On Being An Artist

from the top:

-- recent watercolored self-portrait

-- Melissa
-- Watercolored Self-Portrait

-- Into the Darkness (self-portrait)

-- Jennifer (slight watercolor)

-- Luba at Jazz Central
all photos by Larry Hoyt - copyright 2008 LarryHoyt

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I don't know if it's possible to be an artist without considerable reflection upon what it means to be an artist.

Even for those lucky chosen few -- the incredibly creative ones to whom the gifts of talent come naturally -- at some point in the process of making art, some questions arise:

among the most basic - to what extent does the artist create from his own need for expression, vs.

the artist's desire to communicate thoughts and feelings and perceptions to others, to an audience.

For most true artists, I think it is both -- there's the absolute internal need to create, coupled with the desire to communicate with others. I don't know if it would make much sense to have one without the other.

I've been thinking a lot lately about my own need to create, especially in the realm of photography. Sometimes I feel like I want to document every interesting thing I see, all day, everyday.

But, obviously, at some point, one needs to edit this process and work on developing a focused approach to the art that one can justifiably call a style.

I don't know if I've achieved that yet, but I am working on it.

Sometimes I feel like I'm still working to perfect my basic skills as a portrait photographer.

Above are some portraits I was looking at --some recent, some from years ago, some nice lookin', some not so nice lookin' -- that got me thinkin' about my fascination with capturing images.

It's very much an on-going process.

For the most part, I think my overall style(s) in photography are fairly eclectic, but I do try to make sure that every photo I show has a clearly defined (if not totally in focus) subject. I want to convey something about what attracted me to what I saw.

If there are any hidden subtleties in the images, that's likely just icing on the cake -- but I must admit, I do like icing!

Th3 - A Critical Mass of Art Energy

top to bottom:
1 - outside the Delavan Art Gallery;
2 - the Orange Line Gallery;
3 - Point of Contact;
4 - Melissa Tiffany, owner of the Orange Line Gallery;
5 - inside the Warehouse Art Gallery
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all photos by Larry Hoyt - copyright 2008 Larry Hoyt
-- click on the picture to enlarge the image --
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To borrow a term from nuclear technology, I'd like to suggest that the arts scene in Syracuse is approaching "critical mass".

But, instead of little neutrons jumping around in fissile material, the critical mass in Syracuse's art scene comes from an increasing number of active art venues, plus the large number of regional artists exhibiting high-quality works on a regular basis.

And, as evidenced by this blog among many other indicators, compared to previous levels of interest, the media and the general public seem to be taking greater notice of this area's art scene.

As this critical mass of art energy creates its own field of excitement and activity, one might ask if an art explosion is imminent.
That, in my opinion, depends upon how many true patrons of the arts, public and private, step forward to financially support the artists and the venues.
With enough financial support, Syracuse could become a true art destination for collectors and art lovers from around this country and beyond.
Just as the Syracuse housing market attracts buyers with its relatively low prices for attractive houses compared to other parts of the country, so too, the purchase price for high-quality art here in Syracuse is well below that charged in most other art center cities.

The word has to get out -- not just here in Central New York, but throughout New York State, New England, the eastern seaboard, the whole country and beyond: the art scene is happening in Syracuse! It's getting ready to explode!

But, even if an art explosion does not occur here in Syracuse, it seems to me that the current art scene has already reached an impressive level of sustained energized activity, comparable to the sustained energy produced by a controlled nuclear reactor. This long-term art scene energy has already reached the level needed to sustain long-term high-quality productivity.

One prime example of this critical mass of art energy is the monthly Th3 art program, in which more than 20 art venues in the Syracuse area hold receptions or special events every third Thursday of the month, attracting more media attention, and, it appears, more art lovers and curious spectators wanting to check out what's new in the Syracuse art world.

Above are some photos I shot of the Delavan, the Warehouse, the Orange Line, and the Point of Contact galleries at the recent September edition of the third Thursday Th3.

More photos and commentary can be found at my other blog:
http://www.newfolkfotos.blogspot.com/
And more photos and commentary will follow here shortly --