So you paint or sculpt figures or flats !!!

[hazmat]

Do you consider yourself a hobbyist or an artist ? I consider myself and all that paint or sculpt as artist !!! and say it with pride ... If I am going to a figure show and someone at work asks where are you going this weekend ? I say with pride ... to an art show !!! LOL
I would like the input from those outside the USA and how the figure world is perceived by the public and how you feel about this art form .

 

[ChaosCossack]

I absolutely agree with Adam on this point. What is being done in the figure (and armour) community has been definitely raised to the level of an artform... far from the "toy soldier" that spawned the modern figure of today. Since I joined PF I've been humbled by the artists I've encountered here and strive to develope my skills to just be in the same ballpark as some of the fine artists seen here.

As for public perception of what we do... Any of us who started modelling as youngsters, I am sure, put up with jibes and teasing from their peers for doing something considered "uncool" and either backed off the hobby or went underground. Now as adults, we don't bow to peer pressure and do what we do because we love it. Having shown my work to my friends and co-workers has drawn nothing but compliments and admiration. Even if they have no artistic leanings of their own, they appreciate the time and work that we put into our craft and accept it in the same way they would a lovely painting hanging on a wall, a custom paintjob on a hotrod or chopper or a beautiful tattoo... it's a piece of art in 3D. When some of my friends who showed interest in my stuff, I showed them some examples on this site and they were even more blown away!!!! They also pointed out that I have alot of work to do.

All that being said, I think the more exposure our work gets outside our community will only serve to increase interest and respect from John Q Public... and that ain't bad. Any negative feedback, such as those who would say it's odd or "grown men playing with toy soldiers" are just showing they are still the adolescents that may have liked to take the piss out of anyone who they dub uncool... who's being immature now?

I am proud of what we do as we all should be... for the art we love and strive to push to the next level with every stroke of the brush or cut of the sculpting tool.

Keep on keepin' on, Brothers and Sisters

Colin

 

[Tecumsea]

This is an argument that has rolled on for some time. My feeling is that there are Painters(I put myself in that category) and Artists in the hobby, although I regard the hobby overall as an art form, progress in the past 20 years has propelled it in that direction. I think the hobby has attracted more people with natural artistic talent over the years, some are in the fantasy side, many have put their talents to sculpting all are aided and abetted by the availability of new materials, Resins, Paints, Casting Equipment etc etc. and better offerings from Manufacturers all of which have contributed to this development. When I go to shows it is generally the natural artists at the top of the tree and rightly so! these are the guys who seem to have that bit extra with colour, imaginative basework, creative dioramas etc. I'm very happy to gaze in awe at what they produce, knowing that I will never achieve that level of ability but happy to learn from them and attempt to reproduce in my own models as much as my more limited natural abilities will allow.
Keith

 

[DEL]

This is an argument that has rolled on for some time. My feeling is that there are Painters(I put myself in that category) and Artists in the hobby, although I regard the hobby overall as an art form, progress in the past 20 years has propelled it in that direction. I think the hobby has attracted more people with natural artistic talent over the years, some are in the fantasy side, many have put their talents to sculpting all are aided and abetted by the availability of new materials, Resins, Paints, Casting Equipment etc etc. and better offerings from Manufacturers all of which have contributed to this development. When I go to shows it is generally the natural artists at the top of the tree and rightly so! these are the guys who seem to have that bit extra with colour, imaginative basework, creative dioramas etc. I'm very happy to gaze in awe at what they produce, knowing that I will never achieve that level of ability but happy to learn from them and attempt to reproduce in my own models as much as my more limited natural abilities will allow.
Keith

Can't say it better than this, spot on Keith
Derek

 

[hazmat]

I second that !!

 

[housecarl]

Succinctly put Mr Davidson.
Carl.

 

[Colin_Fraser]

Personally I don't care for labels, especially since significant pieces of so-called "art" displayed in public galleries around here is complete sh*te in my view. Whether what we do is an art, a craft or a hobby is totally irrelevant to me. For what its worth, almost everyone outside the hobby who looks at my stuff says its "art." Perhaps they are being kind.

Colin

 

[Tecumsea]

Hi Colin, having seen today what you have done on Canvas, I'd definately put you in the artist category, I couldn't do that to save my life.

Keith

 

[Colin_Fraser]

Very kind - have a bash....I shocked myself. It didn't suck!

But to my point there's many who would consider a meat dress or a red line drawn on a blue canvas to qualify as art while not considering a Van Eyck portrait to meet that definition.

Colin

 

[Tecumsea]

Lots of very expensive BullS***E in the art world

 

[hazmat]

Well to think I was trying to keep from saying the same thing about some art in the world !!! LOL Colin and Keith you guys said it while I was just thinking ....

 

[Steve]

No artist here Adam. I just paint little soldiers.

 

[hazmat]

I am afraid you are wrong my friend you are an artist and a teacher as well ....

 

[Glen]

I paint round and flat figures and I'm learning how to sculpt flats. I've never actually considered the question of whether I'm a hobbyist or an artist - it's just a hobby to me.

I must be an old fogie now. Dang...

 

[brian]

This is an argument that has rolled on for some time. My feeling is that there are Painters(I put myself in that category) and Artists in the hobby, although I regard the hobby overall as an art form, progress in the past 20 years has propelled it in that direction. I think the hobby has attracted more people with natural artistic talent over the years, some are in the fantasy side, many have put their talents to sculpting all are aided and abetted by the availability of new materials, Resins, Paints, Casting Equipment etc etc. and better offerings from Manufacturers all of which have contributed to this development. When I go to shows it is generally the natural artists at the top of the tree and rightly so! these are the guys who seem to have that bit extra with colour, imaginative basework, creative dioramas etc. I'm very happy to gaze in awe at what they produce, knowing that I will never achieve that level of ability but happy to learn from them and attempt to reproduce in my own models as much as my more limited natural abilities will allow.
Keith

Totally agree with you Keith.From a personal point of view i just love painting figures and if anyone else likes what i do thats a bonus that gives me an extra buzz.
Brian

 

[Helm]

I prefer to be called a messer or dabbler! I've a long way to go before the term artist is even close

 

[jccraemer]

I consider myself a artist. The painting being the hardest because of the 3d canvas.

 

[Jamie Stokes]

Hmmmm......

I used to do martial arts....never got to the point of doing the martial part even vaguely artistically.....

Having said that, I do this as a hobby, and I appreciate art (like the portraits by the old masters) better.

While I do this as a hobby, I consider myself a journey-man, some one who tries to learn and practice as I go.

I explain to others what I do, most of the time they make smile & nod motions/ conversations.


Mind you, I catch myself doing the same when they rave about plot developments about tv series "X".......

I don't have to get enthused about the passions of others (collecting beer cans from around world, gosh!) but I can appreciate the effort involved if some one turns their hand to a task (eg, embroidery, fly fishing lure tieing) because I can see a similar effort involved, even if materials, method & result differ.

I have found it odd that if I were to do a portrait on canvas of the same subject I'd do in miniature, the canvas is art, the miniature is "a toy soldier"


Having said that, I'll share my efforts with those that appreciate it, rather then those who dont.


Cheers

 

[hazmat]

Well Mr Stokes wonderfully said !!

 

[hazmat]

May I add one more thing !!! I admire those who as our fathers or mothers did in the past can use their minds and connect them to their eyes then hands in order to repair,build or just create. I feel the newer generation has lost the skills of our Fathers . So the next time you open a model kit and look at the instructions ... what you are really doing is blue print reading....