David Bayles
Author of Art & Fear: Observations On the Perils (and Rewards) of Artmaking
About the Author
Image credit: via optimize.me
Works by David Bayles
Tagged
Common Knowledge
- Canonical name
- Bayles, David
- Legal name
- Bayles, David Paul
- Birthdate
- 1952
- Gender
- male
- Education
- University of Colorado (Sociology)
University of Colorado (Philosophy)
University of California, Los Angeles (Sociology)
Brooks Institute of Photography - Occupations
- teacher
artist
photographer
executive director
conservationist - Organizations
- Pacific Rivers Council
- Awards and honors
- The Bancroft Library, University of California, Berkley (The David Paul Bayles Photographic Archive, 2016)
- Short biography
- David Bayles has worked with Pacific Rivers Council nearly since our inception in 1987. PRC's former Executive Director, David is a national leader in the conservation community on aquatic conservation generally, and has particular expertise on the effects of land management on aquatic systems and the public policy setting for the watershed and aquatic species conservation. He is the co-author of several scientific articles on aquatic species conservation, watershed conservation and ecosystem management and co-authored the successful endangered species petition for coho salmon. He was a participant in Keystone Policy Dialogue on Ecosystem Management, and of the award-winning Policy Dialogue Group on Wild and Scenic Rivers.
- Nationality
- USA
- Birthplace
- The Dallas, Oregon, USA
- Places of residence
- Boulder, Colorado, USA
Los Angeles, California, USA
Eugene, Oregon, USA
Corvallis, Oregon, USA
Philomath, Oregon, USA - Associated Place (for map)
- Oregon, USA
Members
Reviews
It started out pretty good. But then you hit chapter VIII (Conceptual Worlds) and the authors start into sophistric contortions trying to definite art in such a way as to exclude and denigrate what they consider lesser: crafts, and creative works notable for skillful execution without any sufficiently intellectual concept behind them.
They also really don't seem to have any understanding of the creative drive to make something. Which is baffling. And they seem to think there is a limit to show more what an artist can learn about their medium. They use this as a way to dismiss craft, as if craftspeople are just trained monkeys repeating a stale technique. Like technique is finite and only ever learned from more experienced artists. My Brother In Christ, if you love your medium you will discover things no one could have taught you. But maybe you can teach to others. :)
The first part was decent, but later chapters were so toxic they spoiled it. show less
They also really don't seem to have any understanding of the creative drive to make something. Which is baffling. And they seem to think there is a limit to show more what an artist can learn about their medium. They use this as a way to dismiss craft, as if craftspeople are just trained monkeys repeating a stale technique. Like technique is finite and only ever learned from more experienced artists. My Brother In Christ, if you love your medium you will discover things no one could have taught you. But maybe you can teach to others. :)
The first part was decent, but later chapters were so toxic they spoiled it. show less
A must read for every artist and art appreciator/viewer, because "we all get hung up" soon or later on the philosophical and psychological What is art? What was (is) the artist trying to say? How do artists persevere in a world that is obsessed with art fashion? aspects.
Two of my favourite quotes will serve as displays of the intriguing writing style that so captivated me:
With respect to Academia: wherein most prominent graduate students describe themselves as survivors of their formal show more education: "The thought of working in the art education system ~ either as student or faculty ~ is about as attractive as standing beneath a steady drizzle of dead cats." (p. 80). (Note: any grad student surviving long enough to achieve their degree would probably agree with this).
And:
In reference to artists' worries about funding and achieving solo exhibitions (when straying too far from the innocuous norm), "the American Revolution was not financed by grants from the Crown" (p.68). Perhaps that observation was meant you weren't supposed to be intimidated by societal acceptance, and the authors do go on to suggest strategies for survival.
Aside from some amusing writing, I found the philosophy encouraging and reassuring. Whether you write music, dance, paint or sculpt, there was a feeling of camaraderie and understanding here that I've never encountered elsewhere. show less
Two of my favourite quotes will serve as displays of the intriguing writing style that so captivated me:
With respect to Academia: wherein most prominent graduate students describe themselves as survivors of their formal show more education: "The thought of working in the art education system ~ either as student or faculty ~ is about as attractive as standing beneath a steady drizzle of dead cats." (p. 80). (Note: any grad student surviving long enough to achieve their degree would probably agree with this).
And:
In reference to artists' worries about funding and achieving solo exhibitions (when straying too far from the innocuous norm), "the American Revolution was not financed by grants from the Crown" (p.68). Perhaps that observation was meant you weren't supposed to be intimidated by societal acceptance, and the authors do go on to suggest strategies for survival.
