I read an article yesterday written by a self-annointed expert about fine art. I won't mention his name, but he writes about the "art biz". His article went on and on about how artists need to use only the finest materials, and the most exquisite craftsmanship, and he went on (and on and on) about how artists need to be careful about not making mistakes and changing directions in a piece...
The guy kept writing paragraphs that said the same things, over and over. He talked about how he carefully went over every piece of art to make sure that the utmost care had been taken in its execution. Artists would not be able to simply make excuses if he was on the job.
It was almost nonsensically naiive. I started thinking about Franz Klein and Jackson Pollock using house paint. I remembered a piece that Harmony Hammond had at TMA one year in the Biennial - I remember a series of old doors, some of which seemed to have maybe been burnt. I thought about Robert Rauschenberg, and Jasper Johns, and suddenly I wondered if this guy had ever actually gone to a museum and seen any kind of Modern or Contemporary Art. He doesn't seem to have a clue about the creative process.
I had a difficult time sleeping. I kept waking up thinking that maybe I should just throw most of everything I've done in the trash. Now that I'm fully awake, and have been for many hours, I've decided he's just full of shit, and he probably wouldn't know a good painting if it bit him in the ass.
I'm not saying that artists should just throw a bunch of crap together and call it "Contemporary Art". I think it's important to at least try to use a certain level of craftsmanship and materials that have a chance of lasting at least for awhile. Nothing is going to last forever. I do the best I can. I use the best materials I can afford. I have at least learned how to do things and make an effort.