I couldn't. In fact, once I did - and it was a mistake. I'm too honest for it to work over the long haul, and I don't get involved with relationships for the short term.

nope, it's bad juju...

most creators, pull from whatever is the very inside of themselves to make something, good, bad or indifferent, as that thing is to anyone else.

As yourself if what is inside them is so undesirable, what is it you would like?

EVEN IF you found that you like them as a person, will you be able to tell them you like their creations, when you don't? Are you comfortable lying like that for a long period...

Do not mistake this idea that if you dislike their art piece, they will take it personally... because, unless they are faking it, those ideas, and execution come from deep within them.

This would cause them to feel invalidated as a person, by someone they hold dear.

As I recall from back in the day, the point of art was to provoke feelings.

Nothing says all art has to provoke positive feelings in everyone who samples the work in question. But maybe that's just so 20th century now that we're in the post-modern era.

The better question would be: as an artist, could you date someone who liked you, cared about you, supported you, but really didn't like your artwork?

As an artsy type, I probably couldn't date someone whose art I "absolutely hate."

On the other hand, if she hated my artwork, it wouldn't really bother me.

the question turns on this IMHO: "and you really dislike their creations? "

not:
am·biv·a·lence
amˈbivələns/
noun
noun: ambivalence; plural noun: ambivalences

1.
the state of having mixed feelings or contradictory ideas about something or someone.

where you wouldn't buy it/don't get the point...

but actively dislike... like smearing elephant dung on a canvas, for example.

This is similar question to dating an author of books. What if Gregg didn't like your books and/or columns? As I understand it, many authors don't look to their spouse/SO to critique their writing.

As far as artwork, I generally don't care. I don't get Picasso at all. The millions of dollars paid for a picture of a vase of flowers just goes right by me. Same for statues and the rest. The painting of a landscape by a starving artist or Renior is just something to make my house look nice.

Depends on why I hate it. Sounds funny but let me explain. If it's powerful disturbing imagery then yes I would, I may stay out of her studio but would admire her ability to create. If the person is doing 3rd grade level water colors and the art just suck no. Not dating someone delusional about their own ability. If it's pushing a topic I oppose like gun control, racial hatred or homophobia no. Won't date someone who's core beliefs disgust me.

No, I couldn't do it either. Even if I really liked the person.I might could be friends with them, but date? No, I don't think so.

I second Vlad.

I think it would very much depend on *why* I hated their artwork. I wouldn't be too keen on paintings done by someone who aspired to be the next Degas - I don't care at all for impressionism. I think I could hate that and still have a successful relationship as long as 1) he was okay with the fact that I was a lousy person to ask "what do you think?" and 2) we could reach a compromise about what to hang over the couch.

If I hated it because I thought he was a crap artist, that would be different. And if I hated it because I didn't like what he was pulling from inside himself - as SwissArmyD said - then that would be very, very different.

I once dated a gal who thought she could sing, but she was terrible. Not just ordinary, or "could be decent if she got some training". She was terrible -- couldn't carry a tune, couldn't remember lyrics, and didn't think she needed any training. Needless to say, that relationship didn't last long.

I would also not be able to date someone involved in "grant art", the type of stuff you see all too much of in museums today, where there's some random slapped-together thing tacked up on the wall, and next to it is a sign telling you what you're supposed to think about it and how the artist is morally superior to you. That crap's just plain narcissism.

Yes and his name is George Clooney.

My work is extremely important to me and I do little else other than write. My style is not Gregg's style but he appreciates and respects what I do and vice versa. I couldn't be with someone who hated my work or if I hated theirs.

I'm going to co-sign what Vlad said.

I also think the crux of the issue here is "delusions of grandeur." If my significant other liked to putz around with watercolors, recognized he wasn't that good, but enjoyed doing it, I wouldn't care. If he sucked but THOUGHT he was good and wanted to hang his stuff around the house, that's another matter...similar to Cousin Dave's "singer" ex.

I knew a guy who absolutely SUCKED at writing (made Twilight look good) -- and yet self published his work. I could barely be his friend and could never date someone like that.

It would depend on whether I could actually respect him as an artist. Like vlad pointed out, if his work is 3rd-grade crap and he thinks he's a serious artist, it would be hard to take him seriously at all. If he was actually a talented artist and I just didn't care for his style, then, well, maybe. I guess to sum it up, I wouldn't want to be with someone who was incompetent in their chosen field, because I'd have a very hard time respecting them. Different tastes, though, I could probably handle.

No straight man would ever consider that there are two ways to answer this question. Great boobs can make up for wildly divergent tastes in art or, to put it in other words, Paris is well worth a Mass.

If what I thought deeply mattered to her, then no, we couldn't date. Talented people doing what they want aren't in it to be popular.

The world teems with idiots praising dreck.

But I've dated women who liked really shitty music. A few times.

From Seinfeld:

"I can't be with someone if I don't respect what they do..."

"YOU'RE A CASHIER!"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TyKlJbe1frc

If she's hot and not shoving it into my face, sure. But if she's trying to pass crap off as great, she'd better have a serious talent kicking around elsewhere in her nature or I'm done.

I can live with shitty art, after awhile I won't even notice its on the walls. But if its constantly brought up, constantly shoved into my face seeking praise when I want to puke looking at it...yeah, I'm out.

As someone who makes a living in the creative world. The answer is very simply no. I have trouble being friends with people who's art I don't like because I feel like I'm hiding myself from them. I feel like I'm being dishonest.

It definitely would not have to be my absolute favorite type of art, but I would need to respect their work. I'm not into heavy metal, but I can appreciate the difficulty, the skill, and the people who make it. I can like someone and not like their art, but I have real trouble respecting them. And respect is critical to a meaningful relationship.

For some period of time, sure, if we had a lot of other things in common (especially if she loved music, as I do), if I liked her sense of humor and if we had powerful sexual chemistry.

But for a long time? Probably not. Of course, during the time we spent together, it's possible I could grow to not really dislike her art, so the "some period" could turn into a long time. Not likely, but always possible.

How about someone whose art is really bad and they think you are what inspired them to create it?

You know, kind of like a Picasso painting in which the "person" has a square head with an oversized triangle-shaped nose and one eye - and then they claim they were thinking of you when they painted it.

Should you be flattered or horrified?

Hate is a very strong word. It's hard to imagine hating artwork unless it's hanging from every wall in your house, or the subject matter itself is objectionable.

It wouldn't bother me if my partner created things I disliked, assuming they are not in my face all the time.

Dislike is a very broad term though. I dislike statues made from poop (people do it, saw it on Discovery). I also dislike clowns. I would not date the person who makes statues from poop - however I would date the person who paints clowns.