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[lime_gl0wstix]

I hate being on the computer and typing all the time. I want to be with people. I want to hear their voices from their lips straight to my ears, no digital middleman. I'd like to go hiking, to get back to nature, and to go camping again. Maybe the forest this time.

I hope going to June Lake again this year will do me some good. The problem

Comments

[reivena]

I personally do not care at all how my art is interpreted, if it brings joy (or any other emotion) to anyone else, how its existence may affect others in some way, or how someone's view or opinion of me may change upon viewing my art. I realize I am the most selfish type of artist for the fact that I create my art only to please myself, which is generally connected to me releasing a certain emotional state or obsessive image I can't get out of my mind. I have to be narcissistic in this or else I would cease creating art. In doing freelance, I typically have zero emotional attachment to whatever it is I'm creating; with freelance illustrations, it quickly becomes a chore and ultimately angers or depresses me. This is why my freelance has become web development, as it's difficult to become emotionally bothered over lines of code (save for something not loading right, but this sparks a different part of my brain). It is rare that an idea for an illustration is presented before me that I think is innovative, intriguing and interesting enough to spark my emotional involvement in it, and thus I have turned down a lot of proposals over the years. (Realistically, I'd sooner put those hours into web, which pays me better, and I can't fathom spending 20+ hours painting some dude's cat surrounded by cherubim anyway.) I guess I have some skill in programming and design or else strangers would not seek me out, but I view this as a completely different field than doing true art for people (illustration). Perhaps you could similarly branch off into something else - not suggesting you should go so separate a direction away from the canvas, but involve yourself more heavily in some other tactile form of creativity for awhile. Sculpture? Beadwork? Calligraphy? Sewing? Even fooling around with a music instrument?

What I was intending to try to get at with that really long-winded background is that I do not know much about how to proceed with the type of art you want to make, or rather, the type of response you seek to receive from how others would view your art. I've never approached illustrative work with the intent or desire that it would bring me closer to people, in consideration on how it would affect them, or even to receive some type of ego boost in return for positive commentary on it from others.

>I would rather make art and have it be appreciated because at least then I reach out to people.
I would make the inexperienced assumption that fine art/illustrative achievements in this would entail creating works in a specific theme or subject matter that would strike a chord with others (e.g., feminism/women's rights, minorities, that demons are fucking awesome [which may get a lot of the religious folks pissed with you but hey, you'd have pagan/satanist fans anyway!]). If the cause you choose is one you fight for as well, it could be really rewarding for both yourself and others in a mutually uplifting relationship.

>I want to be with people and affect people.
The limited experience I have with this was when I taught art to Girl Scouts for a few summers and ran arts and crafts at a few YMCA summer camps. Have you considered working in that area of art? I know some people I went to school with who did similar things at nursing homes for awhile. I have a friend from high school who's become an art therapist. I'm not sure of what other employment as an artist is that specific to directly, and repeatedly, make you aware that others appreciate you at so high a level.

Is there something stopping you from making a life-size sculpture of him, or at the very least, picking up some clay and starting off with a bust?
What's stopping you from creating a portfolio/art showing based on him? (A lot of artists have portfolios/art shows on a very narrow subject matter, or only one topic.)