This week I looked up a couple of artists. First was Andy Warhol. Though he was not particularly a photographer he did make great strides in the art world. He had a different perspective on art than most people. He knew that if he chose icons, people, or symbols that people were tied to he would be more successful and that's what he did. Below is a quote about what he thought of coca-cola. I thought it was really interesting and a good perspective to keep in mind.
What's great about this country is that America started the tradition where the richest consumers buy essentially the same things as the poorest. You can be watching TV and see Coca Cola, and you know that the President drinks Coca Cola, Liz Taylor drinks Coca Cola, and just think, you can drink Coca Cola, too. A coke is a coke and no amount of money can get you a better coke than the one the bum on the corner is drinking. All the cokes are the same and all the cokes are good. Liz Taylor knows it, the President knows it, the bum knows it, and you know it.
Next is a quote from Warhol after he had been shot and gone through intensive surgeries.
Warhol had this to say about the attack: "Before I was shot, I always thought that I was more half-there than all-there – I always suspected that I was watching TV instead of living life. People sometimes say that the way things happen in movies is unreal, but actually it's the way things happen in life that's unreal. The movies make emotions look so strong and real, whereas when things really do happen to you, it's like watching television – you don't feel anything. Right when I was being shot and ever since, I knew that I was watching television. The channels switch, but it's all television."
Andy Warhol had a very unique perspective of Art and he wasn't afraid to stand apart from other artists. He was considered and idol as well as a nuisance for what he did but he did what he loved. He also supported the arts in many different ways. He was unique and had original perspectives which is a good thing to keep in mind for any of us who are trying to make it in the art world.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andy_Warhol
The next artist I looked at was Richard Avedon. He is an amazing photographer. When I read about him I only wish that I could be as cool as he was. :)
Avedon began his career as a photographer of the merchant marines ID cards. He eventually moved on to work with Vogue and other popular magazines. He opened his own studio and began taking portraits that were minimalist (with his subjects placed in front of white backgrounds). What made his work different than others though was the fact that he wanted to capture the soul of the person he was taking a picture of. To do this he would ask probing questions or guide the conversation into interesting, uncomfortable, or touchy areas. He was awesome at it.
On top of doing portraits he also covered social events such as protests, mental institutions, and civil rights movements. He is definitely a photographer who had an extremely rich career. And like Warhol had a very creative way of doing things and it worked for him.
Both were men that made strides in the art world and have many ideas and characteristics that would help any artist to note.
http://www.richardavedon.com/#s=0&a=0&mi=2&pt=1&pi=10000&p=6&at=0
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_Avedon
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