08
Crafts in your area
What if fine art is just about creating a
pretty picture for people to appreciate?
Art is more than just prestigious painting, as Phil Coates argues, instead it can just be
simplistic - something for a person to enjoy or to match someone’s colour scheme. Nikki
White interviews Phil Coates to find out more about his experience of what fine art is.
P
hil Coates, Northamptonbased artist and teacher of
fine art, strongly believes
that art is about more than the art
world perceives it to be.
As a philosopher, Phil believes that
art can be something more than just
commercialism. He believes that
art should be focused on creating a
picture of something to be enjoyed.
He argues that art is a “skill-based”
craft and uses environmental context
to give it a deeper meaning. Yet,
the art world is “revolved around
exhibitions and making money.”
“It’s important to focus on
drawing and painting skills
as a degree. In college, A
Level art is very broad. The
curriculum normally consists
of studying the history of art,
the profile of several artists,
and gets the students to paint
in their style. This means
students don’t get the chance
to develop their skills.”
Phil has achieved two separate fine
art degrees, one at the University
of Northampton, which was solely
based on making commercial art for
exhibitions without development of
drawing and art skills.
“It’s important to focus on drawing
and painting skills as a degree. In
college, A Level art is very broad.
The curriculum normally consists
of studying the history of art, the
profile of several artists, and gets the
Phil Coates, artist and teacher of art at the Portfolio Innovation Centre
“Once students realise they
are required to produce art
for commercial reasons, they
start to believe that the only
chance that painting could
ever become their career
is if they create a certain
style that is attractive to art
dealers and professionals in
the art world.”
students to paint in their style. This
means students don’t get the chance
to develop their skills.”
Phil argues that the lack of freedom
in university courses adds to the
need to produce art for commercial
reasons and create a certain style
that would be attractive to a group of
people viewing an exhibition.
“Once students realise they
are required to produce art for
commercial reasons, they start to
believe that the only chance that
painting could ever become their
career is if they create a certain style
that is attractive to art dealers and
professionals in the art world.
“Andy Worhol is a famous pop artist
and, for example, his sketchbooks sell
for a fortune because they belonged
to someone who has a well-known
and appreciated style.”