To all you artists, writers, & creative types:
I just wrote something to a friend on DeviantArt who's got a visual impairment and who's had some people really being shitty to them about their work. Well as I retaliated for my friend- sending them a message of solidarity & support, I wrote some stuff that -I- sure as hell needed reminding of, myself. And subsequently (while in the process of recording it so I could keep it for future perusal) I realized that many of you who make things in the spirit of creation might need to hear this once in a while, too. ^_^
So saying:
Frankly, I say f#*k 'em. Although people have been trying to rate, criticize, denigrate and pigeonhole nearly every artist & piece of art extant since the birth of creation, history still tells us the one thing it seems your "critics" have forgotten: The best, most well-known, influential art is that which breaks out of peoples' preconceived notions, & the expected "norms" of the particular time/society/culture that the piece/artist is within at the time. Period.
Moreover, anyone who knows the -first thing- about art will confirm that art's not about judgment- it's about what's in the heart/mind/soul of the artist, and how a message either is or is not being expressed to an audience. If you're having a hard time getting your ideas/thoughts/feelings across, that's one thing. If your technique needs some work, your composition has issues, etc. fine. EVERY artist can ALWAYS improve. But if someone's just knocking your art because they're insecure, snitty gits; remember that they don't know jack about the whole POINT of art: to explore oneself and that which creates, contributes to, and/or deteriorates from the elements of the society, conditions and confines of the world in which we live- through the intrinsic act of creation.
If they're so blasted concerned w/your stuff, they're obviously not making much of a difference on their own. ;)
Oh- and tell 'em they should go back home and stick their heads back up their asses- until they either figure out what art truly is, or until they can make some worthwhile, noteworthy and meaningful stuff themselves… And if they can't, to shut the hell up. ;) ..Hopefully they'll learn by doing, and if they don't- at least they won't have the time to come piss on other peoples' art. ;)
---
When I was a kid, I had an art teacher say to me w/a beaming face; "your art is so good! Imagine what you could do if you didn't have problems with your vision..!" -Like it was a phrase of encouragement and complement... ...
That one phrase still effects me negatively in an internal, psychological way to this day.. and is one of few things I’ve had said about my work that still sticks in my head when I ponder what I might/could/should do; or when I step back to criticize my own stuff.
I honestly don't think she meant it to come out as damaging, hurtful or insulting… But it did hurt, and it did enough subtle damage to scar me to this day. I keep thinking “wow, what kind of art could I do if I didn’t have fucked-up vision… Could it be more photo-realistic? Better detailed? More aptly shaded or better composed? More 3D???” But honestly, I think that’s something most if not all artists do- question or second-guess their work.. and to a HEALTHY extent, it’s something they SHOULD do to keep growing and exploring in their craft. But whether she intended it as a positive, a negative, or just a completely brain-farty, innocuous and neutral statement; that one phrase was simply insidious-.and somehow got inside my head- thus becoming something VERY demeaning and confidence-leaching for me in my history as well as development as an artist
Now, I'll freely admit; I can be oversensitive... But I just don't think people realize how much their words can affect others. Nonetheless.. they should.
I'm not sayin' we all need to be super-afraid and PC about stuff. But consideration for others still seems to be at a premium in this society.. and especially from one creative soul to another, it shouldn't be.
But I keep on creating, just like you should, too.
Because it’s not about what other people think, say or do concerning us or our artwork. It’s about US, it’s about the message we’re trying to create, and the fact that we create because we have to. It’s part of -who WE ARE.- And NO ONE has the right to judge that. NO ONE.
So keep on a-pluggin'!!!
And to the nay-sayers I say; take from them what honest criticism you can, and beyond that, frankly.. screw the rest. ;) At the end of the day the only opinion that matters is yours. ^_^
--You rock no matter what anyone else says- BECAUSE YOU HAVE THE BALLS NOT ONLY TO CREATE, BUT BECAUSE YOU STILL OFFER IT UP TO PEOPLE JUST LIKE THIS ARSEHOLE WHO DISSED YOU AND YOUR WORK SAYING, "HERE, TAKE A LOOK AT WHAT I MADE. WHAT DO YOU THINK?"--
For that alone, you rock. So you get down w/yer bad self, and damn what anybody else has to say about it. ^_^