very week because I saw that I don’t paint for the love of painting, but instead for some sort of validation. I secretly substituted success in painting for success in relationships, which had been filled with failure for me. I thought that if I could paint I would be happy. I thought mastery could complete me. I didn’t verbalize these thoughts, but they were underground and needed to be unearthed. What I discovered was that each time I achieved a goal, another loftier goal promised the contentment I still lacked. It was never enough. Success in painting is not the key to contentment. As your letter points, humility has much more to do with a peaceful state than accomplishment does. When I taste humility, (and I know that when it’s present the sense of “I” is not) there may be painting again for the simple pleasure of it, but for now it’s been put aside. When it’s not a compulsion, but a simple part of a normal life it will be fine to pursue.
Having just returned from a week’s stay, your letter is timed perfectly. Before going there, the place got Googled by me and knew the 50+ galleries would be getting a visit from me. Ya, I visited some galleries and after the first 6, decided I didn’t need or want to see any more. Did you know that in every one, the curator assured me that the artists he represented were “internationally famous” and “are very sought after”. “Hmph, really!”, I said. So, the paintings received another going over by my eyes. Nothing had changed since the label of famous was dished out. They still looked the same. Robert, it made me realize that I can find really great art right here in my own backyard, and among my friends. Fame is nothing if it doesn’t feel good.
Who hasn’t heard about Andy Warhol? Do we envy him because he is famous? If you want to be a connoisseur of art, read his memoirs and try to understand his creativity process. At some point in his life, he must have been humble and grateful.
When I was young I thought I would be famous. But, at 63, my definition of fame has changed. Perhaps a better term would be known quietly. I introduced myself to someone recently and the first thing out of her mouth was, Oh, the artist? She had seen my first (and, so far, only) solo exhibition last year and it made an impression. If I can accumulate some more small moments of recognition and appreciation, it will mean much more than having my art shredded by critics in national magazines.
yep, we think that oil/whatever-rich “connoisseur” is something of a jerk for just buying art based on a name he thought he’d heard of – but you got your check! Not a bad return on semi-fame.
Regarding this fame thing. I am certainly not famous in any circle. However lately I have discovered blogging. I have spent the last week creating a new blog, sometimes the better part of a whole day messing around on the computer trying to make it interesting. I now eagerly go to my blog page anticipating hoardes of followers, but that is not the case. I am usually a very private person who values my alone time, but I get a little thrill every time someone leaves a comment, almost like selling a painting. I think it is the validation that is so rewarding. It is that I have made a connection with someone, that maybe my art speaks to them. Painting is an ultimately lonely pursuit and I think it is perfectly normal to seek out the approval of others. Yes I would still paint if I was the only one around, but a little pat on the back goes a long way!
I really am pleased to be receiving your observations. We paint because we are painters. I often feel sadness for the famous people of the world.
We sometimes lose sight of he fact that we should just create and not obsess over fame and fortune, although both or either would be nice. Spring is almost upon us; a season of renewal.
This essay hurts to read, because it is an ongoing issue for me. I’ve learned the hard way that if I pursue fame and recognition, I get pulled off balance. I start to think about work that other people will find appealing. I lose my center. When I am restored to sanity, I realize the only authentic work I can create is the work that’s in my heart. I love it when other people love my work, too, of course. But I must stay focused on my vision. I must remain true to my story and my heart. Interestingly, when I do that work? Other people find it authentic and powerful, and desirable, too.
Of course, fame does not make up for love and close relationships in one’s life. I always say, the greatest art form is the art of living. I have a little bit of fame in my community and a little less outside it. Would I like to be famous? I really would, but not at the cost of giving up my independence, my integrity, or my pleasures, and personal life. As the guru said, “you can have whatever you want, just step up and pay the price.”
