Comments on: Destroying Your Art

By: Michele Bruce-Carter

Thu, 17 May 2012 17:31:34 +0000

I agree with Susan about representing your best art only. But I am also one who shreds anything I dont like and that is quite a lot of coldpress and paint. It makes me work harder to represent myself the way I feel. If I were to go over old work i hated Id feel like I let myself settle. Having only the best work is a guide for me to either equal or supersede.

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By: Nancy Barry

Thu, 12 Aug 2010 20:43:40 +0000

I’m a watercolorist and used to keep every painting that wasn’t finished or didn’t meet whatever expectations I had for it in an big old portfolio case. A few years ago, I started going through these old paintings and tearing or cutting them up thinking I woud use pieces of them in a mixed media piece. Some of the pieces became bookmarks but most of the ‘pieces’ just sat in a box while I waited for inspiration, which came in the form of handmade cards… using small bits and pieces of paintings, sometimes recognizable as part of a landscape and sometimes not, incorporating silk string,or jute cording, metallic inks, and sometimes natural stones or shells or torn handmade papers into them. So, I actually look forward to a disaster painting now…

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By: Make your art big enough to hold your ideas and dreams — Art Biz Blog

Tue, 12 Jan 2010 12:01:17 +0000

[…] it doesn’t live up to your standards, destroy it, recycle it, or leave it for a grad student to find. Don’t leave a sub-par work hanging […]

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By: Jo Allebach

Fri, 26 Jun 2009 05:47:00 +0000

Some work I keep for a mark in my progress. There have been times I thought something was very good and later realized after improving my skills that it wasn’t very good at all. The bigger ones I usually take the canvas and roll it up if it has any redeeming quality at
all. Looking at poor quality drags me down so I only keep out the best I am doing. I “practice” painting. I really mean I work every day so I my work brings a more enthusiastic reaction that makes me and my collectors happy.

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By: Laura K. Aiken

Thu, 25 Jun 2009 12:26:53 +0000

I guess I could say I am a keeper….and I am the one who needs to tear up! Oh hum. I still have childhood drawings and paintings.

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By: Arabella

Wed, 24 Jun 2009 01:53:24 +0000

I finally yesterday burned a few things that I had been hanging onto for years. I’d forgotten about them and was moving stuff into my new studio building. I was so horrified by how “bad” I used to be that I didn’t want anyone else seeing how bad I was — ever.

It was like coming across a photo of a hot woman, but back when she was a nerd w/ head gear and bad acne. Sure it shows progress for the better, but you still would rather forget you ever saw it.

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By: Jamie

Wed, 24 Jun 2009 01:02:43 +0000

I recently delved into my old negatives, searching for something specific from high school. I was shocked to discover that at some point I’d destroyed and discarded 95% of them! Looking back I doubt there were any real gems in there, and when I remember certain disturbing incidents with my teacher I understand why I did it. I’m only surprised I didn’t do the same with my college work, where critiques were miserable and I never came into my own. Now everything goes into the fire-resistant safes. I only print my favorites, requests, or sales. I do intend to begin a comprehensive catalog this coming winter, for posterity, but as embarrassed as I might be by some of the images they’ll remain.

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By: Studio Art Direct, Inc.

Tue, 23 Jun 2009 21:47:32 +0000

From a corporate art perspective: you may consider selling discardable works at reduced prices, with no signature through consultants.

Corporate art clients typically are not collectors, but rather purchase for decor.

For those frustrated with “bad work,” take a look at this video lecture by Elizabeth Gilbert who wrote “Eat, Pray, Love.”

It is about artistic genius. She ponders the question that maybe as artists we only have one or two genius pieces in us. And that is pressure – a lot of pressure. But she made some very good points and I feel much better about going back to a substandard painting and just letting the “ala” happen.

http://www.ted.com/talks/view/id/453

Sometimes the great creator (god, or whatever) talks through you. Sometimes she doesn’t. But it is your job to show up and see if this is the day for artistic genius.

http://www.studioartdirect.com

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By: Jan Yatsko

Tue, 23 Jun 2009 01:41:30 +0000

I purchase small wooden frames made from end pieces from my framer. Next I place these frames over interesting areas of “reject” paintings, cut them out and place them in the frames. I then leave these pieces of art work in public places for someone to find. On the back of each work I include the following message: The abundance in our lives comes through giving. The little gift you have found has been given to you by an artist.

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By: Suzette Fram

Mon, 22 Jun 2009 16:16:51 +0000

Sometimes a piece I work on just doesn’t want to come together, no matter what I do to it. Even if I re-gesso the canvas and start all over again, sometimes it still won’t come together. The canvas or board itself if holding some kind of negative energy. It becomes an albatross around my neck and keeps me from moving on. Destroying such pieces is extremely freeing. I’ve put my foot through some work on masonite board to break it in half, and then thrown it away. Wonderful feeling and I was then able to move on to something else.

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