Comments on: I’ve got the lawchairs and the beers! http://www.nonalignmentpact.com/2007/12/ive-got-lawchairs-and-beers.html Music in Seven Days from Seven Writers Thu, 29 Jul 2010 19:04:15 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0 By: Charlie Naked http://www.nonalignmentpact.com/2007/12/ive-got-lawchairs-and-beers.html/comment-page-1#comment-6402 Charlie Naked Thu, 13 Dec 2007 21:30:00 +0000 http://www.preddys.com/NAP/?p=471#comment-6402 That's the chair the big man sits in when he makes laws. You know the big man? The one who makes the laws? The one who sits? That’s the chair the big man sits in when he makes laws. You know the big man? The one who makes the laws? The one who sits?

]]> By: Ramon Medina - LP4 http://www.nonalignmentpact.com/2007/12/ive-got-lawchairs-and-beers.html/comment-page-1#comment-6396 Ramon Medina - LP4 Thu, 13 Dec 2007 12:26:00 +0000 http://www.preddys.com/NAP/?p=471#comment-6396 Blogger clearly doesn't spell check titles. But now you've doomed me as if I change the title now you comment is meaningless. You bastard! Blogger clearly doesn’t spell check titles. But now you’ve doomed me as if I change the title now you comment is meaningless. You bastard!

]]> By: Ramon Medina - LP4 http://www.nonalignmentpact.com/2007/12/ive-got-lawchairs-and-beers.html/comment-page-1#comment-6395 Ramon Medina - LP4 Thu, 13 Dec 2007 12:25:00 +0000 http://www.preddys.com/NAP/?p=471#comment-6395 Blogger clearly doesn't spell check titles. But now you've doomed me as if I change the title now you comment is meaningless. You bastard! Blogger clearly doesn’t spell check titles. But now you’ve doomed me as if I change the title now you comment is meaningless. You bastard!

]]> By: John Cramer http://www.nonalignmentpact.com/2007/12/ive-got-lawchairs-and-beers.html/comment-page-1#comment-6392 John Cramer Thu, 13 Dec 2007 04:32:00 +0000 http://www.preddys.com/NAP/?p=471#comment-6392 Umm, sorry, but, what is a "lawchair"? Umm, sorry, but, what is a “lawchair”?

]]> By: The Sparrows of Happiness http://www.nonalignmentpact.com/2007/12/ive-got-lawchairs-and-beers.html/comment-page-1#comment-6357 The Sparrows of Happiness Mon, 10 Dec 2007 19:20:00 +0000 http://www.preddys.com/NAP/?p=471#comment-6357 and they wanted to smoke! and they wanted to smoke!

]]> By: ms. rosa http://www.nonalignmentpact.com/2007/12/ive-got-lawchairs-and-beers.html/comment-page-1#comment-6355 ms. rosa Mon, 10 Dec 2007 18:21:00 +0000 http://www.preddys.com/NAP/?p=471#comment-6355 the crowd said: we were milling around in the parking lot because inside it was too stuffy and it was so crowded and we don't want our feets stepped on and besides we wanted to chat with YOU, darling. the crowd said: we were milling around in the parking lot because inside it was too stuffy and it was so crowded and we don’t want our feets stepped on and besides we wanted to chat with YOU, darling.

]]> By: The Sparrows of Happiness http://www.nonalignmentpact.com/2007/12/ive-got-lawchairs-and-beers.html/comment-page-1#comment-6351 The Sparrows of Happiness Mon, 10 Dec 2007 15:59:00 +0000 http://www.preddys.com/NAP/?p=471#comment-6351 I'd agree that for most artists, falling in the trap of obsessing over your craft is much more likely than falling in the trap of not paying attention to it at all, so I understand where Kochalka is coming from, and his advice to make what you can with the skill you have NOW is certainly excellent advice. I’d agree that for most artists, falling in the trap of obsessing over your craft is much more likely than falling in the trap of not paying attention to it at all, so I understand where Kochalka is coming from, and his advice to make what you can with the skill you have NOW is certainly excellent advice.

]]> By: Charlie Naked http://www.nonalignmentpact.com/2007/12/ive-got-lawchairs-and-beers.html/comment-page-1#comment-6349 Charlie Naked Mon, 10 Dec 2007 14:42:00 +0000 http://www.preddys.com/NAP/?p=471#comment-6349 I loved the Kochalka quotes, but yeah, I didn't take them as an absolute rejection of craft. Just as I believe they're meant to be, I took them more as a way of saying that craft wasn't necessary to make good art. And the second quote is really the important one, especially speaking to what SOH is saying... it's saying that the art succeeds or fails not necessarily on how much craft is behind it, but whether or not, using whatever skills he/she has, the artist is able to convey their vision fully. There is still a requirement for it to be good art, it's just not related necessarily to craft. Craft could play a part, or it could not, depending on how well the artist can express the self with whatever skill he/she has. <br/><br/>Then again, as I've never had a lesson on any of the instruments I play, and have never bothered to pick up theory books or practice much, it's obvious that this quote speaks to me more than perhaps others... :) I loved the Kochalka quotes, but yeah, I didn’t take them as an absolute rejection of craft. Just as I believe they’re meant to be, I took them more as a way of saying that craft wasn’t necessary to make good art. And the second quote is really the important one, especially speaking to what SOH is saying… it’s saying that the art succeeds or fails not necessarily on how much craft is behind it, but whether or not, using whatever skills he/she has, the artist is able to convey their vision fully. There is still a requirement for it to be good art, it’s just not related necessarily to craft. Craft could play a part, or it could not, depending on how well the artist can express the self with whatever skill he/she has.

