I reckon the "Kanbsy" stencil graffitis I've added to random buildings on my layout will be worth a mint in years to come. Now, what to do with these cows, some miniature aquarium-like cases, a bottle of liquid smelling like the chemistry lab at school and this sharp cutting knife... 

Quote from: Chris m on May 13, 2016, 03:11:35 PM

Quote from: Agrippa on May 13, 2016, 02:37:40 PM
The answer is no, modelling is more akin to handicrafts. Modelling ( especially rail) is representing
a real object in miniature as  precisely as possible , so there is no room for personal interpretation.

As most layouts are works of fiction they must be a personal interpretation. Even a model of a real location is adjusted with to fit the canvass (baseboard) and give the effect the creator is looking for.
And many exhibition layouts have an extremely wide interpretation of what stock might have been used together!

Yes but they are works of fiction based on real objects , a fictional layout may be an imaginary place
but the track, buildings and  infrastructure  also the landscape elements like trees, hedges,etc have
to be realistic and to scale  otherwise the layout would be nonsense . i dont think Rule1 can be used
to support the artistic argument, anyway in the end its just playing with trains.

We are all quite conservative and work within quite strict parameters, here are some interesting models:

http://mentalfloss.com/article/30804/10-amazing-artists-working-miniature-models

An interesting discussion so far. Thank you to all who have participated.

Agrippa: re: 'Modelling ( especially rail) is representing a real object in miniature as  precisely as possible , so there is no room for personal interpretation'

FWIW, you may not realise it, but with that statement you have effectively eliminated the 'Freelance' modelers such as myself from the scale. The buildings (aka 'real objects' ) on my layouts, especially my mining ones are anything but 'real' in that they have actually never 'existed' as 1:1 items BUT are however based-on places I've been, things I've done and buildings I have been in and worked in. They are 'composites' and definitely 'personally interpreted' and by your criteria are definitely NOT 'real', yet, by being able to be touched, handled, uplifted and painted  their are 'real-ness' can certainly be verified.

Perhaps you may need to reconsider your criteria?

And are my model railway layouts (I have several) 'works of art' and am I an 'artist'?

My answer to both questions is 'Yes'.  I view my model railway creations as 'Three Dimensional Works of Art' , a view that (judging by reactions at exhibitions) others seem to concur with, and, indeed, at a national model railway convention I attended, the Tag Line for the convention itself was 'Model Railways, Works of Art in Miniature'. With a line like that , it would seem that others evidently share the same view...

I am also an artist beyond and outside my model railway interests, working primarily on 'mechanical / industrial' themes and using acrylic paint and pen and ink for the purpose. I see my layouts as multiple and multi-dimensional canvases  which can be filled and worked upon to create a larger, completed 'whole'; the finished ('completed') layout being a larger world that contains a multitude of 'smaller' worlds (and sometimes even worlds within the smaller worlds), summarised by the statement 'The More You Look, the More You'll See'.

Submitted for what it may be worth and as my contribution to what has so far been a very interesting and informative discussion.

Next...

There is no doubt that there is an element of art involved with our hobby, I wonder if painters go through what many railway modellers struggle with "scenery", I for one dont have an artistic bone in my body but I have been called an artist from time to time but they usually put the word bull before the word artist

Certainly an interesting discussion.
Personally, I see our hobby as a craft although I'm very aware that the distinction between art and craft is very blurred.
I feel that a scenic layout (whether representing a real place or a purely fictitious location) is bordering on the artistic (ie being an artistic interpretation of a scene or period).
Scenic layouts can be much like paintings. ie some are super detailed and realistic (perhaps akin to detailed paintings be eg David Shepherd). Other scenic layouts are less detailed and accurate but portray a feel for a scene or era  extremely well.
Some people prefer detailed paintings but I've heard those artists described as illustrator rather than artists.  Others prefer more abstract or representational art.
It's all about opinions.

Quote from: Komata on May 13, 2016, 07:44:30 PM
An interesting discussion so far. Thank you to all who have participated.

Agrippa: re: 'Modelling ( especially rail) is representing a real object in miniature as  precisely as possible , so there is no room for personal interpretation'

FWIW, you may not realise it, but with that statement you have effectively eliminated the 'Freelance' modelers such as myself from the scale. The buildings (aka 'real objects' ) on my layouts, especially my mining ones are anything but 'real' in that they have actually never 'existed' as 1:1 items BUT are however based-on places I've been, things I've done and buildings I have been in and worked in. They are 'composites' and definitely 'personally interpreted' and by your criteria are definitely NOT 'real', yet, by being able to be touched, handled, uplifted and painted  their are 'real-ness' can certainly be verified.

Perhaps you may need to reconsider your criteria?

And are my model railway layouts (I have several) 'works of art' and am I an 'artist'?

My answer to both questions is 'Yes'.  I view my model railway creations as 'Three Dimensional Works of Art' , a view that (judging by reactions at exhibitions) others seem to concur with, and, indeed, at a national model railway convention I attended, the Tag Line for the convention itself was 'Model Railways, Works of Art in Miniature'. With a line like that , it would seem that others evidently share the same view...

I am also an artist beyond and outside my model railway interests, working primarily on 'mechanical / industrial' themes and using acrylic paint and pen and ink for the purpose. I see my layouts as multiple and multi-dimensional canvases  which can be filled and worked upon to create a larger, completed 'whole'; the finished ('completed') layout being a larger world that contains a multitude of 'smaller' worlds (and sometimes even worlds within the smaller worlds), summarised by the statement 'The More You Look, the More You'll See'.

Submitted for what it may be worth and as my contribution to what has so far been a very interesting and informative discussion.

Next...

Yep its an interesting question, however I don't regard it as art, for example I painted
some Peco trucks in colours I liked, but its not art in my book, however if anyone wants to
call their layout art who's to argue, I've done some landscape painting in acrylic and its
b***** hard to do and get  right but I don't regard these as art but third rate efforts,
in the  end do what you do and call it art if you wish.

I don't consider myself to be an artist but I do believe that art is part of our hobby, if its good enough for a sculpture to make a statue and have people look at it and call it a work of art why not a model railway layout ?, making scenery takes as much imagination as making a statue so I agree building a model railway can be considered a work of art, just don't look at mine because an artist I ain't 

I spotted this in the Tate Modern a few years ago....
[smg id=11591 type=preview align=center width=400]
.... if that's art, then my model railway is starting to look like the Mona Lisa

Yes of coarse we are, 3D artists.
Steve.

Quote from: Bealman on May 14, 2016, 07:02:53 AM
I spotted this in the Tate Modern a few years ago....
[smg id=11591 type=preview align=center width=400]
.... if that's art, then my model railway is starting to look like the Mona Lisa

Hope that is not subject to copyright....

Agrippa

Wot, no bricks?

This thread beginning to look like Pseuds Corner
in Private Eye !

Also, the question has been answered, as several of us have said we are not artists, therefore, no, we are not all artists.

At last, someone with a grasp of logic  !