At Central School of Art and Design I followed a course in "Fine-Art Painting".
"Fine Art" was my chosen category because I wanted to find a painting process to express myself, I had no thought of practicalities such as money or the future...
I am now, 30 years later deeply worried about the rift between fine art practice and community art practice.
The traditional view of fine art, and a great deal of art teaching supports the mystique, that certain chosen individuals have an inherent talent, and that only trained individuals can spot the talent and explain it to the rest of the world. This keeps out most of the community, keeps a "closed shop" mentality, and in the end is self destructive, because the public will not ultimately support a means of expression that keeps them out, and denies them a voice.
The most successful elements in our culture are the open, inclusive ones, they invite debate and have a fast flow of new ideas and new "blood".
I think it is important for artists not to exploit their traditional romantic status, but stand up for and champion the creative mind.
If we want a vibrant culture we have to defend creative thinking which is open and expansive thinking, not closed linear and segmented.
The various and disparate pages on my website are testimony to my search for a way of manifesting these thoughts!
Thoughts on creativity. Penny Bearman 11.09.09, revised 8.04.12
The way we explain the creative process to ourselves determines the nature of our career as Artists
Words about Art
Link to "The Paintists" blot site on wordpress for more thoughts...