$45 Million for Comic Book Art

I have no problem with “simple and concise”, but I do take issue with inaccurate or incomplete. My point with Herb and Dorothy is the same as the point I’m making with the AGO, which is, these people don’t subscribe to the definition you provided… not wholely. Feel free to check out their documentary.

Infact, there is a big hyporacy in the world of art. Many of artisans themselves are unable to define what they do. I don’t know if this is because…
• they want to maintain the elitist status quo
• they lack the communication skills
• or they simply don’t know themselves

I’ve spent a lot of time trying to understand art so that I can talk about it in “simple and concise” terms… why? Because, like you, I also believe that art is for everyone.

Scott, let’s not make this post about me. This is a really an interesting topic and worthy of discussion… or debate. It’s true I have my passions and I’ve never hid the fact that I speak plainly and directly. I think my honesty deserves some small recognition here. I also assume we’re all adults… which means we should be able to give and take criticism without reprisal.

If you feel I’m wrong about something… please DO elaborate. But don’t just make blanket statements and expect everyone to swallow it. Back it up with inference, context or deductions.

You once said about a Jeff Smith interview that the public or the media doesn’t “get” comics. You made a statement similar to mine but no one is holding that against you… so it seems unfair for you to superficialize my comments as… “posting just to argue.”

The funny thing is, I’m not even sure what the argument is here. All I did was make the distinction between Lichtenstein and Abruzzo, which many people here are not able to articulate. Was I wrong about this? If so, why doesn’t the CBD crew step up to the plate. I’d love to hear their thoughts on why Lichtenstein is getting paid for ripping off Abruzzo.

Norman Rockwell dismissed his own art as illustration, not fine art. But you’re right, his works are highly prized… As you say, it’s all context and in his case, not only was his work well crafted, but he captured Americana… much like what Bruce Springsteen did with his music. He never intended for there to be any meaning beyond what you see… but, they captured American hearts, none the less. Andrew Wyeth and his father NC Wyeth are other examples. Canada’s Alex Coville’s career really took off after his stint as a war painter. There are reason why certain artists have more cred with the art community than others… and a lot of it is simple PR.

If you’re ever in Stockbridge, do visit the Rockwell Museum. Seeing his originals up close will blow you away and the level of craftsmanship puts todays illustrators to shame!

I think the point you are trying to make is that even illustration can be great. Again, NO ARGUMENT here. In fact, many museums collect works by contemporary illustrators doing corporate work like Brad Holland, Gary Kelly and Philip Burke. Even my old boss, who is only a designer, has stuff in the MoMa. Many commercial products like the Miele vacuum or designer watches like the Ike Pod reside in the vaults of established museums and galleries.

Comic art doesn’t have the same clout yet but I suspect one day it will. Guys like Alan Moore was on their way because Watchmen is more then what you read… it’s a piece of social commentary. The real tragedy about his disagreement with DC is that now, he may not reach that “artistic” stature without a more substantial body of work… but we’ll see. It will depend on how history writes him in.

People like Alex Ross, Adam Hughes are incredible crafts people, possibly more skilled than many famous artists out there. But, as long as they operate in a superficial manner and are technique focused, they will never gain the respect of the art community. Such is the case with wildlife painter Robert Bateman… criticized for painting post card like, picturesque images. Still, he has his audience so his paintings can easily command $100-200k. Comic artists also have their fan base… I see Jim Lee pages selling for $2k to $5k… but does this make him a fine artist. Sadly no. He is a very talented cartoonist… and there is nothing wrong with this.

Hmmm… what were we arguing about again…?

What pisses me off about all this money going to art is the wasteful use of wealth by those with more dollars than sense….and that applies to every type of art. These people will spend millions on stuff like this and then give very little to charity (or do so only as a tax break) and complain about paying their fair share of taxes. Personally, I’d like to see the high end of every type of art market come crashing down to a level more in line with reality. This stuff has no real value. This same madness is evident elsewhere; paying a basketball player millions of dollars for doing nothing more than putting a ball through a basket, while someone that contributes something real to a society is paid a fraction of that. The whole market system needs some sanity.

All art is, was and forever will be, dependent upon patrons. Simplistically, in the Mediaeval world and during the Renaissance it was the Church. Later royalty, wealthy merchants, the gentry sought out and rewarded their favourites. Later, the Art Establishment dictated form and content and in the search for the new and the novel supported art at the extreme.
Producing art via patronage is not dissmilar from the commercial art ethos. Because comic book or advertising art has a specific creative process does not diminish the final product. And all Lichtenstein did was slavishly copy. Don’ we call that swiping??