tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18907156.post3404761388152406341..comments2024-03-19T06:12:18.701-04:00Comments on Today's Inspiration: Robert Fawcett: On Artistic Integrity... and Making a Livingleifpenghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07232334860061949895noreply@blogger.comBlogger39125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18907156.post-68873916895328013462018-11-15T10:56:26.524-05:002018-11-15T10:56:26.524-05:00Really interesting, thanks for sharingReally interesting, thanks for sharingAlanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12612131634812849917noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18907156.post-87293559961985278322010-02-17T18:18:20.362-05:002010-02-17T18:18:20.362-05:00It's very nice and interesting!
Than you for s...It's very nice and interesting!<br />Than you for sharing this images!Raquel A Artworkhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14401306534536519947noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18907156.post-2967112027980598552010-02-10T10:10:33.768-05:002010-02-10T10:10:33.768-05:00Boo-yah, that was a good one!
I agree with Chris. ...Boo-yah, that was a good one!<br />I agree with Chris. If you can afford to be choosy, well go for it sugar.<br />The only difference between me and the garbage man, is that I kinda like what I do.<br />But we both wouldn't do it for free.<br />M-A-R-KMark Harrishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07898299574797827415noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18907156.post-42733063601650998062010-02-10T10:03:27.953-05:002010-02-10T10:03:27.953-05:00HA! "Btw, my name is pronounced "Life&q...HA! "Btw, my name is pronounced "Life"."<br /><br />Lighten up Francis.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18907156.post-6901308695124414692010-02-09T21:08:32.268-05:002010-02-09T21:08:32.268-05:00Btw, my name is pronounced "Life".
.....Btw, my name is pronounced "Life". <br /><br />... and, er, how do I pronounce yours... ?leifpenghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07232334860061949895noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18907156.post-7036394798990341082010-02-09T21:04:31.946-05:002010-02-09T21:04:31.946-05:00You've got to be kidding. You're still co...You've got to be kidding. You're <i>still</i> coming back here? The conversation has <b>moved on</b> "Anonymous" - let it go. I'm beginning to think my 15 year old son is right that you're, as he put it, <i>"probably some 33 year old loser still living in his parents' basement with nothing better to do than troll around the Internet all day."</i><br /><br />Please "Anonymous", tell me you weren't serious about going on to point out my contradictions <i>forever</i>! Lord, give me strength!leifpenghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07232334860061949895noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18907156.post-77207659330693895382010-02-09T15:58:26.265-05:002010-02-09T15:58:26.265-05:00Well Leaf, I can go on pointing out your contradic...Well Leaf, I can go on pointing out your contradictions forever, but after you referred to Charles Schulz in the familiar, I give up.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18907156.post-68042633108519297262010-02-08T14:12:33.824-05:002010-02-08T14:12:33.824-05:00Because you apologized for one of your three insul...Because you apologized for one of your three insulting remarks, I'll address you directly - just this once - "Anonymous". But I'm still annoyed as hell by your cowardice for hiding behind anonymity. Its my blog and I can decide what I like about who gets considerate replies. Having the guts to commit your identity to your statements carries FAR more weight with me.<br /><br />How dare you think I wouldn't be offended to be called a Salieri? Its not the comparison to the actual man - as I said, Salieri was a fine composer unlucky to be born at a time when he had to compete with Mozart for a limited audience of wealthy patrons. But its the <i>implication</i> that offends me - and to have it thrown at me (from the rather snobbish position, I might add) of correcting me on what part of Fawcett's quote was the important part. The part I chose was important (i.e. relevant) to the point I was making. That's why I said you were wrong.<br /><br />Listen, "Anonymous", you came here full of attitude and arrogance and tried to chop me down with a lot of insulting insinuations from the safety of anonymity. That kind of "contribution" to the conversation ought to piss anyone off, including you. Type "Robert Fawcett" in the search window of this blog and see how many posts come back - you could hardly find a spot on the Internet that showers the man with more praise than this blog has and does. That doesn't mean I can't ever take a single quote he said and disagree with it for the purpose of intellectual discourse.