Model building... NOT ART?!?!??!?!?!

Modeling Subjects Aircraft
1

One day I was at a school talent show, when I over heard one of the judges commenting on my models! The other judge who was with him said, “Who cares,” and the walked on. I was the only one with models there.

A while after the show a guy my age told me he was surprized I had entered models into the art exibit. I wondered wondered what he meant? Models are art, aren’t they? I mean we paint, them, sculpt them, amd built them to our own liking.

Why it is so werid to tell people you build models? Why does it sound childish?

2

stukabomb88;
Art is very subjective. It is perceived differently by everyone who views it. I would say that model building IS art. It is not wierd or childish. I have seen some models done by young people that put others done by much older people to shame as far as quality of workmanship goes. Also, who were the judges of the talent show; teachers or students? If they were the school faculty, they should never say that about any of their students. If they were students, they probably just didn’t share your enthusiasm for the hobby. Model building is a talent and if you have the chance to show it off, by all mnans show it off!
Good luck at the next talent show;
Steve

3

Although I’ve built models most of my life, I never consider them as art nor myself as an artist. I think a more fair description would be model building as a craft and the talent we develop as craftsmanship.

4

very subjective indeed, I wonder how scratch-builders would respond to this interesting topic. Personally I have always concidered modeling an art in itself because alot of what we do to make our models look so strikingly realistic for ourselves, contests, the movie industry and other venues has alot to do with art. A great example is George Lucas’ ILM (Industrial Light and Magic) Art Department; they built the scale models for those favorite space ships we all have come to know and love. It’s all art in my book. Happy modeling!

5

I would also agree that modeling is an artform. However, whether or not it qualifies as true “art” in someone’s eyes, is really up to that individual.

Curiously, The National Museum of Naval Aviation here in Pensacola must consider modeling as art. On 26 - 28 November this year they are hosting a special presentation called, “A Celebration of Modeling Art.” It is supposed to be combination visual presentation of models and a competition. Here is an excerpt from the show flyer on judging:

“In the Museum competition, the model is to be viewed as a piece of art. Rather than seeking fault, the piece will be evaluated for the level of excellence it has attained.”

My kind of competition!

Robert

6

This is sad. Because I consider modeling a great thing. We work very hard and build thing that other people wouldn’t even dream of making because they don’t have the patience and the skills that we learn. I hope that something like this would never happen again and I can’t believe that people would be taht mean.
Good luck and don’t be bothered by people that don’t know much about things in this world.

7

Next time just ask some of those so-called “Artists” to build a model and make it look realistic and see how well they do.

Personally, I consider modeling to be an art form, but not in the true sense of art as taught in school. I consider it to be more difficult. A model has a fixed appearance and the goal is to work toward that in the most realistic manner you can. Something like painting a copy of a photograph. It is not as subjective because how it is supposed to look is known in advance even though the details are left up to the modeler.

8

Dude, sorry to hear that!!! I think that the “judges” don’t have taste first of all to say something like that in front of the School children. That is such a horrible thing to say, what a great way to discourage a child from doing what they love. Personally, I think modeling is an art form in it’s own right, just not by the strict definition that people view it as. It is also a craft, because we deal with precision, and that in my eyes defines “craftsmanship”. So we deal in the art of craft!!! LOL Sorry, I can’t get over that comment that the “judge” made, makes me want to punch 'em in the face!!! Remember that even the most famous of artists were criticized for their work not being “true art”, and today their work sells for millions, while they lived a life of poverty…go figure!!! The “Judge” probably likes barb wire art, or that paint in a straw art crap!!! Makes ya wanna tear up some crap paintings, don’t it!!! LOL

9

Stukaman -

Let me first say that it was really lame for the judge to say that - regardless of whether they considered it “ART” or not - it is without question a talent - and one that involves alot of artistic skill at that !

Is it “ART” ? Hmmmmmm… I think the short answer is that it depends on your definition of art. This is a case where words confuse the issue more than help clarify… “art” means really different things to different people.

Like rjk, I don’t consider my model building “Art” in the sense that most people think of “fine art” like the painting and sculpture that you’d see in an “art” gallery. There is an element of creativity that is lost when simply trying to duplicate an object in a smaller scale. [:0] WOW - Did I just say that !? I can hear the bristling sound as the hairs on the backs of reader’s necks collectively poke through their shirts !

Now let me quickly qualify that statement so that my subscription to FSM doesn’t get prematurely cancelled. There are tons of artistic skills that are developed and used when modelling - and many of them are the same as the ones that would be needed to create a painting or a bronze sculpture or one of those funky Alex Calder modern art mobile thingys. There is tons of creativity in developing methods of working with different media to color or to mold or even to “fool the eye”. There is no doubt that one has to have artistic skills to produce a model.

And then there’s the whole diorama thing… even more creative artistic talent involved there !

I’ve been to a few “REAL ART” museums - and in my ignorant opinion, there were more than a few items that could only be considered “art” if you used a VERY generous definition.

In the end - what some snob thinks about how THEY define YOUR work doesn’t really matter. A real artist just goes on being creative and developing their talent. Just BE the artist. Stukaman !

Chris

10

I think it’s absolutely an art, it requires all the same skills that a traditional art does. There’s very little difference between a sculpture or painting and a model.

11

Don’t even concern yourself with what “judges” think of your work, Stuka. As long as you are happy with what you are doing, hold your head high and tell 'em “yeah, I build models!” Pride and confidence go a long way to persuading others to take a more objective look at your work.

No matter what, keep on building!