Then again, as I’ve never had a lesson on any of the instruments I play, and have never bothered to pick up theory books or practice much, it’s obvious that this quote speaks to me more than perhaps others… :)

]]> By: Ramon Medina - LP4 http://www.nonalignmentpact.com/2007/12/ive-got-lawchairs-and-beers.html/comment-page-1#comment-6348 Ramon Medina - LP4 Mon, 10 Dec 2007 05:56:00 +0000 http://www.preddys.com/NAP/?p=471#comment-6348 SOH, just to be clear I'm dropping an excerpt. Kochalka isn't rejecting craft out of hand; he goes onto say in Craft is the enemy; "There is nothing wrong with trying to draw well, but that is not of <b>primary</b> importance." <br/><br/>In the same book there is a comic called "The Horrible Truth about Comics" where he writes the following along the same lines;"Technical mastery of one's medium does not an artist make. The only quality you need is the ability to open yourself with honesty and pluck out the truth. Resolve to put the skills you do have to work NOW and pick up more along the way. Craft is just a matter of personal pride and respect for one's medium. You want your comic to be well crafted be cause to do otherwise would be an insult or an embarrassment....I have to pee."<br/><br/>I'll loan it to you at rehearsal. SOH, just to be clear I’m dropping an excerpt. Kochalka isn’t rejecting craft out of hand; he goes onto say in Craft is the enemy; “There is nothing wrong with trying to draw well, but that is not of primary importance.”

In the same book there is a comic called “The Horrible Truth about Comics” where he writes the following along the same lines;”Technical mastery of one’s medium does not an artist make. The only quality you need is the ability to open yourself with honesty and pluck out the truth. Resolve to put the skills you do have to work NOW and pick up more along the way. Craft is just a matter of personal pride and respect for one’s medium. You want your comic to be well crafted be cause to do otherwise would be an insult or an embarrassment….I have to pee.”

I’ll loan it to you at rehearsal.

]]> By: The Sparrows of Happiness http://www.nonalignmentpact.com/2007/12/ive-got-lawchairs-and-beers.html/comment-page-1#comment-6346 The Sparrows of Happiness Mon, 10 Dec 2007 01:14:00 +0000 http://www.preddys.com/NAP/?p=471#comment-6346 I think Kochalka is as wrong as anyone who argues the opposite position. I have often said that lack of talent shouldn't prevent someone from being an artist, but I would also say that if you ignore craft and focus solely on the creative process without regard to quality, you will usually end up with crap. <br/><br/>I've watched Al Dimiola clones in pastel muscle tees, festooned with gold medallions, picking jazz scales so fast that it made my head spin, and even when I was in high school, I thought to myself, "If you're so fucking great, why are you selling guitars at H&H in the mall?" So I understand that if you emphasize technical perfection over everything else, then you are basically just a robot, and that technique/craft/skill or whatever you want to call it is a tar pit. <br/><br/>But so is the lure of unfettered, undisciplined creative license outside of the control of any concept of taste, aesthetics, or quality. It may be fun for the artist, but it's not really fun for anyone else. <br/><br/>Yes, I know... I just described one of our shows. I'm going to finish my double bourbon on the rocks now. I think Kochalka is as wrong as anyone who argues the opposite position. I have often said that lack of talent shouldn’t prevent someone from being an artist, but I would also say that if you ignore craft and focus solely on the creative process without regard to quality, you will usually end up with crap.

I’ve watched Al Dimiola clones in pastel muscle tees, festooned with gold medallions, picking jazz scales so fast that it made my head spin, and even when I was in high school, I thought to myself, “If you’re so fucking great, why are you selling guitars at H&H in the mall?” So I understand that if you emphasize technical perfection over everything else, then you are basically just a robot, and that technique/craft/skill or whatever you want to call it is a tar pit.

But so is the lure of unfettered, undisciplined creative license outside of the control of any concept of taste, aesthetics, or quality. It may be fun for the artist, but it’s not really fun for anyone else.

Yes, I know… I just described one of our shows. I’m going to finish my double bourbon on the rocks now.

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