I recently landed a deal with a local news station as a regular guest, coming onto their show once a month to share an easy art project for their viewing public to try at home. I call the segment, “Gettin’ Artsy With Elida.” Anyhow, on a recent trip I made some conversation with people on the plane and I explained what I did and also my new show. My new found friends got all excited when I mentioned my TV gig and said, “your famous!” I have a pair of jeans branded “almost famous,” and my retort to them was I was wearing a pair of jeans called “almost famous,” but when I traded them in for the jeans that said, “FAMOUS,” then I’d let them know. Until then, I’m just “almost famous!”
Most people who paint would like some sort of acknowledgment of their efforts. Surfing the web brings up names of some very good artists who have been swept aside by the currents of so-called popular tastes. Many art historians have cut their teeth by re-discovering these ‘forgotten” artists that were lauded in their time with honors and recognition. Looking through their art many did deserve these awards. Fame is fleeting so all that one can do is to paint and enjoy the journey.If it is meant to be it will happen. Pursuing fame is similar to chasing water–you will just waste your time and energy.
Today is my 50th birthday and I wanted to say thank you for being so insightful and giving me so much joy.
I really enjoy reading your column — it is rare to find an articulate and good painter. I am always amazed to find artists who talk about how unimportant fame (as in recognition), fortune and wealth are to them, are also the very ones who are currently enjoying prosperity.
With my famous name, I was forced to learn to deal with lots of attention in growing up. Like Salinger, I did not want it. In 1961, It took me almost drowning in a Hollywood motel pool when I was six years old to realize who I was named after. My mother informed me that Esther J. Williams was her real name too and this was just a coincidence. So, I dealt with lots of “Do you swim?” So, I learned to swim, it kept my elders happy. When I watched the 1950`s famous Esther Williams swimmer`s movies I swooned and aspired to be like her. So, some celebrities are good role models. Many years later when I had two daughters I wound up on about 50 different movie and television sets in the entertainment industry in Burbank, CA. The gate checkers always quizzed me if I was related. For 5 years, my cute girls played parts as extras, small feature actresses and one main role. I learned that in Hollywood, if you are not the main talent, you get treated like an ingrate, a follower, not a leader. Extras are treated like a herd of cattle. The pay is by far less than the main talent who receives millions. It is no wonder that in our society, celebs are thought of as Gods and every young person aspires to be like them. If you compare how clean cut the celebrities were 50 years ago with the shock factor behavior of today’s celebs, it makes you shake your head in wonder. Where has all the innocence gone? What more shocking things does one have to do to get noticed? How far can this go? Let`s go back to old values please. One thing I taught my girls is to be themselves and not to think they are more important than others because they were in the movies. Hollywood tried to dig it`s claws into my girls and I pulled them out before they turned into another Brittany Sparkle Queen or Lindsay Low Life. I am proud of my girls for being real, living life as normal chickadees, they will turn out okay, this I know. I saw too many other wanna-be actresses heading down the road where the soul gets lost. I don`t believe all celebrities are shallow, hollow human beings, there are some actual famous and good people celebs. This same attitude holds for fine artists, if I were to become famous, I would not allow the stardom to engulf me. There must be retreat time to allow the soul to breathe. I will give back like you see some celebs do with their time and money. My girls are head smart, going to college. My sixteen year old is a budding artist. I get to paint and pursue my artistic course instead of being a stage mother of famous young actresses. All is well.
No one is perfect, but perhaps fame brings out more imperfection than some other traits. With fame there is more likelihood of abuse of power, the proliferation of ignorance, the disuse of intelligent conversation, unwarranted control over others and a pervasive worship that denies the just rights of the non famous.
I never know what to do with all the art I produce. I have not been successful selling things. Maybe my kids will make me famous after Im dead…..
