Why Smart Artists Struggle & the 'Dumb' Thrive: Shocking Truths!

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  • Опубліковано 13 січ 2025

КОМЕНТАРІ • 131

  • @driesketels
    @driesketels  11 місяців тому +11

    Download the *Free 'Art Content Virality Checklist* ' so that you can demystify the strategies necessary to make great content. Meaning you'll never be jealous of 16 year olds getting more likes than you again. Grab it here: www.driesketels.com/GoViralToday

    • @driesketels
      @driesketels  11 місяців тому

      Yeah I know... strange since I literally don't even use shampoo or anything so...

    • @AngelaKSellsHomes
      @AngelaKSellsHomes 8 місяців тому

      Thank you for the checklist!

  • @darklittlepeople
    @darklittlepeople 11 місяців тому +20

    to my great delight, and somewhat ironically, really, your video to me is the much needed breath of fresh air, because it is very smart, thoroughly researched, provides evidence, and delivered very organically - the complete opposite of the horrible sterile videos that are all the rage, and also not one of those "artsy/pseudo-intellectual" ones which look like some pretentious student's video essay... i hope many many people will give your work the recognition it fully deserves.
    in other words, your work in this video is rich and profound, it really stands out from the overwhelming mediocrity of 99% of the content i feel bombarded with, and i am VERY GRATEFUL.

  • @ShirleyWilliamsArt
    @ShirleyWilliamsArt 11 місяців тому +17

    You've brilliantly expressed the trend I've been watching for years. As a full-time contemporary painter for 30 years, I've seen a huge change in culture and people generally. Social media has made everyone numb.
    I think it's the reason most artists I talk to dislike social media (unless they're under 25). They can clearly see that what is considered "good art" now is all about marketing the superficial.
    As artists, we can either join in and "dumb down" as you say, or turn our backs and stay alone in our studios.

    • @driesketels
      @driesketels  11 місяців тому +4

      That's a very powerful advantage that you have there, being able to observe the market for over 30 years. Whish I was at that point. Wish you well and thanks for the comment Shirley

    • @nellyx1x493
      @nellyx1x493 11 місяців тому +5

      I have been a painter for the same period of time, academically trained, and I think you are absolutely correct. So much checkbox art with no soul gets a baffling amount of attention when reduced to a backlit 2 inch thumbnail.

    • @anony5021
      @anony5021 11 місяців тому +2

      Thing is you can create both easily digestible and complex. It only adds variety

    • @nellyx1x493
      @nellyx1x493 11 місяців тому +3

      @@anony5021 I disagree, I would argue that if one is making work to be easily digestible for an audience, producing for people what one thinks they want - in a way that overrides the artists core creative enquiry. Then this is the point at which one stops being a genuine artist in a true sense, and turn into something else. That's fine for some, but lots of artists get this wrong at the ultimate expense of their integrity. Too much focus on superficial appearances on social media seems to too easily facilitate this slide for many.

    • @anony5021
      @anony5021 11 місяців тому +1

      @@nellyx1x493 what if the artist is into multiple styles and doesn't identify as any. For some these are just labels

  • @duncanhewitt6557
    @duncanhewitt6557 11 місяців тому +36

    Art that you look at for five seconds can be forgotten in five seconds.

    • @driesketels
      @driesketels  11 місяців тому +18

      Art that you don't look at can be forgotten without even trying

    • @r.bee8733
      @r.bee8733 11 місяців тому +10

      both valid

    • @anony5021
      @anony5021 11 місяців тому

      ​@@driesketelslmao

    • @godschildyes
      @godschildyes 8 місяців тому

      Lol. I guess so, if it's not good art. 😅

    • @siliconvalleymetal
      @siliconvalleymetal 4 місяці тому

      Exactly why people scroll through Pinterest so fast. No one staring at masterpieces more than 5 seconds now a days.

  • @justinesimone5343
    @justinesimone5343 7 місяців тому +8

    My cousin started doing vandalism on the outside of subway cars and public walls. He became famous and now grown up his art is very valuable grafitti!

