I have been attempting to expand my horizons lately and exploring national shows and galleries around the country to see if maybe my work would be acceptable in these arenas. After getting bloodshot eyes and fatigue, not to mention stressed out, I have to admit -The work I saw at these online sites and galleries around the country is- for want of a better word - ATROCIOUS. Too strong a word? How about this one.
FRIGGIN' DISCUSTNG ( sorry two words) , AMATEURISH, WITHOUT REDEEMING QUALITY! ( oops, three words!)
Am I being too harsh here??  Sorry. I should be a bit more reasonable and not be so vitriolic. I know, you say Rick, you are just jealous because you consider your work head over heals, ten times better. WELL, RIGHT??!!!!
I really try and speak about Art with reason, understanding and some knowledge. You can't do this so long and not learn something! But what I have witnessed is not to be believed. I want to avoid a law suit so I can't mention the online sites or online galleries I visited, so I am left to critique and express my thoughts through my Musings from the Easel. Much of the work I saw had qualities about them that made them stand out.  Mainly, they were badly painted. They exhibited no sense of design or color harmony.
In fact the color is meant to horrify and shock us into a state of catatonia. Too many were needlessly overly large, which is meant to make us believe they are commensurate in price to their outrageously ridiculous size. Ostensibly telling us that since we don't have homes large enough to put these monstrosities into, they are catering to a higher class of oligarch and not the average paycheck to paycheck type of individuals.
Another unique quality these works exhibit is the utter lack of knowledge and expertise in the craft of making art. In fact, it is beneficial to know nothing of art to guarantee your making the list for getting representation and exhibition. Do the words spin art or squeegee art ring a bell. No?!  If you are still using brushes, pallet knives or your fingers you are not in the loop here. Spilling, dripping, squeegeeing, spinning are the new things.
Now I have nothing against Acrylic paint but I see its usefulness to make this new work. It's cheaper (right now). You can pour gobs of it out onto your surface. It dries relatively quickly, so you can pour more on top and you have.....ART!
Who needs training? Who needs any skill? Forget about seeing anything you recognize?! Get behind the mushing and smudging and dripping. Appreciate that it took nothing to create. No skill, no training, no attempt at creativity. That cost money to make!?!?!?!?. Look at all the Acrylic paint that is left on the floor around the painting? Someone has to pay for that?!
And best of all- ANYONE CAN DO IT.
Oh hell I will mention one museum- go visit the artists from the TATE online. Then come back and tell me I am being too harsh.