Dear Robert, Fame is a funny thing. You do some work, there is a bit of press or notoriety about it and people come and take notice. It is all very well and good as you are riding the crest of the wave. People come up to you, they tell you they like your work and want to be near you. It can also help green light further projects based on the success of previous works. But people also claim just because they know your work they also know you personally. They hang close for too long making you uncomfortable and think nothing of saying weird things to you just to get a reaction. We love to build someone up and we love to see them fall. Look at Lindsay Lohan for this example. Fame also, doesn’t pay your rent! People are surprised that just because you are famous, you are not rich! I have a little bit of notoriety for some of the work I have done. With that comes phone calls from strangers offering to handle my “stock portfolio” and offer me an “investment opportunity”. Little do they know I made my Visa card payment with my Mastercard that day! If everyone gets 15 minutes of fame, be careful what you wish for! Fame may get you a nice table at a restaurant, but especially these days, you still have to pay the bill! Always, John
Robert, you are a toot!!! You are your own person, weirdly wonderfully you. I’m laughing out loud and glad you are alive and contributing to this art world.
A wealthy business man walked into a gallery, looked at a painting of mine and said, “This guy is very good but who is he?” He liked my work but didn’t buy it because he didn’t “know” my name. It depends on why someone collects art, (falling in love with the work, or the alternative). It’s tough, but I’ll plumb for the love motive (at least until I’m famous). 8]
“Paintbrush”, perhaps not so humble. He did after all claim to be divine and the sole route to heaven. Where would the world be now if he had been overcome by an attack of false modesty?
… and he had a great PR team behind him!
Maybe it’s just me, but I have never been interested in achieving fame as an artist. i just want to be able to continue painting and sell enough work to be able to do it full time.
Fame is a measure of how resonant a person’s work or life is with people. What that means depends on who comprises the audience, To be famous among great artists means a lot more than fame among those with little depth or taste. Would you rather sell a thousand prints of a painting or only one to David Hockney? The only thing fame does is give you opportunity and every opportunity has costs. Van Gogh sold one painting in his life. Franz Kafka only 32 copies of The Castle, and he bought 16 of those. What difference would it have made if they had been world famous? JD Salinger had it right. Get famous enough to turn your back on fame.
Er… a thousand thanks very much, my cat knows more about art than Hockney and to be honest he’s not a very intelligent cat!
re: Thompson: “…my cat knows more about art than Hockney…” obviously your cat hasn’t read Hockney’s books and essays or really looked at his sprawling works. the man knows his stuff.
I am not looking for fame. I paint what I want to, when I want to and how I want to. I consider painting my passion. However a buck now and then would sure help pay for my passion… it is an expensive passion.
to Jeanne Long- you don’t know me and have no reason the read any further but I went to your site and think your work shows real emotion and sensitivity. I understand your thinking and many artists suffer the same malady. Once I painted for myself and loved what I did, then fell victim to “sales syndrome”, and I know my work and well being suffered. I’ve since come full circle and now paint from my heart again. I don’t know if my new work will sell or not, I do know I love my work again and feel its real and honest. I look forward to going into the studio every day and painting. I don’t think about sales, galleries or if anyone would like my work. My only criteria is I need to like it and that’s all that counts. I know I will present it to the galleries soon but don’t hold out hope or desire they love it. If they do, they do, if not, no matter. I think you should come back with a renewed purpose of painting only for yourself. I feel you contributes to art.
David and Sarah; I appreciate your comments… What motivates us to become famous is an important factor. Everyone loves a pat on the back and a check in the mail, including myself. Lot’s of sweat, long hours of study, hard work and the sharing of our craft with students usually produces well deserved fame and the perks that accompany such. I believe this good kind of fame comes as a matter of course and is motivated by very little thought of becoming famous. Like respect; it is earned and comes in due time. If a person only uses money and/or jealousy to motivate himself to fame it often becomes tainted with selfishness and the craft becomes a job. The joy of painting is lost, copying rather than originality becomes the order of the day and others as well as himself loose out in the long run as sharing is little or ever in their vocabulary or life style. They take but never give back. Jesus gave all He had even to death to make available the joy of life to others. He never ordered His way to others but simply described it and always left the choice to the listeners. He never claimed to be perfect. He said that only His father was perfect. He accepts you and I unconditionally even with all of our imperfections. The reason He became so famous and highly respected is because He was and is still endlessly doing the work He came to do and doing it well. His fame came about through the positive testimony of those who gave Him a try and not by soliciting fame through a paid PR team or a click of wealth. He doesn’t want our dollar, just our love. The world we see today depending on our vision is the result of people not following His prescription for a joyful life. I cannot begin to imagine what the world would be like without His presence. The turmoil we now face within our own country (US) is proof positive that He is needed more than ever. Once again, read the stories behind the media headliners to see what motivated them to the fame they now have.
