Dear Artist,
Andy Warhol figured everyone was now going to get their fifteen minutes of fame. Courting celebrities and his own celebrity, he needed more time at it than that. J.D. Salinger wrote a novel and a few short stories he didn’t want to talk about. Thus he became famous for not wanting to be famous. We are living at a time of obsession with celebrity. People substitute celebrities for friends and acquaintances. TV heads are good enough. Question is, I know David Letterman but does he know me? “There is much emphasis on notoriety and fame in our society,” said the noted priest/psychologist Henri Nouwen. “Our newspapers and television keep giving us the message: What counts is to be known, praised, and admired. Still, real greatness is often hidden, humble, simple, and unobtrusive. It has become difficult to trust ourselves and our actions without public affirmation. We must have strong self-confidence combined with deep humility. Some of the greatest works of art and the most important works of peace were created by people who had no need for the limelight. They knew that what they were doing was their call, and they did it with patience, perseverance, and love.”
Vegetable with Beef Stock, 1968
Screen Print
35 x 23 inches
Andy Warhol (1928–1987)
“Fame, for a painter,” said Pablo Picasso, “means sales, gains, fortune, riches. And today, as you know, I am celebrated. I am rich.” Ralph Waldo 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)
Mao, 1972
Screenprint
36 x 36 inches
by Andy Warhol
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.”
This letter was originally published as “The outlook for fame” on March 2, 2010.
Moonwalk, 1987
Screenprint
38 x 38 inches
by Andy Warhol
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“If you’re put on a pedestal, you’re supposed to behave yourself like a pedestal type of person. Pedestals actually have a limited circumference. Not much room to move around.” (Margaret Atwood)
Featured Workshop
Have some experience painting, but want to explore the elements of non-objective painting in more depth, increase your confidence and creative intelligence? Boldly Abstract 2 is for you. As in Boldly Abstract 1 we will cover aspects of color, composition and mark making however through a series of more challenging exercises meant for those with more painting experience. Learn how to fix an unsatisfying painting. We will share our extensive knowledge of the art business with you, covering such topics as the mechanics of running your own art business, applying to galleries and the ins and outs participation in art fairs.
August 19, 20 and 21
9 am to 4:30 pm
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https://artbycat.com/page/1-Workshops-Prints.html
Muskoka Beaver Pondoil on board
30 x 40 inches
Featured Artist
My statement is pretty short. I love all kinds of paintings and I think Robert Genn is Canada’s finest painter. A great feature of his work are his designs — so beautifully conceived.
9 Comments
Not sure if Picasso was happy or not with his fame and riches. I’m here in Costa Rica painting nearly every day and selling my work for a pittance at the Sunday market. I am so happy that those purchasing love what they are buying from me. I have no overhead, work is unframed and fairly small. I’m really enjoying my current reality.
I was so pleased to read your message Mary Jean – you are only the second other artist I’ve ever come across who, like me, delights in painting and passing on the paintings – and happiness – to those who love them. My motto is “I believe in real paint and affordable original art for us all”.
When the emphasis is fame, creative authenticity and integrity of soul are destroyed.
The fame of being known is likely highly overrated but good company on my painting adventures is not. This I love and it provides a kind of supportive community for my paintings, whether it is serious fans or art collectors or friend and family. The hours of sorting through painting problems, ideas and failed attempts can be gruelling at times. It is quiet work, mostly done alone. Good company can break the circular arguments I have with my brush and easel in front of a canvas. I have just spent a week on a painting trip to the southwest coast of Vancouver Island in British Columbia. No one knew me there even though I was only a few hours from home. I was just another stranger passing through. The freedom! Yet, online I had a community ready to join me as I shared my experiences. This is good company. Do I know everyone? No not at all but I know many and that is enough. But I am never fooled into the idea that it is fame. In fact, I am not sure there is really much value to others or even yourself to being famous in your own time. But maybe, I am just odd this way. The price of loss of privacy would be overwhelming I think. My paint brushes wouldn’t like it very much. ;)
There is a tremendous amount of freedom in obscurity.
Bingo!
Originally. Andy. Warhol was a fashion. artist doing. Freelance art for Mademoislelle magazine and. MillerShoe Company New York. He exhibited. His first paintedCampbell Soup paintings. 12, $100 each—-nothing sold. Now. Sell. $1 Miilion. Each-auction—info- Los. Angeles. Graphic. Arts magazine
Look at the sad trajectory and end of Thomas Kinkade :(
Abstract art isn’t really art, even Pablo Picasso admitted that and it is mentioned in one of Robert Genn’s books.