This week from the Cat’s Eye:
Originally, I was planning on watching the new documentary, “My Kid Could Paint That” and then writing a review. The review was going to discuss NONE of the obvious topics explored in the film. However, my hopes were dashed when I discovered the film was only screening in Santa Ana. And no offense to the little girl star of the film, but there is no way I am driving that far to see a film about some child “art prodigy”. And it’s really fine with me because frankly, I’m sick of the age-old question---What is art?

I feel that the times when everyone gets in a tizzy over “what is art” it usually has to do with the artist in question making bank on their suddenly questionable art. I bet if that artist didn’t make beaucoup bucks in record time, their work wouldn’t be questioned nearly as aggressively…maybe even not at all. Is it jealousy? Are people just jealous of the hundreds of thousands of dollars a little girl made on her kitchen floor paintings? Or the millions artists have made painting large geometric shapes or Pollack-like splattering?

Don’t blame the art or its creator for the foolish spending of others.

Guess what? Somebody felt it was art. Somebody was so moved, or so convinced that some painting was GENIOUS that they forked over the cash. And regardless of how ridiculous, or hack, or manipulated, or unskilled the work may be…that one person disagrees with you. And even if their argument was built on a foundation of some gallery owner's marketing strategy, or by some local journalist…they will believe in their argument whole-heartedly. They have to after they spend $20,000 ++ on a painting.

If you don’t know by now… I am a working artist. I work an average of 12 hours a day on my art. Am I making money off my work? Barely. I’ve never shown work in a gallery and the general public who sees my work has had no qualms about giving me their opinions. Here are some of my favorite comments concerning my art:

- You know, you really need to learn how to fucking paint!
- I love it but I wouldn’t hang it my house.
- How much?? Yeah good luck with that!
- Why aren’t you in galleries? You’re work is amazing!
- Could you paint me something kind of like this one except without the boobs? People don’t want nudity in their homes.
- It’s just breathtaking. Thank you.
- We just really love your work. We see you out here every week. Rock on!
- Oh my god…that is disturbing.

So the point here is that I have received a plethora of comments from across the board. So is my art "art" or is my art "crap"? Well…apparently it depends on who you are talking to. And the truth of the matter is that it’s all art…it just doesn’t necessarily resonate with everyone. Out on the playing filed art is money. Hence, the difficulty of pricing and purchasing art.

To address the 4th comment in my list—why isn’t you work in galleries? I haven’t even tried to get my work into galleries. I don’t even have a formal portfolio and there are a hundred images I have waiting to be uploaded to my website. Most of it is sheer time. When you’re doing everything on your own, you spread yourself thin over many priorities. But another part is also fear. Some small part of me fears the possibility of raising that question. I know that gallery owners generally want to take the safe route.

But really, if there is fist shaking to be done…shake them at the art buyer and the art salesman. Because it is not the job of the artist to put value on their work. The work, in reality is invaluable. It’s entirely subjective. The job of the artist is to make the work, learn, and evolve. Their job is to be honest in their efforts. Their job is to put a piece out onto the world with pride, intelligence, and hope. Hope that some jackass will call it art.

-Cate Nelson