Your Thoughts about Orientalism

[Kimberly Dow]

I'm trying to follow this thread. Sharon, Im curious. What is the difference between an artist painting peasants in another country they are visiting or painting a scene with street folk in a part of their own city they do not often visit?

I get part of this argument - I live in west Texas and could make a mint painting cowboys, but I'd feel like an imposter since I know nothing about it. There is a fella down the road who owns a ranch and lived here all his life. He paints western and makes a fine living at it. His references come from his own cattle, family and other ranchers round-ups. He is qualified to paint this life.

I guess I'd hate to see an artist judged that if they are not truly knowledgable about a subject....they shouldnt paint it. I'm not intimate with some landscapes I have seen, but I have painted them anyway because they are beautiful.

I have to admith though - I am more comfortable painting New England scenes where I grew up than I am Texas landscapes where I've been for 10 years. I feel I know and love the landscape up there much more than I do the terrain here. I thought it was just that I didnt appreciate the Texas beauty as much as the greens up norht - but maybe it has more to do with feeling intimate with the area.