A conundrum
An artist (of words, of art or of music) needs to be sensitive. How else can they produce their art to tug at the emotions of their viewers? How else can we touch the lives of the people out there?
With sensitivity we can see the nuances of emotion and transfer those tiny motions into our words, our lines, our notes.
With sensitivity we watch the human beings around us. With sensitivity we pull in from other’s lives and experiences.
With sensitivity we give the world, how ever small that might be, a taste of another world, believable and emotional. We draw a reader, viewer, listener into our world and make it theirs.
But an artist needs thick skin.
No matter what we do, some one will not be happy with our art, either the finished piece or a work in progress.
At the moment of making public, even to a small like-minded community, someone will suffer a blow.
It hurts. I know.
It is, however, inevitable.
Sad but true.
So to all my fellow artists I offer this advice.
Make armour from dragon hide and wear it every time you submit your art, particularly if for critique or comment. But for everyday life, for the times you sit and observe, and definitely for the times you sit and practice your art, wear a skin of softness.
With sensitivity we can see the nuances of emotion and transfer those tiny motions into our words, our lines, our notes.
With sensitivity we watch the human beings around us. With sensitivity we pull in from other’s lives and experiences.
With sensitivity we give the world, how ever small that might be, a taste of another world, believable and emotional. We draw a reader, viewer, listener into our world and make it theirs.
But an artist needs thick skin.
No matter what we do, some one will not be happy with our art, either the finished piece or a work in progress.
At the moment of making public, even to a small like-minded community, someone will suffer a blow.
It hurts. I know.
It is, however, inevitable.
Sad but true.
So to all my fellow artists I offer this advice.
Make armour from dragon hide and wear it every time you submit your art, particularly if for critique or comment. But for everyday life, for the times you sit and observe, and definitely for the times you sit and practice your art, wear a skin of softness.