When do miniatures become art ... ?

[Frustrated Father]

Now I've just come across some pictures of a project of a fella that just made me smile and smile and give the 'oh that's just damn cool' and someone walked pass and said 'ooh, that is neat art'.

Now normally someone would just say 'eh, a painted miniature' or ' that is so small, but sort of neat'. This though got the 'art' moniker right away from several folks around me.

So the question is, when does it become art, or is it art, or ... ? Either way, there are some fantastic examples out there, but I'm going to go ahead and post the pictures here on this one so you can ooh and aah yourself to see what caught my imagination so well.

From an Italian fella. Here is a direct link to him on CMON http://www.coolminiornot.com/160075



http://www.coolminiornot.com/pics/pics11/img46645a942857d.jpg

http://www.coolminiornot.com/pics/pics11/img466455e54cfdf.jpg

More detail:

http://www.coolminiornot.com/pics/pics11/img466456feb69fc.jpg

[green stuff]

http://www.coolminiornot.com/article/aid/548 ;)

[darthfoley]

What a neat project! Definitely art. :)

[vincegamer]

The mechanical aspect of closing it is what confuses me.

[lizcam]

Wow! Thats fantastic! I want one but my skills aren't that good. My brain is on over load thinking of the things that could be done and what it could be done in....all the pretty colors.......and I'm off.......

[Vytis]

That is a great piece. Art.

As for any piece of painted work, the 'art' or 'not art' is within the eye of the person looking at it. I consider most high level minis that look good art, and what some would consider poorly painted ones an attempt at art as well.

[Wren]

Wow, that is so cool! I can't explain why, but the fact that it does really close is like a little extra cherry on the top of what is already perfection.

I read an interesting definition of art vs craft in Tom Meier's blog recently. In his opinion it's art when the maker, during its creation, makes decisions that have no reason other than pure aesthetics. Not necessarily good, but art in his mind. He puts it better, though, in the Aug 14 entry - http://thunderboltmountain.com/serendipity/index.php?/archives/P2.html

[Skya]

A good definition. I find most mini painters to be artists, even though they dont always think of themselves as such..

[EldinTux]

Some very deep thinking here. I think we all agree that the example given by FF is art (in a similar way that Da Vinci produced art) hence yes mini painting is art. But at what level does it become art - I think we need to level that to individual appraisal.

Nice topic FF

[Hinton]

That's an amazing work of miniature art. Thanks for showing us that, FF.


But at what level does it become art - I think we need to level that to individual appraisal.


Is fingerpainting art? Is the whatever-it-is that my daughter sculpted in first grade art? Absolutely. Granted, it's not fine art and will never see the inside of an art gallery, but it's still classified as art.

I read an interesting definition of art vs craft in Tom Meier's blog recently. In his opinion it's art when the maker, during its creation, makes decisions that have no reason other than pure aesthetics.

I agree with that definition of art. From the brand-new painter who is still learning brush control to a multi-award winning painter; they're all artists.

I think a lot of people don't want to call it art because of what it's associated with: gaming. Art isn't supposed to be played with; it's supposed to be put on a shelf or hung on a wall and admired.

To me, miniature painting is art and always will be as long as someone is putting paint to pewter.

[supervike]

http://www.fischart.com/assets/art/artwork/Games/d20/beholder.jpg

[callumrice]

Whats a pic of Maestro doing in this thread? He's no work of art!!


:coolpics:

[supervike]

no no, I thought Art was in the eye of the beholder....But i can't see it.

[goblyn13]

no no, I thought Art was in the eye of the beholder....But i can't see it.

Well now that you mention it, if you look really closely:

http://www.clockworkzilla.com/randpics/wyrd/beholder.jpg

I think you'll see some art

[supervike]

By Gods you are right!

And thats damn creepy!

ART TRULY IS IN THE EYE OF THE BEHOLDER!!

(well done Goblyn13...that really made me laugh!)

[Frustrated Father]

Hah! Well done, got a good chuckle out of me.

Now that I think about it, that Beholder looks a bit worried.

[EldinTux]

Cool piece of work. Well done Goblyn13.