    • @CiprianTRK
      @CiprianTRK 5 місяців тому +1

      Is your cousin Banksy ?

  • @sweetie4915
    @sweetie4915 11 місяців тому +24

    You are both an artist and philosopher, thank you for all you do and do keep up the good work!

  • @deva190
    @deva190 11 місяців тому +7

    Never thought about it before this video but now I see. People demand easily digestible things, including art.

    • @driesketels
      @driesketels  11 місяців тому +2

      Happy to have made a positive impact. Small insights lead to big shifts over time. Keep up the momentum!

    • @driesketels
      @driesketels  11 місяців тому

      "momentum"... hahah, that sounds very cringe, almost like I'm a basketball coach or something.

  • @carrikartes1403
    @carrikartes1403 8 місяців тому +3

    This helps explain the explosion of pour paintings in social media.
    Pleasing colors and patterns with absolutely no meaning.

  • @JuvenalMaze
    @JuvenalMaze 11 місяців тому +2

    This way of thinking is a must for any type of creative, great delivery!

  • @Buffenmeyer
    @Buffenmeyer 10 місяців тому +1

    I haven’t seen one of your videos in a while. You’re an extremely engaging individual, and your hair just keeps getting better and better. Stay free!

  • @kreepfaktory1133
    @kreepfaktory1133 11 місяців тому +14

    You're correct, but this notion makes me incredibly sad. I've suspected these things for a while but never had it summarized in one place quite so well. Also, I got a laugh that you have created a checklist of 25+ things to consider in order to make your artwork appealing to a rock. Only a genius would do this. 😆

    • @driesketels
      @driesketels  11 місяців тому +3

      Oh the checklist is pretty cool, especially the 16th century one... It's very funny if you think about it and strangely educational.

  • @michellejaeandrews4799
    @michellejaeandrews4799 8 місяців тому +2

    Ken Done, Australian artist, achieved massive fame in Australia in the 1980s with his simple, colourful designs. He tapped into how wanted to be perceived at the time: happy, fun and friendly. Ken Done was capable of quite traditional work but chose to simplify.

  • @annavernick1490
    @annavernick1490 11 місяців тому +3

    Hiya Dries, looking forward to comparing the lists! I love the ideas you develpo, so curious, inteligent and kind. Thank yoiu.

    • @driesketels
      @driesketels  11 місяців тому

      Oh thank you! I will send them this evening I assume. If I don't forget or become to lazy later this day... Either way you will receive them for sure.

  • @CunnyVirus
    @CunnyVirus 8 місяців тому +2

    as a consumer and artist this feels true.

  • @earthempresstv
    @earthempresstv 11 місяців тому +2

    whoa! eye opening! I'm amazed and grateful for your insights and knowledge! I didn't know about the CLT but intuitively I have been streamlining and de-cluttering my posts and offers... it's working! TY :)

    • @driesketels
      @driesketels  11 місяців тому

      Glad it's working for you! Keep up the good work! consistency will win

  • @OutsiderArtist
    @OutsiderArtist 10 місяців тому +1

    This man Dries Ketels has a lot of insight, and great ability to articulate and explain. Real good. His videos are worth revisiting every now and again. 🙂😵‍💫😯

  • @dcarbs2979
    @dcarbs2979 11 місяців тому +3

    I remember the stat in the 90s, that even then it took a very short time to absorb the same amount of data as the lifetime of a medieval person. Can't remember if it was an hour, week, or day. Either way in the last pre-internet years of the 20th century, we would experiience many lifetimes' worth of data compared to a medieval person. It's exponential now.

