Outsider art has become a hot topic among some collectors. The opportunity to look beyond the traditional market, to a land of self-taught artists producing raw, visceral, art that has mostly remained under the radar of established channels, is starting to prove irresistible to those who seek something fresh and undiscovered, as well as those in search of untapped investment opportunities.
But outsider art is far more than an adventure playground for collectors who have it all. For the artists, it is just art. An essential way of expressing what is inside them and how they react to the world outside, that can't always be communicated in traditional ways. The recognition of this dates back to Dubuffet's Art Brut movement and this has received ample coverage since.
Our reason for discussing it some more takes an almost 180° approach. We know this need to express one's self is embedded in each of, but not always easy to achieve. We seek to help readers find their own voice, in a world dominated by the closed-circuit official art world, on the one side, and the sea of misinformation filled with content by gear manufacturers and self proclaimed gurus, on the other.
Our mission is to provide down to earth information about outsider art to readers, guide them in a controled process to express their inner voice in a way that is their own, and display their work in our Phr photo gallery. Onwards.
Important questions about Outsider Art
We have reviewed a lot of gear over the year. Cameras, lenses, tilt-shift aparatus. High-end stuff, low-end stuff. Most of our reviews focus on ease of use and rendering. We are not interested in performance or meaningless lab tests, you will not find any here.
What is outsider art?
What is art?
Hasselblad
Leica
Olympus
Sigma
Sony
Can I become an outsider art-ist?
The real question is "am I an artist?"
How do I find my voice?
Is outsider art collectible?
Is any art collectible? Well ...
Is outsider art collectible? No!
Is outsider art collectible? Yes!
About Gear Considerations that Matter
An excessive focus on gear is why so many photographers are sooo bad at photography. Look up to 100 most influential photographs of all time and check out the gear used. Enough said? Still, gear matters a lot. You feel in sync with some, you dislike other. Lens rendering has a large impact on your final image. Plus, for amateurs, gear is fun, so why deny it? 😉 We discuss those considerations in moderate amounts.
- This is a vast subject but you could do worse than start this journey by reading Adrian's post on the un-camera.
- Lenses are more important than cameras because they give the image its look. Here's How to Read MTF Curves like an Artist (part 1).
- Interviewing Hasselblad about Image Quality.
About Making Photographs
Shock! There's life beyond the rule of thirds. And, technically a file on a screen isn't a photograph. Photography is a craft. Numerous skills are involved, such as metering (now handled 100% by cameras), composition and framing, post-processing, printing. Each is an artform in its own right. You can aspire to master them all or focus exclusively on your favourite. Each step makes a difference and defines your personal signature.
- As a starter, how about a list of our articles about composition.
- Want real practise, here are the posts about our monthly challenges.
- Obsessed with sharpness? Here's our defense of blur.
- 3D anyone? Here's how to create 3D in your photographs.
- Does digital feel soulless? Check out: #810. Is film only for hipster kids?
About Post Processing
Shock! There's life beyond the rule of thirds. And, technically a file on a screen isn't a photograph. Photography is a craft. Numerous skills are involved, such as metering (now handled 100% by cameras), composition and framing, post-processing, printing. Each is an artform in its own right. You can aspire to master them all or focus exclusively on your favourite. Each step makes a difference and defines your personal signature.
- 3D anyone? Here's how to create 3D in your photographs.
About Printing
Shock! There's life beyond the rule of thirds. And, technically a file on a screen isn't a photograph. Photography is a craft. Numerous skills are involved, such as metering (now handled 100% by cameras), composition and framing, post-processing, printing. Each is an artform in its own right. You can aspire to master them all or focus exclusively on your favourite. Each step makes a difference and defines your personal signature.
- A tour of high-quality printing processes. The inkjet doesn't have to be the final destination of your best images. Gorgeous and must more archival processes are still very much alive!