Art Battle is live competitive painting. A thrilling performance of creativity, democracy and auction, the selected artists face-off against each other with a time & paint constraint, a voting audience of patrons, and the possibility of having their art destroyed

Art Battle was first conceived back in 2001, by a then 19 year old named Sean Bono. At his young age, Sean moved to New York City from New Jersey and set out to make it as an artist. Recognizing the difficulties artists have in garnering interest and patrons, Sean took it upon himself to start a live competitive art show/auction. The first ‘battle’ was held on a small run down lot in Manhattan, since then it’s growth has expanded to most major cities in Canada and the U.S., as well as Europe, Asia, Africa etc. Art Battle has broken down the preconceptions of art as elite and made making and appreciating art more socially tangible to everyone.

Art Battles are competitions between two or more artists, pitted against each other for a limited amount of time in front of a live audience. Canvases and materials are supplied, therefore evening out the competition; any subject matter can be used by the disgression of the artist.

For the artists, the challenge is in creating art with time restraints, as well as working in an unfamiliar atmosphere with an audience. This can difficult for any artist whether struggling or successful. Contestants are drawn from the crowd, artists throw their names into a hat and the drawees compete. The artists are then given a palette of acrylic paints, brushes and a canvas. Winners are judged on the quality of their art as well as their performance and personality in creating it. Talent, creativity and ingenuity can help to trump any opponent, as long as you have the crowd’s favor.

For the art patrons, (some of whom pay a higher entrance fee to not be included in the battle) they get to watch the creative process unfold, commenting, jeering, and eventually voting on their favorite piece of work. Ballots are collected and paintings are auctioned, any painting not reaching a previously chosen minimum bid is ceremoniously destroyed with a chainsaw. Losing can sometimes garner far more attention than the actual winners of the battle because of the excitement of a chainsaw cutting through someone’s art. You don’t forget that easily.

Once a canvas has been auctioned, up to 75% of the intake goes directly to the artist. Auction bids can raise hundreds of dollars for each piece making it a viable endeavor for the often ‘starving’ artist.

Art Battle takes the power from the gallery owners and art patrons who decide what is ‘good art’. It brings art back to the masses, it inspires people to think creatively, pick up a brush and paint. Good or bad, painting is subjective after all. Art Battle also lends to inspiration, to commission artists and their artwork, get to know the local artistic community and create in general.

Author Bio: Visit http://www.madisonsauction.com/ for collectible auctions, appraisals and liquidation.

Category: Arts and Crafts
Keywords: auction,auctions,collectibles,antique furniture,tools