    • @driesketels
      @driesketels  11 місяців тому +2

      It's unbelievable for sure. The kind of stat that keeps me amazed

  • @MsCaleb79
    @MsCaleb79 11 місяців тому +3

    I have noticed that the more older I get, the more dumb I become. That’s nice I can see a future

    • @blah914
      @blah914 4 місяці тому +2

      @@MsCaleb79 😂 I thought I was alone in feeling that😭

  • @martagilvazartlife
    @martagilvazartlife 11 місяців тому +2

    Very good points Dries, Banksy's mystery is the allure, his art is of clear visual language thus directly connecting to the quiet "rebellion /pacifist", others still allows for more interpretation as you've mentioned, stay well

    • @driesketels
      @driesketels  11 місяців тому +1

      Thanks. His mystery is definitely very powerful, not sure how to recreate that yet or if that's even possible on something like UA-cam.

    • @paulwoodford1984
      @paulwoodford1984 11 місяців тому +1

      Banksey doesn’t exist. It’s just a jumble of many street artists.

    • @martagilvazartlife
      @martagilvazartlife 11 місяців тому

      @@paulwoodford1984 feasible

  • @alb1009
    @alb1009 11 місяців тому +6

    to reduce a story to a symbol with high visual impact and one that translates easily, is the opposite of dumb, it is talent and skill some might say even genius. The process of concentrating vast and complex notions such as war and peace, (witch you could talk about for hours, days , yrs even, and ppl have written and still write about these very complex topics that you call "simple"...) is a skill that is taught in art schools, graphic design deals with it in relation to logo making, poster works, even in illustration and I'm sure other arias that are not coming to me right now. The blind leading the blind is also a symbol a visual metaphor, the fact that is much more detailed does not necessarily enhance the message, it's just the visual language of that time.

  • @amiriboykin
    @amiriboykin 7 місяців тому +1

    Can you explain why you used a basquiat painting to illustrate an example of “dumb art”?

  • @ralphhancock7449
    @ralphhancock7449 4 місяці тому

    Viewing an artwork can easily be just like meeting a new person. Attraction motivates intimacy, hopefully long term intimacy. Why can't that new person in your life look hot, but still have multiple mysterious and fascinating features too? If you make minimalist easy to read art, that mutual connection is minimalist too. So, make art that immediately draws attention, with enough 'stuff' that enables the viewer to really get involved in it.

  • @fluffyNnihlz
    @fluffyNnihlz 5 місяців тому

    Thank you so much man, I get a lot of insight from your videos and they are nice and short too haha.

  • @wipjenni
    @wipjenni 11 місяців тому +2

    Once again your entertaining and informative video has given me a nice little chunk of takeway. Thank you! I can't dumb down my art (even though many traditionalists (as well as almost all dissatisfied artists would call it garbage) because then it truly wouldn't be *my* art. My symbolism may be crude at times (and I certainly utilize sarcasm and mockery in my narratives in even my most silly and serious works), but what I produce is intended to inspire questions in the viewer, and ideally, draw them into the story - getting into *why* I did what I did and how it *might* relate to them. But what I can do, is present parts of my work in more easily digestible snacks, that would hopefully serve as appetizers. Sorry about all the food references, it must be because you burned your protein and veg. 😁

    • @driesketels
      @driesketels  11 місяців тому +1

      Don't worry about the food references. I think you totally got it. Nothin wrong with some digestible snacks that serve as appetizers.

  • @SeekAndYeShallFindGod
    @SeekAndYeShallFindGod 11 місяців тому +1

    So abstract art keep it simple with less shapes and such? More minimalistic? I'm in trouble cause I'm obsessed with detail and filling up the painting

  • @BigChinaski
    @BigChinaski 6 місяців тому +2

    As a dumb artist, I gotta say, your hair is on point.

  • @normg2242
    @normg2242 Місяць тому

    Makes me think of the song "Da da da" by a band called "Trio". It became number one in 30 lands...!

  • @carlocatalano9662
    @carlocatalano9662 11 місяців тому +2

    Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication LEONARDO

  • @NeptunesHorses5909
    @NeptunesHorses5909 8 місяців тому +1

    This also explains the eternal appeal of technically accomplished genre art.

  • @mollyboho
    @mollyboho 11 місяців тому +1

    This makes so much sense, thank you!