<br /><br />And that crack about him never having lived through a recession -- that's called "levity". Not every word I write needs to be entirely serious. If you didn't already have a chip on your shoulder you might have realized that. No one else, including those who disagreed with me, seem to have felt the need to get outraged about it.<br /><br />Its time for you to put this behind you, "Anonymous" - it saddens me that in your black and white world Sparky's a whore, and Bill Watterson's (I guess) a virgin, but maybe one day you'll grow up and realize the world's made of shades of grey and that calling artists whores because they want to make a good living from their creative endeavors doesn't exactly make you Mr. Popularity around here (or for that matter, <i>Miss</i> Popularity - how would we ever know?)leifpenghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07232334860061949895noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18907156.post-87314649110333341152010-02-08T12:10:01.192-05:002010-02-08T12:10:01.192-05:00I apologize for calling you Salieri. I didn't...I apologize for calling you Salieri. I didn't think it would bother you so much. I guess my ire began when you, sarcastically and in my opinion disrespectfully, said "Refuse work"?! Huh! Spoken like someone who never had to live through a recession, eh?". Sounds pretty sarcastic to me. Choosing to accpet or refuse work is a matter of choice for the artist. And I see no reason for you to malign Robert Fawcett. <br /><br />As for the word "whore";<br />A definition for "whore" is: 3. To compromise one's principles for personal gain.<br /><br />Charles Shultz, whom to me is a God, chose to "whore" his art out and produce every product imaginable. Yet Bill Watterson refused to do so, regardless of the promised return. Who is right?<br /><br />In my opinion, both are. Who are we to judge other artists principles?<br /><br />And why is it so difficult for you to accept my using the word "whore" when you say the same thing, "he was able to find some way to dig deep into his artistic soul and accept the money"? <br /><br />What's good for you is not good for others and that makes you, in my opinion, a snob.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18907156.post-53743787913151096492010-02-08T11:27:53.250-05:002010-02-08T11:27:53.250-05:00The commenter continues to insist on anonymity des...The commenter continues to insist on anonymity despite my clearly stating that I find it inconsiderate behaviour, especially when one's intent is to debate the topic being discussed in an insulting manner. So far the commenter in question has called me a "Salieri" ( his/her intent being to suggest that I'm a talentless apologist for "also rans" ) and, having read my position on artistic integrity, the commenter chose to equate such a position with being "a whore", an offensive and entirely undeserved derogation that casts a countless number of creative arts professionals in a disparaging light.<br /><br />The commenter in question then dogmatically continues to hide behind anonymity while returning time and again to hurl insults from the safety of said anonymity - but <i>I'm</i> the snob because I refuse to acknowledge the commenter in a respectful manner - a manner the commenter hasn't granted to me.<br /><br />Let's see, so far, "Salieri, whore, and snob." But I'm the one expected to provide a reasonable rebuttal. Right.<br /><br />The commenter then casts aspersions on my willingness to allow dissenting opinion on my blog.<br /><br />The commenter may wish to review all of the comments in this discussion and note that James Mayhew, Armand Cabrera, Chip (and continuing on to the next post) Chad Sterling all presented counter arguements to my position and all received respectful replies.<br /><br />The commenter may wish to consider that, in future, good etiquette will attract a better response than anonymous trollism.<br /><br />* And I'm sure there <b>will</b> be future comments from the commenter in question... because the commenter in question seems unable to let this topic go - or stop reading this blog. ;^)leifpenghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07232334860061949895noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18907156.post-2563314774407975842010-02-08T10:29:09.810-05:002010-02-08T10:29:09.810-05:00Leif is the snob.
