Chuck Close's Advice to Artists During a Crisis

[lizzy27pjs]

Chuck is my hero. He is a great, truly great artist who has changed the way we look at art. His art is all about process. Chuck might be one of the six most inventive print makers in art history.

[seintzeit]

bla bla bla

[TomPark1986]

Aside from his practical advice, I cannot get over the awesomeness of his spectacles!

[james82408]

surely chuck close is aware of the affect the depression had on the new york school though, surely

[michaelpousti]

nice clip .. i like it .. thanks for sahring

[ChixRChattel]

chuck close claims usa art got better in the 1950s cuz of all the jews that came here? ah...gross...what he really means is jew conmen took over the art market about that time and know what? hardly a decent artist has become famous since 1965

[KimJongPillTube]

@ChixRChattel You clearly have no clue what your talking about.

[ambientgreg]

That was cool....but...what was the "advice"?

[SubconsciousGatherer]

If I had a nickel for every "um" and "uh" this guy lets out I would no longer be a starving artist.

[Theprince0001]

@SubconsciousGatherer lol!!!!!!!!1!!!! wow

[ippolytos1]

@SubconsciousGatherer No kidding...it makes me sleepy. Was he actually cool in the 60s, what the hell happened? Painting isnt dead just because there isnt anyone famous for developing a new form. We are out there, but because we arent mainstream (or mainstream enough yet) doesnt mean innovators dont fing exist.

[KimJongPillTube]

@ippolytos1 Being an incredible painter has nothing to do with what you think is "cool". Have you even SEEN Chuck Close's work? It's astounding.

[ippolytos1]

@KimJongPillTube Hah Hah painting does NOT boil down to being about how much work it takes alone, or how illusionistically representational it is or being photo-real. Not it in least. So it DOES have something to do with what you think is "cool," yes, it does very much so OTHERWISE art would be about like the same as just another craft...a craft may be refined and perfected indefinitely, but the greatness of "art" may be that it does something higher than that....

[ippolytos1]

@KimJongPillTube Besides I can't remember what I wrote originally, thanks for replying though. Have a nice day.

[KimJongPillTube]

@SubconsciousGatherer He's not a famous and well respected artist for his public speaking. You think Hemmingway was an adept mathemetician? Doubt it.

[dudewhyfi]

so i guess we should work on hip hop since nas thinks that form of art's dead

[moniquinnn]

If your on this for advice but your hating on chuck close I suggest you do some research

[alixzandar]

Thats why I support graffiti... It really doesn't matter whether you are in crisis or not... You can make art anywhere anytime that inspires mankind.

[alixzandar]

Thats why I support graffiti... It really doesnt matter whether you are in crisis or not... You can make art anywhere anytime that inspires mankind.

[eelsevilla]

thats what i love of youtube, someone tries to help and give an advice, and everyone hate it, then why you click here in the first place guys?

[oldpiq]

Oh great! Now everybody marvels over the reemergence of painting. Time to do installations!

[SmoothJazz98]

What Moby, Alan Moore and others say on here in interviews rings true. If you want to get rich or be famous as an artist...you're probably not going to do well. If you do what you love...what is important to you as art, you will be fine...regardless of who likes it or not...you've done what was real for you.

[fsskkssswebe03409]

big think sucks

[chinopisces]

@fsskkssswebe03409: GTFO you moron.

[fsskkssswebe03409]

why is big think so mediocre and unsatisfying to listen to.

[fsskkssswebe03409]

wqhy is big think so boring and slow, and who is this guy.

[swanny2070]

@Walker44444- On the surface, what you say is true for many people. These people, maybe they should work their "day job". There is time in the evenings and weekends to create, and then you create enough to have a body of work to show galleries. Once the sales start coming in, you can quit that day job. If you really want it, you can do it. Can you live on 70-80 grand a year? Yes. Can you sell 3 paintings valued at $4000 retail a piece a month? Yes you can. A gallery takes 30-50 percent.

[jaysenr14]

@swanny2070

70-80 grand a year!?! I think probably only 5% of artists are fortunate enough to earn such an amount. Not even people with good 'day jobs' get that much. Think you may have got your numbers a little wrong.

Sell 3 paintings at $4000 a piece a month!?! Again, that is very very unlikely. 5% again. And you'd need to have the right financial people behind you, and come from the right background, so you are able to get exposure. Who earns that amount??

[spd13062]

I think Chuck is relating that the 40's and 50's were his favorite time in art by the work produced, not necessarily the time period itself. I always believed the Abstract Impressionists were an incredibly ballsy group of people, who were going to make this art come hell or high water....and some of them lived long enough to see magnificent rewards for their work, financially and critically. Big ego or not...Chuck is always worth a listen.

[gunkadin]

Is there such a thing as an "overinflated Narcissist?"

Has Chuck ever had his ego measured? That'd be an artwork in itself.

Personally, like most artists, I only champion dead artists because I don't need more competition. The only livning artists I champion are my homies.

[blessOTMA]

Let's not forget the WPA ( works projects administration ) of the New Deal. That's what kept the hot shot artists of the 50's alive and painting in the 30's. So if the 1930's is what one is talking about , the formula is crisis + workfare = opportunity .

Today young people get a job or live at home etc. Then, they got to paint murals for a salary. Also many artists really live off a teaching job and those are not a plentiful as they were in years past .

[dreamlogicc]

he mentions the 40s and 50s as his favorite time in american art, and the depression era 30s as not so great... but remember, the artists who were making all that great work in the 50s grew up in the depression era. so crisis is perfect for maturing young artists... as you say, it will decide who keeps working, and who falls by the wayside...

[walker44444]

@dreamlogicc

Except that all through the ages, successful artists have had rich fathers, brothers or patrons who have bankrolled them thus enabling them to indulge themselves in making art day after day. Lots of talented people have no option but to get a job and put their art to the side.

[Estragon17]

@walker44444

Thats a pretty gross oversimplification, honestly.

[polymath7]

@walker44444

Nonsense. As a general rule, that's simply not true.

If you happen to be a hack, you've no one but yourself to blame.

[jaysenr14]

@walker44444

A lot of people may be disagreeing, but what you say is truthful. Especially in this world, where money rules. It's why a lot of stuff that passes as 'art' these days is dreadful, but the people who "create" this "art" come from weathly backgrounds, which has enabled them an outlet. If you're a regular working person, know no one, and don't have a lot of money behind you, then your chances of success are far less than those with money, even if you're better.

[jaysenr14]

@walker44444

But that's not a reason to quit. As some people have said, you have to make time for yourself to create your 'art'. Work your day-job and then do your stuff in the evenings and the weekends. But know that you have a massive struggle on your hands. The 'Struggling Artist' is indeed a true image of things for an artist.

[junkrancher61]

same :-)

[blankz121]

an artist wearing a black turtleneck..? seriously?

[LovelyCounting]

same too

[nwadgnikaerb]

to me and my work, he is the most inspirational artist i have come across.

[ThePirateGrog]

same :)

[martynwonder]

same:)

[DensuMincar]

@nwadgnikaerb couldnt agree more!!! He is the reason i pay so much attention to detail when i draw.