  • @MikeRLloyd73
    @MikeRLloyd73 8 місяців тому +4

    Popular art is mostly mediocre

  • @borismelchior6293
    @borismelchior6293 10 місяців тому +2

    That's the reason why artists and art works of the past centuries go and live across the centuries, cause they were profound, complex and full of deep meaning. I mean, who today don't know Beethoven, Picasso or even Socrate's works ? We all know them, and what's insane, is that these guys lived hundreds of years before us.
    But what's surprising today, is that the present artists who create arts, are easily forgotten across the years, along with their art works. Simply because art today, is so vague and empty in meaning, compared to the one (pure art) of the past centuries.
    As time goes by, arts is been diluted. And the main reason is, our world has become a one of distraction. We're so so distracted with useless things.
    We need more focus, so as to renforce our connection to God the source, the Divine, the main source from which all masterpieces come to life.

  • @voolfga
    @voolfga 8 місяців тому

    Thankyou for inspiring me to get started again,,,, love your videos, great work man 😎👍

  • @tinychopsticks
    @tinychopsticks 7 місяців тому

    after filling your form, your checklist didn't get delivered to my email.
    Any one else had this problem?

  • @connectropy
    @connectropy 11 місяців тому +3

    People who had/have the luxury of time to talk about a painting for hours are few. Besides, have you ever eavesdropped on the lack of depth in some of those conversations?
    Wealthy ≠ Smart

  • @godschildyes
    @godschildyes 8 місяців тому

    Hahaha! 😂 You are so funny and informative! I just Love You! 🎉

  • @GSTAR999.9
    @GSTAR999.9 8 місяців тому

    Hi Dries Jerome here i'm new to your channel...but i must say your advice is Powerful and inspiring...i'm an artist ever since...i wanted to give up art to be honest,for years i didn't do anything...but you inspired me to pick myself up and move forward and do what i do best...and be the Artist who i want to be....thanks Dries...God Bless🙏Salute🫡

  • @petersavieri
    @petersavieri 11 місяців тому +2

    “The medium is the messenger” is a miss quote, and a pointless tautology.
    Crucially, the Marshall McLuhan statement is “The medium is the MESSAGE”.

  • @corneakkers
    @corneakkers 11 місяців тому

    Dank je Dries, heel instructief. Het verklaar veel waarom ik minder verkoop dat 'dommer' werk.

  • @Elizabeth58886
    @Elizabeth58886 11 місяців тому

    Thank you for sharing your observations. Lots of good for thought.

  • @Artinsane
    @Artinsane 11 місяців тому +1

    Yes your right great video❤

  • @stephanieburgess74
    @stephanieburgess74 8 місяців тому

    I really enjoyed this!! Thank you.

  • @Antigone-yp6ht
    @Antigone-yp6ht 11 місяців тому +2

    Hola, Dries. This is sad. Doesn't seem to matter anymore about real talent. Everything is dumb down.

  • @Qwijebo
    @Qwijebo 8 місяців тому +2

    All to do with marketing. Banksy became big because of marketing.

  • @HumanMadeGlobal
    @HumanMadeGlobal 8 місяців тому

    Great Analysis! 😎👍

  • @Wunderhof
    @Wunderhof 11 місяців тому +1

    Brilliant 👏👏👏

  • @dolphinboy9717
    @dolphinboy9717 9 місяців тому

    wish it, want it, do it - brian griffin

  • @Moe-zo4fm
    @Moe-zo4fm 11 місяців тому

    You are really helping me Thank you

  • @samstruys3088
    @samstruys3088 11 місяців тому +1

    Deprimerend maar waarschijnlijk ook wel waar. Als 50- jarige vrouw is dit nog deprimerender. Wou dat er mentors bestonden voor mensen zoals ik.
    Blijf videos maken en vooral, blijf er plezier in hebben.

  • @artbydelao9028
    @artbydelao9028 11 місяців тому +3

    To have Basquiat’s piece as a reference to “dumb art” is INSANE. He’s a legend. Why not post a shitty “artist” like brainwash or Alec THOSE ARE DUMB ARTIST/ART but Jean Michel!!!’

