The drive of an artist is to express reality as he or she feels it. And because reality grows from history we feel a constant need for new art. The past has provided great works of art. And if they were all-encompassing we would never need new ones. But that is not the case.

Truly the drive of an artist is to express his or her reality. But it’s the expression that must be original, not so much the reality. Everything is derivative; it must be. So one artist’s reality may draw from others. But if the artist can bring across his or her own expression of it, it is original and valid. Let’s say a group of people start off with the same task, yet they each end up with different results. Are they not all original? We sit in a drawing class with 20 students, each drawing the same still life on a pedestal at the front of the room. Yet, each student’s drawing will be entirely different…original. Reality/expression. They’ve all drawn the same scene, but they’ve all seen it differently and expressed it differently. Anyone can always find similarities between two things. Originality is in the mind of the artist, not in what he/she creates.

Cezanne tried to paint like El Greco, but he couldn’t help making Cezannes. He didn’t fret over whether he was being original or not. The great men and the most original, borrowed from everyone. Shakespeare and Rembrandt borrowed from the techniques of tradition and created new images through their imagination. Reality/expression. Artists should absorb all they can and then express things in their own way. That, in fact, keeps their work original. There are as many ways of creating as there are ways of thinking… and thoughts to think.

Eugene Delacroix wrote in 1824: “What moves men of genius, or rather, what inspires their work, is not new ideas, but their obsession with the idea that what has already been said is still not enough.”

This is the first post to try out my new Blog. I will be adding posts to this on a regular basis and hope that you’ll join in, comment and share these thoughts and yours as well.

This Blog was launched for D. Keith Furon Fine Art Photography, and this is me –D. Keith– writing it. I am a fine-art photographer, with my studio based in the Palm Springs area of Southern California. I studied at U.C. Berkeley, Edison State College, and U.C.L.A. Much of my work has been sold through Sotheby’s Auction House. My work is included in the permanent collections of the Museum of Modern Art (MOMA), the Boulder Museum of Contemporary Art, and The Kinsey Institute Art Gallery.

I started my journey into photography in 1983 (thirty years ago!) and have been exhibited extensively and the U.S. and Internationally. My work has been published in numerous books. In fact, my first solo book is due out this year. D. Keith Furon: The First Thirty Years, is a retrospective of my work to date.

Why am I Blogging?

Good question! I want to share thoughts about art and photography in general, as well as specific issues that spark an interest for me, and hopefully you as the reader. I often come across issues and events that I think others would like to know about and can benefit from. Whether it’s creative styles, or new technology. This blog is not about selling my work to you! It’s about sharing ideas and starting a conversation that may inspire and motivate. It’s about discussing current trends and developments. It’s about offering opinions and insights on all things fine-art photography.

What will I be Blogging about?

Simple really. Anything that involves art and photography, actually. For example, I’m working on my next post that will be about “Art vs. Pornography,” and the photographic treatment of the nude in art.  My topics may also cover new creative technology or processes that I have found to be very useful or inspirational, and hope you will too. Or, a discussion about art and its process photographically. Rest assured, this Blog will stay true to fine-art photography.

How can you leave feedback?

Well, just write a response. It’s that easy. I encourage your comments. How else will I know anyone out there is actually reading this? The blog has a simple response function that allows readers to write their thoughts. I want your feedback and encourage it. But, please be respectful and polite in all comments on this Blog! One of the main problems with the Internet is that some people feel they can rant and be rude, because they aren’t face-to-face with the reader. That’s not the case here. Be polite and considerate, but share your thoughts. And most of all, enjoy!