do it in the real world

Tim Sullivan was a stimulating character who discussed the transformation of his career in the arts. His work seemed to be imprints of what was topical during the emergence and continuation of popular art. 

Sullivan was (and still is) influenced by digital art and editing and its powerful presence that came to be in the art scene. Playing with these abstract ideas to present the real he created scripts for photos and films and stripped down movies into precise moments. 

"Do it in the real world and take a picture of it." 

When Sullivan said this it struck me as a call to action. Even some of my professors now say that what you can't do on camera you can fix in post editing. But there is a magic to 'doing it in the real world'. Creating black and white images through editing takes away the fun of the process. A lot of Sullivan's work demonstrates turning things inside out. A sort of reversal of expectations with his audience. Individuals would expect something else. Sullivan gives a sort of spontaneity, go outside, walk around, don't coop yourself up in a studio or an editing lab to create the perfect whites and darks to your black and white image. 

I thought it was very insightful how as a teacher he would often challenge people to create "a really shitty piece of work". This challenges the ideas of following the rules of the art world. When you are young you are taught rules but later on in your life you are allowed to break the rules. Know the rules to break the rules. Similar to Lyle Rexer's 'Bad Pictures of Bad Subjects' it creates an understanding that you don't have to create extraordinary works, you can make bad art. And from there you can see where it takes you.