Is skinning an art form?
Is it "true" art?
Sunday, July 24, 2005 by Larry Kuperman | Discussion: OS Customization
I went to the University of Michigan Art Museum yesterday for my second look at their exhibit of Pop Art. Well worth checking out, in my not-so-humble opinion.
When Pop art was in its infancy, critics did not consider it "true" art. A critic, of course, is someone that lacks the capacity to create something, but has the qualifications to tell the artist what they did wrong. (Wry smile.)
Which raised the question for me, "Is skinning true art?"
Now I am rather opinionated on the topic. Commenting on the ability of Essorant's work to evoke feelings, I described Essorant (the great Tim Dagger) as "Like Van Gogh, only you have more downloads."
I am curious as what the rest of the community thinks. Is this "true art" for you, a hobby, or something else.
Lest we get into a discussion of what is art, let me offer the following definition, courtesy of Dictionary.com:
"The conscious production or arrangement of sounds, colors, forms, movements, or other elements in a manner that affects the sense of beauty, specifically the production of the beautiful in a graphic or plastic medium."
I would say that skinning meets that criteria. What do you think?
When Pop art was in its infancy, critics did not consider it "true" art. A critic, of course, is someone that lacks the capacity to create something, but has the qualifications to tell the artist what they did wrong. (Wry smile.)
Which raised the question for me, "Is skinning true art?"
Now I am rather opinionated on the topic. Commenting on the ability of Essorant's work to evoke feelings, I described Essorant (the great Tim Dagger) as "Like Van Gogh, only you have more downloads."
I am curious as what the rest of the community thinks. Is this "true art" for you, a hobby, or something else.
Lest we get into a discussion of what is art, let me offer the following definition, courtesy of Dictionary.com:
"The conscious production or arrangement of sounds, colors, forms, movements, or other elements in a manner that affects the sense of beauty, specifically the production of the beautiful in a graphic or plastic medium."
I would say that skinning meets that criteria. What do you think?
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bakerstreet
Reply #5 Sunday, July 24, 2005 10:31 PM
Reply #5 Sunday, July 24, 2005 10:31 PM
Heck yes.
Beyond "gallery" style art, people already recognize that "Design" in general is an art form. Take a moment next time you are in a big book store, and go to their art secion. There are Design books published annually filled with award winning stuff from each year. If the shape of bars of soap, or a new type of hammer is art...
Here's a design group that I found through slashdot a couple of weeks ago. If designing microwave ovens and keyboards is considered art, then UI design is soundly artistic.
That said, is all of it art? Nah. But I have seen skinners that could make things that certainly were.
Beyond "gallery" style art, people already recognize that "Design" in general is an art form. Take a moment next time you are in a big book store, and go to their art secion. There are Design books published annually filled with award winning stuff from each year. If the shape of bars of soap, or a new type of hammer is art...
Here's a design group that I found through slashdot a couple of weeks ago. If designing microwave ovens and keyboards is considered art, then UI design is soundly artistic.
That said, is all of it art? Nah. But I have seen skinners that could make things that certainly were.
Filippo Rossi
Reply #6 Monday, July 25, 2005 3:28 AM
Reply #6 Monday, July 25, 2005 3:28 AM
That's Right!
The skinning is the best of Modern Art!
by TheRox (you can find my skins in Stardock.com)
The skinning is the best of Modern Art!
by TheRox (you can find my skins in Stardock.com)
homeryulo
Reply #7 Monday, July 25, 2005 3:52 AM
Reply #7 Monday, July 25, 2005 3:52 AM
I believe I am a self proclaimed artist 
..and skinning is my best outlet for expressing my artistic cravings and frustrations, my computer is my canvass and skinning is my new found form of art. 
..and skinning is my best outlet for expressing my artistic cravings and frustrations, my computer is my canvass and skinning is my new found form of art. 
starkers
Reply #8 Monday, July 25, 2005 6:52 AM
Reply #8 Monday, July 25, 2005 6:52 AM
I have one of the best art galleries in the world.....my desktop.
craeonics
Reply #10 Monday, July 25, 2005 9:06 AM
Reply #10 Monday, July 25, 2005 9:06 AM
According to koop's definition, me cleaning up my desk (or the distinct lack thereof) is art. And if a more or less clean desk is art, how can skinning not be?