    • @driesketels
      @driesketels  11 місяців тому +1

      I love Basquiat, I also think he's a legend but... would you call it 'smart art'? Why?

  • @connectropy
    @connectropy 11 місяців тому

    Simple ≠ dumb.
    Banky simplifies. Perhaps similar to how difficult it is to 'play dumb.' Maybe someone else can take the baton and riff on my comment.
    To ELI5 (r/explain like I'm five) requires such clarity of thought, purpose, and intent. ❤

  • @cfttify
    @cfttify 11 місяців тому

    Alot of truth in this 🌿 nah t check list 🎉

    • @driesketels
      @driesketels  11 місяців тому

      check list is coming. I haven't written the mail for the list yet but it's coming for sure.

  • @anony5021
    @anony5021 11 місяців тому

    Great analogy,🔥

  • @Elena-Studio
    @Elena-Studio 11 місяців тому +5

    Ihave complained abiut the stupidity of modern architecture. It all looks the same and thebcity has no story! With old architecture, each city had a story with how the architecture was built depending on the location, people, etc. Its so discouraging to see how history is being wiped out for cubicles.

    • @driesketels
      @driesketels  11 місяців тому

      History being wiped out for cubicles. I like the way you said that. Very concise, very powerful.

    • @connectropy
      @connectropy 11 місяців тому

      Since we're talking architecture, may we also ask our buildings to be useful, elegant, AND not overwrought with materials?

  • @brannonmcclure6970
    @brannonmcclure6970 8 місяців тому

    I see. But, what good is the money as an artist; if the artist is not as solid as his or her art?

  • @chuckeelhart1746
    @chuckeelhart1746 11 місяців тому

    Awesome. Thanks

  • @garyjcampbell2058
    @garyjcampbell2058 7 місяців тому +1

    In what way could 16thc marketing been actioned thru books? Books were only just starting at that time. Only religious books were clearly illustrated and 90% of the population couldn't read. The concept of marketing didn't exist in the modern sense, markets were just fruit and veg being sold in the street. This lad makes some good points but some of it is badly researched bullshit. Bruegel's paintings have survived till today because they were bought or commissioned by wealthy church clerics, then bought by art dealers and later sold to state owned galleries, where they remain. Bruegel was not trying to market, just creating his own world. Some paintings are admired by art academics and people who think that a painting has to be 'realistic' looking to be successful. This, because 'craftmanship' is the only criterion they have for judging art. What makes an artist successful in their career is to do with art dealers' ability to recognize what might generate profit. For the art which is purchased by state galleries it is the intellectual quality of reflecting contemporary culture that breaks the deal. The stance that this youtuber is extoling is a reflection of how in this society everything, and I mean everything is for sale. Revolting Americanization of life direction. Andy Warhol successfully caricatured this concept in his art. Damien Hirst has picked up on this concept somewhat. Unfortunately, because of advancement in media technology, everything is opinion now, we lost the facts.

  • @mudheromedia
    @mudheromedia 11 місяців тому +1

    Yeah calling banquet dumb art and a generic flower painting smart is the most disgusting thing I have ever heard.

  • @RandyL.Roberts-qn3lw
    @RandyL.Roberts-qn3lw 7 місяців тому +1

    Your premise is testament to the demise of critical thinking, which leads to all sorts of Bad, fill in the ( blank).

  • @kascade9145
    @kascade9145 11 місяців тому


    Who is Banksy ?

    • @driesketels
      @driesketels  11 місяців тому

      Street artist. He's pretty famous.

