Technique, Technique, Technique, then Art (?)

"To him, all good things…came by grace; and grace comes by art; and art does not come easy."
A River Runs Through It

"[Abstract art is] a product of the untalented, sold by the unprincipled to the utterly bewildered."
Al Capp

A common tension in art criticism arises between the focus on technical ability and artistic expression.  Our first quotation implies that the creative process is a necessarily difficult and complicated path, and that "grace" only comes after mastering this difficulty.  The second quotation describes the importance many established artists and art critics place on traditional technique.  Abstract, abstract expressionist, minimalist, and much of performance art does not depend on traditionally honed or formally trained technical ability, inciting skepticism as to the quality of such work.

What do we mean by technique?  Technique is a specific way or approach to creation, defined by a set of standards, forms, and methods.  All artists employ technique, but that technique can be traditional or personal.  Traditional technique is founded in historical standards, forms, and methods, while personal technique breaks from or originates outside of a given tradition.  Traditional technique is measured against historical norms for quality disseminated in cultural institutions such as classical art schools, teachers, competitions, and literature.  These systems are so engrained in our culture that most Americans have a sense of what a violinist "should" sound like, a ballerina "should" look like, and an actress "should" act like.

When should an artist let go of the desire for technical perfection?  How significant must technical slips be before they detract from an audience's enjoyment of a piece?  Must technique precede art, or art precede technique?

While these can only be answered by the artist or supporter themselves, we believe that technique can be its own art.  That passion, emotion, and style can emerge from working with and through historical standards, methods, and forms, not just around them.  That human beings can thrive on the complexities of form and our inevitable relationship with it.  That technique should be seen not as a hurdle or barrier to art, but as a journey through art itself.

Red Bellow.  The world's a stage.