I get a lot of encouragements from people around the world.
I keep of course track of these - thoroughly.
And put them into my testimonials and critics on my web site for marketing reasons.
I really enjoy this. "I loved your web designs and art", "your work is amazing!", "I am really impressed with the use of colour", "your outstanding work"
"What a wonderful site!", "It makes me proud to be an artist", "Impressive Work!", "Highly original derivative", "oxymoronic singularity", "individually universal", "satirical", "chutzpah subversive hilarity", "I am LOVING LONVIG", "Wonderful work!", "it's so different!", "Your color and amazing simplicity inspire me so madly", "beauty is in simplicity", "your work is really great!!!", "I love your concept! Your art and your generosity of spirit", "but after reading your biography and seen your wonderful Art, your name should be "Loving"", "All of your art and specially the Lucca Project are superb works of fine art", "I have enjoyed your art works with a tremendous amount of enthusiasm" etc. etc.
But.
But.
But.
But.There is a reverse of the medal.
Now and then I get really angry responses.
So angry that I can't understand that people can be that upset over art on a web site.
I got an e-mail from XXX YYYY, who lives in Belgium.
In the subject of the e-mail he writes:
"you sir, are a disgrace to artists!"
and
"your painting make me feel sick by just looking at the colors"
"You, my dear sir, are a low-life, not worthy your webspace, and not at all the money you get"
The easiest way to deal with this would be to ignore it.I initiate a dialog.
I really want to investigate what makes people that angry.
I answered him politely to look here and there on my web site to find answers to his "questions".
And I too told him that I would like to write this article about his responses - which he agreed to.
Here is XXX YYYY's (the name is known to the editor) answer:
"Of course I don't mind, my name is XXX YYYY - YYYY is my last name. I live in Belgium and right now I study political sciences. Before that I have spent 2 years in a school of arts, and I just have to say that what you do goes against everything we have been taught there".
"especially the fact that all of your studies seem to be made on PC disturbs me"
"the fact that the "works for sale" on your site are made on the PC somehow makes me feel that you are more into money then into art"
"Your ideas for the Louvre or San Marco plaza in Venice are an insult to the artists who initially designed those places"
"What also disturbs me is that you only seem to make abstract works. But abstract work is unreal if you haven't started out by drawing after reality. Check the masters, Mondrean and Picasso"
I answered to this as polite as possible.
I answered every single question.
And I think I have come very close to understanding XXX YYYY's anger in his own statement:
"I have spent 2 years in a school of arts, and I just have to say that what you do goes against everything we have been taught there".
And that's totally right.
Therefore I have doubled the number of apearances and made this bar more visible on my main page: 
Far more heated conversations have improved my English with words like:"dumbest shit", "plain shit", "old twat", "fucking stupid", "those pieces of shit", "ridiculous "sculptures"", "trash poem","SHIT DOODLES", "ignorant idiot", "you don't know shit about art", "you have no talent", "old braindead fatass""if anyone actually likes your work they are too ignorant to realize...", "go have a heart attack or something before you spread any more of this disgusting crap on earth".And I know, that doing things "MY WAY" will improve my English dramatically.............................___________________________________________________________________________Below the entire e-mail conversation betwin XXX YYYY, Belguim and Asbjorn Lonvig
First of all, your work is made in PAINT!
and you show a total lack of knowledge concerning painting techniques. As you may not know, Acrylic paint can not be used to paint metalic surfaces. You also know nothing about colors, most of your painting make me feel sick by just looking at the colors. Then there's the fact that nowherev, absolutely nowhere, you show a real finished work (either a painting or a sculpture), so I highly doubt that you have one that looks fashionably.
You also don't know the value of money, let me help yo uon that. Your so-called art isn't worth any. Asking 10,000 dollars for such a piece of crap is outrageous.
You also try to use methods of Andy Warhol, Mondrean and a few other masters, but you don't understand what was so good about their work in the first place, otherwise you could have made something good out of it. So obviously you're just copying a technique that you don't even understand, just because they pay good money?
You, my dear sir, are a low-life, not worthy your webspace, and not at all the money you get (assuming anyone pays you).
-XXX-
Dear XXX YYYY,
Thank you very much for your e-mail.
"You, my dear sir, are a low-life, not worthy your webspace, and not at all the money you get".
That's your opinion, and I can do nothing about it. You disagree with many around the world - see Testimonials.
But I can correct some mistakes:
Acrylic can of course be used on metallic surfaces.
What colorful simplicity is all about - please read in Colorful News, Editorial.
Lots of finished works are presented on my web page - see my gallery - it's filled with paintings.
See Gallery News.
See the painting process for more knowledge on this phase.
See all the finished sculptures.
You have to use some more time investigating my site - there are 1500 pages.
If you have further questions - feel free to ask again.
Sincerely,
Asbjorn Lonvig
Dear XXX YYYY,
I thank you very much for your comprehensive response.
