“Suddenly, Abstract Expressionism pooped out, and New York was full of shadowy has beens and fallen kings. What fad was next? The world waited. The answer came. The Figure. Did we realists get our hopes up? Perhaps for a few months. Then it became clear that the figure depicted must appear destroyed in some way – representing in short a cry of anguish over the Human Condition.”~Robert Vickrey*

Ah, but do we artists enjoy the trending of the fad?  Yes, and no! It only depends on what end of the fad we’re on…right?

I guess the beginning of a fad is the work more of a promoter than an artist. Take for example the abstract expressionists – the great “dribbler” himself, Jackson Pollack. I personally like and enjoy his work, but I must admit that the only thing that makes his work so valuable is because someone said it was, and it wasn’t Mr. Pollack. The fringes of his sanity probably became frayed because he spent so many  years studying a more realistic style of art that he could not (and did not) sell, but when he dribbled a few drops of paint on substrate, he helped create an entire new movement. Wow! What strange world we live in.

So what does it take to be considered somebody in the art world? It helps if you can start a fad. Sadly, it probably isn’t the artist that starts a fad, but it’s the promoters. And in the world of social media, the internet, the umpteen dozens of television channels which keeps the least among us informed, the probability of a fad lasting any time at all is very unlikely.

My recommendation for artists is to not concern themselves about style, technique, or movement of what is hot and selling at the moment, but instead, do what is hot for them. They should find their own passion. Paint what they love, and do it with fever in the style and technique that turns them on.

Pop Art followed. Abstract Expressionism wore its heart on its sleeve, but at least it had a heart. The new style was heartless. Ugly flash photos were copied with care. Billboards were presented with mock seriousness. Enlarged comic strips supposedly ripped the mask from the face of our shallow contemporary emotions. Dada was back, but instead of being a rebellion, it was the new official art.~ Robert Vickrey*

I can’t help but feel the emotion of Mr. Vickrey’s words when reading them. In a few words he completely defines that which all of us artists feel when wondering how certain movements completely takes over the art world with thundering passion. I tend to scratch my head and simply say with confusion, “It’s a wonderment!”

*Robert Vickrey: Robert Vickrey Artist at Work

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