Needle Size?.

[Guest]

Photorealist. Interesting and incredible John but I would ask why. This seems to be an exacting technical thing almost without an artistic freedom. Not saying that the people who do this are not artists but that they are in straight jackets.
I would have put it in a commercial art locker. Add that commercial art is incredible which we live with day and night. Actually when thinking about it a lot of the work on model making is a commercial art.


I do expect to be corrected here. But all good learning is preceded by a question.


Laurie

I couldn't agree more! I'd not call this art either, unless I had access to the "Why" - i.e. themes, rationales and concepts that separate art from illustration or commercial art.


A constantly recurring issue with students, when I'd hear them say "Wow, how did they do that?" and I'd respond that as aspiring artists, the more relevant question is "why did they do that".


This, in itself isn't meant to denigrate the work in question, but simply to put it into a broader context! Nobody can deny the skills and craftsmanship, they are, as good as they get, and if the artist enjoys it, and makes a wedge out of it *, then good luck to them.


* A piece of this size and complexity will take many hundreds of hours. A minimum self employed hourly rate has to be £30. I'd estimate that on hours alone (and that's a really inadequate way of looking at it TBH) that piece would need to fetch at least £15,000. If its in a gallery, they would take at least 50% (some, up to 80%) so if you want £15.000, then you have to price it at £30,000.


No wonder artists are mostly dirt poor!

[stona]

* A piece of this size and complexity will take many hundreds of hours. A minimum self employed hourly rate has to be £30. I'd estimate that on hours alone (and that's a really inadequate way of looking at it TBH) that piece would need to fetch at least £15,000. If its in a gallery, they would take at least 50% (some, up to 80%) so if you want £15.000, then you have to price it at £30,000.


No wonder artists are mostly dirt poor!

Also a good argument for not building models to commission, at least not if you want to make money. I've done a couple, but money was not the object, in fact I was almost certainly out of pocket


Cheers


Steve

[stona]

Also a good argument for not building models to commission, at least not if you want to make money. I've done a couple, but money was not the object, in fact I was almost certainly out of pocket


I saw a decently made and finished 1/24 scale Hurricane in a shop window recently. It was priced at £120. I'm not sure which kit it was, probably the old Airfix, but even so nobody was making a living off it !


Cheers


Steve

[Guest]

Also a good argument for not building models to commission, at least not if you want to make money. I've done a couple, but money was not the object, in fact I was almost certainly out of pocket Cheers Steve

Agree 100% Steve. I used to produce films, for instance a Dentist's nurse tuition series, and always ended up on the wrong side. Found that I just could not cut the cloth to suit. Always had to go a little bit more towards that thing called perfection. Just felt I could not let the side down by producing below par stuff. Think it is that pride thing not to let yourself down so you go over the top.


Laurie

[Guest]

I was told by an expert in the field that to get fine line control its the old adage practice practice practice. Would you can get through a lot of paper a good way is pay a visit to a place like IKEA and buy a good sized picture frame with a glass front say an A1 size. then on an A1 white sheet of paper maker out the following. a grid with evenly spaced dots and one with lines and slip in it into the frame, then get practicing in time it will give you fine control without the waste in paper as the paint can either be scraped off using a scrape and cleaned with white spirit or window cleaner.