    • @kascade9145
      @kascade9145 11 місяців тому

      @@driesketels . So famous nobody knows who he is 🤡🤯🥶🍾

  • @homan_nkwama
    @homan_nkwama 11 місяців тому +1

    Am the first to coment from EAST AFRICA TANZANIA...YEEEEEH

  • @darklittlepeople
    @darklittlepeople 11 місяців тому

    come to think of it, if therre were an EMP, and we were all suddenly left with no internet and no screens, so many people (myself possibly included, most certainly if i'm stuck away from home and my books, tarot decks, and art supplies) would be jumping off cliffs rather than having to face the utter BOREDOM of the hic et nunc - 🤣 sorry, i had to throw in a bit of latin, the idea just made me laugh, - what i meant is simply the reality of the moment and place we are (stuck) at, including any people we might be (stuck) with (😱 eeeeeek)

  • @3pix
    @3pix 11 місяців тому +1

    ...
    Pop!
    And stand popular among population ... for 15 mins (;
    this viral phenomena came from 'theater'

    • @driesketels
      @driesketels  11 місяців тому

      What do you mean with from Theater?

  • @LiliTilt
    @LiliTilt 7 місяців тому

    Did he just call Basquiat dumb? 🤧

  • @karlhungus888
    @karlhungus888 5 місяців тому +1

    this whole video is an elaborate excuse to show that workout footage, BE HONEST SIR

  • @pr.paradox3364
    @pr.paradox3364 13 днів тому

    Getting the hell out of here!!

  • @sarahmottramart
    @sarahmottramart 10 місяців тому +1

    Ok, so ones work needs to be understood in 5 seconds or less.

  • @ESousa-dn4vs
    @ESousa-dn4vs 9 місяців тому

    It sounds bad having "dumb" and "art" in the same sentence

    • @blah914
      @blah914 4 місяці тому

      but it got u to watch it tho. which was the point. not so dumb...

  • @AlanaJ_888
    @AlanaJ_888 9 місяців тому

    Also Banksy is just a street art version of Demian Whatever, cause he basically ripped off Blek Le Rat. Love your videos thank you!

  • @bobdooly3706
    @bobdooly3706 11 місяців тому

    Smart artists are making paintings.

  • @hannumfineart
    @hannumfineart 8 місяців тому +3

    Banksy is terribly boring

    • @theexistentialist-8888
      @theexistentialist-8888 7 місяців тому +3

      Agreed , but worse is people who copy his style 🤮🤢

    • @blah914
      @blah914 4 місяці тому +1

      ​@theexistentialist.5530 urk, we have a few in my city, and they're credited as "great artists" and I'm like..... 🥴

  • @Steve_1969
    @Steve_1969 11 місяців тому +3

    I'm sorry don't agree, dumbing down art for the dumb masses is not the way to go LOL Absolutely Not!....If Michelangelo heard you say that he would smack you out ! lol

  • @edwardduarte7393
    @edwardduarte7393 7 місяців тому

    warhol...

  • @TheTarkvemada
    @TheTarkvemada 4 місяці тому

    The art you’re referring as stupid art actually is more powerful than the “good art”😂.. just my humble opinion

  • @Antigone-yp6ht
    @Antigone-yp6ht 11 місяців тому

    Brilliant lecture, Dries. You still cute, too.

  • @olenaelizabethmartin7583
    @olenaelizabethmartin7583 18 днів тому

    This author is paid actor. Full of rubbish

  • @sondradupree8709
    @sondradupree8709 11 місяців тому +1

    Majority of artists are wasting their time.

    • @thisismyfakeyfakeaccount
      @thisismyfakeyfakeaccount 9 місяців тому +1

      Why

    • @sondradupree8709
      @sondradupree8709 9 місяців тому +2

      @@thisismyfakeyfakeaccount ..because artists are dime a dozen. In China they have painting factories where thousands of artists churn out paintings on canvas. In Australia where thousands of Aborigine people churn out beautiful Dot Paintings. on canvas . Majority of Western " wannabe " artists
      are competing between themselves . Thus the world art market has been flooded.

    • @thisismyfakeyfakeaccount
      @thisismyfakeyfakeaccount 9 місяців тому +3

      @@sondradupree8709 i wouldn’t say the art factories are anything similar original and trained artists ..