If you want to develop as a human being you have to cope with all kinds of
response.
From responses glorifying your art to responses that call it "disgrace to artists"
and me "a low-life, not worthy your webspace, and not at all the money you get".
I would like to write an article about you and your response (quoting your response in details) to the
Art News on 22 December 2004.
If you don't mind, please tell me your name, address and occupation.
If you still don't mind please tell a little about yourself.
Sincerely,
Asbjorn Lonvig
Of course I don't mind, my name is XXX YYYY (YYYY is my last name). I live in Belgium and right now I study political sciences. Before that I have spent 2 years in a school of arts, and I just have to say that what you do goes against everything we have been taught there.
And especially the fact that all of your studies seem to be made on PC disturbs me. Since the creation of an art work begins at the very beginning, and you can't just draw some lines on a computer for that. Sketches on paper carry so much more work within them. Even if only because some of the wrong lines are still there as the lone witnesses of previous attempts. And the fact that the "works for sale" on your site are made on the PC somehow makes me feel that you are more into money then into art. When you sell one, do you remove the PC-made image from your site? Or is it still for sale and will you paint it again and again as long as people are buying it?
And as an artist you should also show respect to other art, classic art for example. Your ideas for the Louvre or San Marco plaza in Venice are an insult to the artists who initially designed those places.
What also disturbs me is that you only seem to make abstract works. But abstract work is unreal if you haven't started out by drawing after reality. Check the masters, Mondrean and Picasso for example, they started out by drawing and painting after nature. They only started working in an abstract style after that had formed within them. Just starting with abstract is like seeing how much money it's worth and trying to get a piece of that.
If you need to know more, feel free to ask me.
-XXX-
Dear XXX YYYY,
Thank you very much for giving me your name etc.
I appriciate your opinion.
As a consequence I have made the attention bar more visible. By clicking on the attention bar you will see My Way at the same time you see my name. In My Way I tell about my controversial way of working.
I have not the intention to fool anybody.
My answers to your last e-mail:
"studies seem to be made on PC disturbs me"
My studies are made like every other artist make studies. I make sketches on paper if that is the best way. I take photos if that's the best way. I use computer, if that's the best way. I....
Often the best way is a mix of the above.
"that the "works for sale" on your site are made on the PC somehow makes me feel that you are more into money then into art"
Why? - In my past I have exhibited physical art works all over the world. It's time consuming, expecive and you can only exhibit a physical art work in one place at a time.
I refuse to do this - and I know it's controversial.
In my past I have made a lot of art works that did not sell.
I refuse to do so - and I know it's controversial.
When you sell one, do you remove the PC-made image from your site? Or is it still for sale and will you paint it again and again as long as people are buying it?
Sold art works are marked Sold.
Edition X tells how many specimens of each motif.
Your ideas for the Louvre or San Marco plaza in Venice are an insult to the artists who initially designed those places.
I have never thought of it that way. I feel it's a mark of honour.
What also disturbs me is that you only seem to make abstract works. But abstract work is unreal if you haven't started out by drawing after reality. Check the masters, Mondrean and Picasso for example, they started out by drawing and painting after nature. They only started working in an abstract style after that had formed within them. Just starting with abstract is like seeing how much money it's worth and trying to get a piece of that.
I have chosen to make abstract works in order to communicate through pictures in the most power full way.
What counts is what you see.
Everything else doesn't matter.
Money?
I could not care less.
I became a selfmade millionaire in an age of 35. I have been a millionaire since.
Sincerely,
Asbjorn Lonvig
"I became a selfmade millionaire in an age of 35. I have been a millionaire since."
Oh, I'm sorry, I didn't know that. It explains everything. I didn't mean to disturb an old bored millionaire having some fun with hobby-arts.
I hope you have lots of fun with it!
pleasant greets,
XXX YYYY
Dear XXX YYYY,
That's not good enough.
I answered to why money is no object to me.
I made an effort to answer, please make an effort to give me some decent response.
Sincerely,
Asbjorn Lonvig
To all of you from Santa and Me:
Glædelig jul og Godt Nytår!
Merry Christmas and a happy New Year!
Joyeux Noël et une nouvelle année heureuse !
Frohe Weihnachten und ein glückliches neues Jahr!
¡Feliz Navidad y una Feliz Año Nuevo!
Buon Natale e un nuovo anno felice!
Natal alegre e um ano novo feliz!
Vrolijke Kerstmis en een gelukkig Nieuw Jaar!
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Art News Artblog: Improving my English by Asbjorn Lonvig
Art News Artblog: Improving my English by Asbjorn Lonvig
Art News Artblog: Improving my English by Asbjorn Lonvig
Art News Artblog: Improving my English by Asbjorn Lonvig
Art News Artblog: Improving my English by Asbjorn Lonvig
Art News Artblog: Improving my English by Asbjorn Lonvig
