Quote from: FirstAscent on May 08, 2013, 07:33:22 PM

Quote from: greyhawk on May 08, 2013, 07:07:46 PM

Quote from: FirstAscent on May 08, 2013, 03:44:18 PM

I personally disagree with the direction the criticism is taking here.

There is nothing worse than an artist who feels compelled by the public to satisfy the least common denominator. Real art is from the heart and mind of the artist, and his world, harnessing his inner human condition, his specific talents, and so on.

I went that route because Aztec specifically was mentioning the artist's desire to sell in his OP.

While I certainly appreciate your point, from a historic point of few art for arts sake is a concept that is very very new. If you look at the classical "masters", be it in the visual arts or in music, almost everything they did was commissional work.

Commissioned work follows from building a name, a look, an edge, a uniqueness, often comprised of life experience, and a way of seeing the world. I don't necessarily disagree with what you're saying, but if there is one solid point I'd like to make, more than anything, it would be this:

He will get a following, and commissions, by staying true to himself. But that does not preclude experimentation on his part. But that experimentation should come from within him and his own self-discovery.

I can see both viewpoints because i tend to air towards agreeing with greyhawk because I am always telling him to do his paintings of the Beatles and the Liver Buildings so he can make some money but Peter definitely would hit it off with FirstAscent. He isn't driven by money. His art is his life and his life is his art. I really don't want him to change because I see his work as truely unique and original. I've always loved his work and that was my motivation for making the site for him. You cant not appreciate the effort he's put in. He has talent no doubt and he has the work ethic. Now all he needs is a break.