On Originality - Index
This series pivots on the questions: “Is it folly to try to be original?” Why do we consider some things more “original” than others? These are questions I have asked myself many times over the years. Some artists are unmistakably original. Most hover about in the mainstream, creative but not necessarily making distinctive work. (Series logo image credit1)
Posts in chronological order
On originality and finding your "voice" - Part 1: What's all the fuss about originality?
Tackling the topic of originality is inspired by Jason Chadwick's excellent post on Pr…
On originality and finding your "voice" - Part 2: A few examples.
A few weeks ago I was thinking I should do some longer posts about particular cartoonists I admire. This isn’t that, but it’s leaning that way. The artists featured below have books written about them, but for now, we’re just talking about originality and I want to use them to point out some things that I recognize as original. I hope that might help yo…
On originality, Part 3 - more examples +
It’s tempting, and perhaps inevitable when you reach a certain age to refer to the culture (music, art, fashion) you grew up with, or rather, matured with. For me that was the 70s and there is without doubt a certain magic to anything brown, orange, Harvest Gold or Avacado, Doobie Brothers or CCR. Sad but true.
On Originality - Part 4: the theory of six.
It’s a theory, my theory. And we’re going to test it out right now.
This is an ongoing series with several unpicked up threads already; an article review and more individual artist profiles. Stay tuned, or subscribe just to this section if you are interested.
Footnotes
The series logo image is: "Self-Portrait with Bandaged Ear and Pipe, February 1889" (1947). Van Gogh (1853-1890) Painting in a private collection reproduced from the book, "Vincent Van Gogh," by Ludwig Goldscheider and Wilhelm Uhde (Phaidon Press Ltd, Oxford and London, 1947). (Photo by The Print Collector via Getty Images); retrieved online from https://www.foxnews.com/lifestyle/this-day-history-dec-23-1888-dutch-impressionist-vincent-van-gogh-cuts-ear on 10 February 2025,