Art Snobbery

I am not an art snob. I like what I like regardless if it’s approved by the art snobs. By art snobs I mean those that have a preconceived notion of what art is and what art isn’t. Why are bronze statues referred to as “fine art” while the same thing cast in concrete or resin isn’t? The same skill in sculpting went into all of them.

Norman Rockwell was looked down upon by the art snobs and his art wasn’t considered fine art because he did commercial artwork. Rockwell even agreed with them. But you know who Norman Rockwell is, you may even have a painting of his hanging in your house, I do. Comic book art was looked down upon as sleazy commercial artwork. Now there are galleries that specialize in selling comic book art.

Ancient Greek potters were the lowest of the low in the Greek pecking order. They began putting art on their pottery. At first they copied Egyptian and Syrian art. Then they surpassed those art forms. Now the low of the low’s art goes for millions of dollars. The art snobs eventually catch up to the rest of us.

Now for the next great thing that the art snobs will have to accept, someday: Comic book hero figurines. I would say this art form is on the cutting edge of sculpture today. Bronze is so yesterday, yesteryear, yestermillenia. Move on art snobs. Look at this. 

Yes, this is a sculpture.

 You can see more like this at: http://www.hottoys.com.hk/product.php

The two videos below is about Tony Cipriano, the artist talks about how he got into sculpting commercially (funny story) and shows the process it takes to make those amazing figurines.