Someone should take my desk and put it in a museum.
Someone should take my desk and put it in a museum.
GreenReaper
Reply #11 Monday, July 25, 2005 9:16 AM
Not until you clean it up! Remember it's the conscious arrangement of elements . . .
Reply #11 Monday, July 25, 2005 9:16 AM
| Someone should take my desk and put it in a museum. |
Not until you clean it up! Remember it's the conscious arrangement of elements . . .
horiz0n
Reply #12 Monday, July 25, 2005 11:27 AM
Reply #12 Monday, July 25, 2005 11:27 AM
I wouldn't call it fine art, but it's definetly a form of art. If it wasn't about an aesthetic appeal we'd all still be using luna But skinning obviously has more to it than just looking pretty. Although I wouldn't call someone an artist JUST because they are a skinner.
But skinning obviously has more to it than just looking pretty. Although I wouldn't call someone an artist JUST because they are a skinner.
_02
Reply #13 Monday, July 25, 2005 4:32 PM
Reply #13 Monday, July 25, 2005 4:32 PM
Anything creative is an art form. That would include skinning! 
I.R. Brainiac
Reply #14 Sunday, July 31, 2005 1:38 PM
Reply #14 Sunday, July 31, 2005 1:38 PM
I was an artist before I started skinning...this is definitely an extension of those skills.
NightTrainthedark
Reply #15 Monday, August 1, 2005 5:33 AM
Reply #15 Monday, August 1, 2005 5:33 AM
If I call a painting company to come to paint my house, they aren't doing anything artistic. If I hire a designer to tell them what colors to paint, it becomes art. Go figure. 
WOM
Reply #16 Monday, August 1, 2005 6:19 AM
Using Larry's defintion, that makes me an art critic.
So as an art critic, I'd say yes, skinning is art.
Reply #16 Monday, August 1, 2005 6:19 AM
| A critic, of course, is someone that lacks the capacity to create something, but has the qualifications to tell the artist what they did wrong. |
Using Larry's defintion, that makes me an art critic.
So as an art critic, I'd say yes, skinning is art.
starkers
Reply #17 Monday, August 1, 2005 8:10 AM
Reply #17 Monday, August 1, 2005 8:10 AM
Here in OZ we have a guy who 'artistically' lambastes pieces of carpet with all manner of foodstuff....cake, ice cream,etc, and calls that art. The same look could be achieved with regurgitation....but that would be sick, not art
Shotgun989
Reply #18 Monday, August 1, 2005 8:27 AM
Reply #18 Monday, August 1, 2005 8:27 AM
Skinning is not art. It is the manipulation of electronic data to produce a desired appearance.
Painting is not art. It is the arrangement of paint.
Sculpture is not art. It is the mere reshaping of earthen material.
Dance is not art. It is just a bunch of jumping around for nothing.
Music is not art. It is just well arranged noise.
*gets hit in face with bat*
Painting is not art. It is the arrangement of paint.
Sculpture is not art. It is the mere reshaping of earthen material.
Dance is not art. It is just a bunch of jumping around for nothing.
Music is not art. It is just well arranged noise.
*gets hit in face with bat*
GreenReaper
Reply #19 Monday, August 1, 2005 12:05 PM
Reply #19 Monday, August 1, 2005 12:05 PM
Considering some of the stuff young people call "music" nowadays, you may be right!
pjpowell
Reply #20 Monday, August 1, 2005 1:56 PM
Reply #20 Monday, August 1, 2005 1:56 PM
Is getting hit in the face with a bat a form of artistic expresson though? Or just a random act of violence which rearranges facial features?
Art is very much in the eye of the beholder in my opinion.
Art is very much in the eye of the beholder in my opinion.
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Reply #1 Sunday, July 24, 2005 6:42 PM