12

In my opinion, the act of constructing a model kit is a craft. However, when we begin to apply the paint and weathering effects and go beyond what the instructions tell us to do in order to create something of our own, something unique, it becomes art.

A draftsman is generally not considered to be an artist, but a child that draws a stick figure of his mother may be. A press photographer and Ansel Adams photograph the same scene–only Adam’s photograph will be considered to be art. The draftsman and the press photographer are usually not trying to communicate their inner feelings to others or to express themselves through their work; they’re doing a job.

If you had glued the wings on upside-down and planted flowers in the cockpit, the art snobs might have taken notice.

Anyway, don’t let the comments of one fool bother you. If you think your models are art, then they are. And have fun!

13

Stukabomb,
i think i mostly agree w/ Dagne on this one.
whether or not a model is ‘art’ depends on the model and the modeler.
but i think we are all in agreement that it is a ‘craft’ of some kind,
and it requires skill.

the judges’ comments were poorly considered and delivered w/ the worst possible timing.
but then not all the lessons we learn from school are delivered in the classroom,
nor are they all taught from books.
i am sure these are not the first hurtful things you have heard.
and i am sorry to say that they will not be the last.
as long as you can channel your disappointment, frustration & anger and let
it help drive you forward in a positive way, you will ‘learn something’ from this
experience as well.

you may sometimes feel that models are ‘childish’, but there are a lot of adults who build them!
baseball & basketball might be ‘childish’ too.
are not the pros overgrown little leaguers?
men playing a boys game and refusing to grow up?

the important thing here is that your response was and is mature.
you responded like an adult, or at least the way an adult is supposed to.

you may have noticed, our hobby is a bit outside the mainstream.
we do things w/ our hands & minds, and we are happy to read, study & research.
would we be more ‘normal’ if we watched more TV and played video games
all the time instead?
probably. but what would be the point.

enjoy your hobby, Stukabomb.
and by all means strive to make it ‘art’ if that pleases you.
but most importantly, enjoy yourself.
and do not let the opinions of the ignorant concern or upset you.

sorry if i have gone on (and on and on) with this.
but i know that the school years are some of the toughest to
face w/ cliques, acceptance, popularity, etc.
i can also say, as the 20th anniversary of my high school graduation looms this summer,
it does not much matter who sat where in the cafeteria,
or what parties i was or wasn’t invited to.
[soapbox]

keep building and keep posting.
[:)]

14

I faced those types of judges too. I have entered, by special invite, model ships in a few local art shows. Boy did I get the crap from the critics. A guy can build a chuckwagon and a carved horse and enter it as a scupture, but I cannot enter a “model” ship although it has a whole lot of scuptures on it.

Part my problem to was that I was a ship modeler in a western market. The guy with the wagon might get the same reception as I did if he entered an art show in Mystic Conn.

I guess is what I am saying is that where you display you models depends on the types of people who will view the models. Piccasso type paintings don’t mix well at the CM Russell western art show. Just like pottery won’t go well at the IPMS nationals. Your judges were not expecting the type of media you entered, and I hope you broke new ground for future talent shows at your school.

15

You make a good point, since I’m a draftsman and a designer. When I do a drawing to represent a structure, it is just that, a representation, and it takes skill and craftsmanship to make it. An architect does drawings to show the hight, shape, and dimension of the building, then he does the renduring of the building with color and perspective, to show the viewer what it will look like. The reduring is art, why? because it gives the viewer feelings and induces emotion.

Just like the models we do, we may build a tank and paint it up and show it as a tank representing a certian battalion. It really becomes art when the modeler weathers it and uses shading to add tone and definition. He adds figures and puts a story to it, now the model will cause emotion in the viewer, and art is defined as giving and receiving emotion.

16

I’d have to say your teacher isn’t in touch with his students if he’s making comments like those, especially if you’ve gone to all the effort of contributing…
Personally, I have very strong beliefs that scale modelling (or modelling in any form) IS an art form - but I don’t consider it ART.
But just what can or cannot be considered to be art is a very subjective thing - different things to different people.
The skills and creativity displayed by the contributors in FSM (professionals or novices) is something to inspire others, and it’s always fascinating to learn new techniques or learn new skills as exhibited by the authors of the articles.
Many of the models displayed show a creativity, inventiveness and quality of craftsmanship that most professional “artists” simply cannot begin to match.
Art? Maybe.
Artistic? Definately.

17

I tend to agree. Again, this is simply my opinion. Art is usually considered an outlet of creativity or expression, and is the act of making a tangible form from an idea or thought. To this, I’d say models don’t neccessarily apply, as for the most part you’re working with pre-existing objects, and simply finishing them to your liking, but you’re not creating something from nothing.
Maybe scratchbuilding, but then again, that just makes the line a little more blurry.

Exactly.

18

Leave those silly arguments about ARTvsCRAFT to the ignorant. The difference between them and you is very easy to see.Get a group of artistsor craftsmen together and what you will usually hear is ,how did you get that color? or what did you do to achieve this or that?Be creative.Have fun.Who cares what they think.Cheers! John.

19

I have been and artist and model maker as long as I can remember. My style of drawing tends to lean towards realistic and less expressive yet it is still considered art. As far as modelling goes I think it is an art form because sometimes what is accurate is not convincing and something that isn’t technically correct can look very real. Making the incorrect (painted plastic, pencil or oil paint) look convincing is definitely art. Craft is the means art is the end.

20

This is the Webster Dictionary

Craft- A special skill or art

Craftman- Artisan

There it is…Craftsman is art! [;)][^]