Unfortunately- this site needs to NOT become a jesus-focused site- sorry- No matter what YOU believe- paintbrusher- not everyone shares your interest in jesus. There are as many ways to enlightenment as there are people. Jesus has been directly responsible- through his followers- for a great deal of pain- grief- hurt- anguish and death- for the last 2000 years. Unfortunate- but true. That needs to end- but it is still propagated by his followers- people like you.
Because my husband and I were among the main pioneers in the revival of hand made paper in America, we, and our hand made paper studio, Twinrocker, became famous, especially in the early years of the 1970’s and then later, internationally. People would say, “Oh it’s so nice to meet you. I’ve heard so much about you.” Naturally one wonders, “What have they heard? Who do they think I am?” And you know they have no idea what you are all about. It’s an empty feeling. I wanted to say to them, “Oh have you used our papers and loved drawing on them?” But that’s not what they meant. In the midst of our career, a documentary short movie was made about our life as paper makers called “The Mark of the Maker.” It was nominated for an Academy Award, and so we went to the Oscars and walked across the red carpet and had our 15 minutes of fame. When those kinds of things are not important to you, just surprises that may come, and are the fun “icing on the cake”, that you never have striven for, you can enjoy them and not let it go to your head. Privacy is a very wonderful thing that many don’t value until they loose it. Fortunately, living in Brookston, Indiana has had the natural effect of keeping our egos at the humble level.
An artist friend of mine forwarded to me “The outlook for fame” I just wanted to tell you that I enjoyed reading it a lot; it is a refreshing outlook on fame. I have nothing against fame or fortune, but it’s nice to know that not everyone values them excessively.
Re: J. Bruce Wilcox comment… I expected as much from You – a truly hate inspired, insecure, damaged little man. …get well soon, dude.
The only fame I want ,is the fame to be known as a NON-starving artist who was able to heat and eat from his artistic effort.
Dear John! I’m 6’4″- so- sorry- not little at all- anywhere! Maybe you should grow up being bashed by heterosexist christian a**holes- too! And then maybe you should spend much of your life crawling out of the damage wrought by said christians- while exploring the totality of religion/spirituality on this Earth- only to discover all the direct connections you need inside yourself. It is perpetrated that jesus said the kingdom of heaven is within you. I found it. Jesus isn’t necessary.
One other thing I’ve learned, John- is that christians- who love to be seen as victims- still- even after 2000+ years- really hate it when somebody (like me) illustrates to said same christians that they have- in fact- become the victimizers. Every week- virtually every day- I can find stories online illustrating how christians have become bullies. But not to leave out other organized religions- because many of them have become bullies too. So here’s some truth. If you have a vengeful wrathful god who thinks there’s even a single good enough reason to kill somebody else in the name of your god- your god is a bully. If your preachers preach this- your preachers are bullies. If your congregations support this- your congregations are filled with bullies. I am an artist. Growing up in a religious christian community as a male artist was enough of an issue that I became THE target. And that made me- to the christian community bullies- a sissy- a queer- a homo- and a faggot. I WAS 8. And all because I just didn’t care about competitive sports. So you see- John- I’m what you get. (Eternally long pause…) I’m what you get? That’s right! An enormously creative individual who will no longer tolerate being bashed by christians without standing up to them. Enjoy!
Ahhh….there lies the rub. Importance versus transformation. Nature relies on transforming itself seasonally while we worry about what someone thinks of our work. I love what I paint and how I transform those thoughts and images, despite what someone else thinks. I’m fortunate to survive and paint every day without too much present-day fame. I’ll leave that to succeeding generations to worry about….