Aside from some amusing writing, I found the philosophy encouraging and reassuring. Whether you write music, dance, paint or sculpt, there was a feeling of camaraderie and understanding here that I've never encountered elsewhere. show less
I loved the premise and the ideas shared, but...whenever I started reading it, I fell asleep. Literally. The style wasn't engaging for me, and even though I wanted to read it, I found my mind wandering whenever I sat down to it, had to go back and reread, and then got drowsy.
This is a great book for ALL people, artist or not, professional or amateur. What I mean by that is, whether you want to start cooking, gardening, dancing, painting -- WHATEVER! -- it helps give you motivation to do so.
I've always been an artist, having a natural drawing talent from a very young age, delving into my art in high school, then studying art in college. I received my commercial art/graphic arts degree and even though I did not stay in my field (I hated desktop publishing, and show more would rather create fine art), this book has been of great help to me in pursuing art as a hobby and just for fun.
I love calligraphy/lettering, abstract painting (acrylics & watercolor) & some card-making. I still cannot believe all the notes I took from this book. I highlighted and underlined things on nearly every single page.
There are many examples to give from this book, but 2 things have always stood out for me: The first is the example of the 2 groups of pottery students. One group was assigned to make as many items they could and the other group was assigned to just make one, but it had to be perfect. Of course, the first group succeeded because the more times you do something, the better you hone your skill for it. The other group were completely stressed out at making just that one perfect pot.
Another example is the story of the dancer who was a great dancer, and did it because she loved to dance. She never thought of pursuing it professionally, until her teacher suggested she try out for a position (or something to that). That's when she became terrified of failing and questioned herself. She didn't enjoy dancing anymore because of the pressure to perform for others vs. just dancing for herself.
This story is the same as what my b-i-l experienced as a photographer. He takes great pictures (we call him the family photographer because he always has his camera at family functions). Well, one year, I asked him (via email) if he would take a family portrait for me. I offered to pay him, said we'd work around his schedule, etc, etc. (I wanted him to know how much I'd appreciate it). Well, he never replied. I just figured he was too busy. But when my husband asked him about it a few months later, the bil said he felt he wouldn't be good enough and started to feel pressure. I immediately thought of this book and wanted to share it with him so bad! He was the perfect example of someone who just wanted to do what he did for the enjoyment of it and when I tried to make it "professional", he cowarded. (I never did get the family photo, but I warned him that he'll be hired to do my son's senior pics!) show less
I've always been an artist, having a natural drawing talent from a very young age, delving into my art in high school, then studying art in college. I received my commercial art/graphic arts degree and even though I did not stay in my field (I hated desktop publishing, and show more would rather create fine art), this book has been of great help to me in pursuing art as a hobby and just for fun.
I love calligraphy/lettering, abstract painting (acrylics & watercolor) & some card-making. I still cannot believe all the notes I took from this book. I highlighted and underlined things on nearly every single page.
There are many examples to give from this book, but 2 things have always stood out for me: The first is the example of the 2 groups of pottery students. One group was assigned to make as many items they could and the other group was assigned to just make one, but it had to be perfect. Of course, the first group succeeded because the more times you do something, the better you hone your skill for it. The other group were completely stressed out at making just that one perfect pot.
Another example is the story of the dancer who was a great dancer, and did it because she loved to dance. She never thought of pursuing it professionally, until her teacher suggested she try out for a position (or something to that). That's when she became terrified of failing and questioned herself. She didn't enjoy dancing anymore because of the pressure to perform for others vs. just dancing for herself.
This story is the same as what my b-i-l experienced as a photographer. He takes great pictures (we call him the family photographer because he always has his camera at family functions). Well, one year, I asked him (via email) if he would take a family portrait for me. I offered to pay him, said we'd work around his schedule, etc, etc. (I wanted him to know how much I'd appreciate it). Well, he never replied. I just figured he was too busy. But when my husband asked him about it a few months later, the bil said he felt he wouldn't be good enough and started to feel pressure. I immediately thought of this book and wanted to share it with him so bad! He was the perfect example of someone who just wanted to do what he did for the enjoyment of it and when I tried to make it "professional", he cowarded. (I never did get the family photo, but I warned him that he'll be hired to do my son's senior pics!) show less
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Statistics
- Works
- 4
- Members
- 1,993
- Popularity
- #12,910
- Rating
- 4.0
- Reviews
- 44
- ISBNs
- 15
- Languages
- 2