Taylor SinopleStaff
Would you make work you personally find offensive for a client?
Curious where everyone lands on this. Have you ever rejected a commission on principle?
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Art Debates
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Since my "raison d'etre" is to glorify God, I would never take a commission that goes against biblical values. My brand is entirely faith driven. That commission would destroy my brand.
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I think as an artist it would be difficult to paint something you find offensive or even goes against what you find tasteful. So much of us goes into our work and the energy when you paint is what is reflected. If we paint with joy, people feel it when they look at the work if we paint with disapproval then all you will get is a disapproving eye. I was asked to do a portrait of a cat trying to get into the house by leaning up against a glass door, he wanted the words "let me in b***h. I said a little gold plaque on the frame would be better. Mainly because this is my art, even though it is commissioned I as the artist will also be judged. It is minor and I use that term myself so I am not offended but, I protect the integrity of my work.
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An artist should never feel obligated to create work they personally find offensive, no matter who the client is. When something crosses a moral or ethical line, saying no is an act of integrity, not a missed opportunity. Money should never blind us into producing work that goes against our principles or misrepresents who we are. We are all creators with our own boundaries, and honoring those boundaries protects the authenticity of our voice. At the end of the day, there is always a line we should not cross, even for a paycheck
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There's no way I could paint something that I found personally offensive. I create art because it fills me with joy and fulfills my purpose. Anything offensive to me would run right up against that. Boundaries are boundaries. I've learned the hard way when I lower them, I pay a terrible price in my body and soul.
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I would not paint something I found offensive to my personal values or beliefs
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Absolutely not. But I have made work that I do not find offensive that has offended others. :)
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A small percentage of what I do is celebrity/family n friend portrait style but with an artistic twist. Someone asked me to do a Donald Trump piece, and I laughed in their face. I probably should have been more reserved in my reaction, but FUCK DONALD J TRUMP!!!! Cheeto faced dumpster fire in power! So obviously I turned down the work. A big portion of my clients share my opinion and have much higher standards of humanity than Trump. If I took on that project, I'd have to keep it quiet and hide it from everyone. Here is an example of me bending my own scruples... I am not a fan of the Beatles, but sure, ill take the work. I just do not allow political garbage influence my work. I even thought about taking the tRUMP job, but hiding all kinds of anti tRUMP easter eggs in it. Nah, pass.
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Nope.