"The commenter in questi...Leif is the snob. <br /><br />"The commenter in question indicates that the excerpt of the Fawcett quote I chose is not the key segment. The commenter is wrong." <br /><br />What kind of rebuttle is that? I'm wrong? Where's the debate? Explain why I'm wrong. <br /> Just replying, "the commenter is wrong ... From now on I will no longer directly address comments from anonymous commenters. " sounds pretty snobby to me. <br /><br />God forbid anyone disagrees with one of your posts.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18907156.post-58071057735802230112010-02-05T16:54:44.952-05:002010-02-05T16:54:44.952-05:00Wow, some subjects really stir the pot! I happily ...Wow, some subjects really stir the pot! I happily chose illustration as a career back in the late seventies and have never regretted it. Unless you're illustrating your own stuff, the job is usually to interpret someone else's ideas to the best of your abilities, adding as much creatively as you can. Every job is different, and some I dreaded doing turned out to be great learning experiences. If you can afford to be choosy, more power to you! I hope to get there someday. Great work as always, Leif!Chris Turnerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06479227661138356908noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18907156.post-66871443258436919252010-02-05T11:04:13.443-05:002010-02-05T11:04:13.443-05:00I'm called a snob by more anonymous men/women ...I'm called a snob by more anonymous men/women before breakfast than most people get called all day. This is my life.Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09358762927935063792noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18907156.post-782519741083712802010-02-05T10:53:17.032-05:002010-02-05T10:53:17.032-05:00One must wonder if the commenter in question is re...One must wonder if the commenter in question is referring to Chip being a snob, since his (or her) comment appears directly below Chip's last comment, or if he is directing his/her comment at me. Since the commenter in question continues to hide in a cloak of anonymity, the commenter's remarks continue to carry no real weight.leifpenghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07232334860061949895noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18907156.post-83406609395133698472010-02-05T10:43:58.188-05:002010-02-05T10:43:58.188-05:00You're a snob.You're a snob.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18907156.post-85682459990156402452010-02-04T23:46:33.143-05:002010-02-04T23:46:33.143-05:00It's funny seeing this discussion on a day whe...It's funny seeing this discussion on a day where rumours abound that DC Comics is planning possibly attempt a sequel to Watchmen.<br /><br />Who would take that writing/art job? It would certainly mean a lot of cash, but at what cost to integrity and professional reputation? Can a bad piece of art damage future earnings?Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09358762927935063792noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18907156.post-6695064580296969442010-02-04T23:42:37.486-05:002010-02-04T23:42:37.486-05:00God, I miss your little red caboose.God, I miss your little red caboose.Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09358762927935063792noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18907156.post-55627626448025934522010-02-04T23:41:49.971-05:002010-02-04T23:41:49.971-05:00Chip; to clarify, I actually didn't start the ...Chip; to clarify, I actually <i>didn't</i> start the hyperbole train about starvation, it was engineered by an earlier commenter who stated he'd rather starve than sell out. <br /><br />I just hooked my little red caboose to that train. ( because I thought I could, I THOUGHT I could! )leifpenghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07232334860061949895noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18907156.post-13101107949426467762010-02-04T23:38:51.149-05:002010-02-04T23:38:51.149-05:00p.p.s: I can't stop thinking of a Les Miz show...p.p.s: I can't stop thinking of a Les Miz show featuring illustrators.Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09358762927935063792noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18907156.post-36865243637281735412010-02-04T23:37:01.563-05:002010-02-04T23:37:01.563-05:00Tom and Charlie; Thanks god for your reasonable, ...Tom and Charlie; Thanks god for your reasonable, thoughtful comments, based in sound experience. Thank you to you both, and to those others who have shared their thoughts on the topic in a reasonable manner.<br /><br />Frankly I find the opinions of those who see this issue in black and white completely baffling, not to mention laughable and naive.<br /><br />Have any of you champions of 'artistic integrity' ever seen the photos I've posted here of <a href="http://todaysinspiration.blogspot.com/2008/08/at-home-with-bob-fawcett.html" rel="nofollow">Bob Fawcett's house</a>? He was, by the time of this 1946 article, enjoying a quality of life most people could only ever dream about. I'm not saying he didn't work hard to get those rewards... I completely respect the man, his work ethic, his hard fought journey to success and his accomplishments as an illustrator. But it was easy for Fawcett to issue his decree of refusing work from where he was in 1946 (the year before he would become one of the 12 founding faculty of the Famous Artists Course, btw). Proclamations like that are always easier to make on a full stomach.leifpenghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07232334860061949895noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18907156.post-75317106963610918482010-02-04T23:31:32.818-05:002010-02-04T23:31:32.818-05:00Does anyone have $7,000? I will draw all of your d...Does anyone have $7,000? I will draw all of your deepest, darkest desires.Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09358762927935063792noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18907156.post-81856790282034850872010-02-04T23:28:12.341-05:002010-02-04T23:28:12.341-05:00Ha ha! Hey now, I didn't start the hyperbole t...Ha ha! Hey now, I didn't start the hyperbole train, Mr. "Would you let your children starve!" I just got onboard. You can replace my KKK mag joke with a corporate report for an environmentally unsound oil company or a childhood diabetes-inducing candy company for something more real-world. <br /><br />In any case, my point is more addressing your kid-starving comment than the $7000 for a ho-hum illustration. Hell, I'm the first to say that I'd take $7,000 to draw almost anything with the phrase "ENDORSED BY CHIP ZDARSKY" stamped across it.<br /><br />In good times I pick and choose my jobs, in bad times I get less picky, but if I was presented with something that truly turned my stomach and crossed my line and I was in severely bad times with mouths to feed I would go back to Canadian Tire, which, in hindsight, was a pretty sweet job.Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09358762927935063792noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18907156.post-79187226518601951272010-02-04T23:12:46.528-05:002010-02-04T23:12:46.528-05:00A note from the blog author: From now on I will no...<b>A note from the blog author:</b> <i>From now on I will no longer directly address comments from anonymous commenters. Since anonymous commenters don't show me the courtesy of commenting with a name, they will be referred to in the third person.</i><br /><br />The commenter in question indicates that the excerpt of the Fawcett quote I chose is not the key segment. The commenter is wrong. <br /><br />The commenter then makes an irrelevant argument that misses the point of my post.<br /><br />The commenter then makes a disparaging remark regarding the nature of the profession of commercial artist. The commenter is behaving inappropriately and does not understand the nature of the profession of commercial artist.<br /><br />The commenter then draws an inaccurate comparison between the quote that provided the basic premise of this post and one of my remarks. Again, the commenter is wrong and misses the point.<br /><br />And finally, the commenter attempted to insult me by referencing <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Salieri" rel="nofollow">Salieri</a>, a composer of some admirable ability who had the bad luck to have been born during a time when he had to compete for the attention of his patrons with Mozart. As the purpose of this blog has always been as much to acknowledge the accomplishments of - not only the titans of mid-century illustration - but also those many other worthy (if perhaps slightly lesser) talents, I do not consider the comparison an insult.leifpenghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07232334860061949895noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18907156.post-25545372224086858992010-02-04T23:09:16.039-05:002010-02-04T23:09:16.039-05:00I don't think being an illustrator is any bett...I don't think being an illustrator is any better or worse than being a salesman, baker, fireman or a doctor. Regardless of our trade, if we have standards and integrity as a person, it will carry into our professional life. I believed that if I did the best illustrations I could in the time I had, I wasn't compromising my creativity or prostituting myself, even though the job may, on occasions, have been for a "Mickey Mouse" hole in the wall agency, with "rinky dink" little clients. In fact I considered it my responsibility to help upgrade their advertising by giving them my best efforts. I did illustrations for major ad agencies down to a three man ad agency working out of his house, and took pride in doing work for all of them. But, where I drew the line was when I was asked to work on a major brand cigarette promotion, for a very prestigious art studio. My dad had died a few years before of lung cancer, caused by nearly a life-time of smoking.. and I turned down the job without a second thought.<br /><br />Tom WatsonTomhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13237565169344311948noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18907156.post-61612007442825961152010-02-04T22:43:20.918-05:002010-02-04T22:43:20.918-05:00Chip;
Let's not get carried away to extreme e...Chip;<br /><br />Let's not get carried away to extreme examples of Ayn Randian proportions. We're talking about whether or not Fawcett could bring himself to accept the equivalent of $7,000 in today's money to draw a picture for Cosmopolitan or Good Housekeeping - not the cover of some white supremacist magazine, ok?<br /><br />And as it turns out, more often than not, he was able to find some way to dig deep into his artistic soul and accept the money.leifpenghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07232334860061949895noreply@blogger.com