Never fall into this trap!
I so appreciate people who look at my art, and I appreciate even more those who take the time to comment. But there are a few comments that make me cringe. I feel the contraction throughout my body.
The comments that are so challenging for me are suggestions.
They are sentences that start with things like "why don't you...?" or "Next time you should...."
This week I shared a raw self-portrait. This drawing started to touch on something I have been trying to communicate in my work ... it felt raw and honest and authentic.
Most comments acknowledged that - most people got it. But there were a couple of people who said some version of "can we have one where you're smiling?"
NO YOU CAN'T!! (lol).
I will never, EVER make something because it was suggested to me and I will never change what I'm doing because other people don't like it. This is my art and I get to decide what I make.
But I want to ask you ... can you say the same thing? What is your reaction when someone offers unsolicited criticism or suggestions?
Can you stand in your truth, or do you waver?
I'm teaching for the next few months, and many of my students are still at the stage where they ask for permission and where they REALLY care what other people think. They send emails asking "Is it OK if I...?" Or they worry about not following the instructions correctly ("Did I get this wrong? I thought we were supposed to...")
My job over the next few months is to lead them away from those concerns. I'm here to help them understand that the rules of real life don't apply in art.
See, in real life we follow rules and we seek approval. In fact, this seeking for approval is an evolutionary development - we need to belong to our 'tribe' so we try to fit in.
But art is about the opposite- artists don't fit in. If artists had job descriptions, 'don't fit in' would be second on our list of duties, right behind 'speak your authentic truth.'
Of course it's much easier to fit in. It feels much better initially to pander to what others want. Your husband likes it when you paint realistically, so you push down your desire to make abstracts. Or your artist mother scoffs at bright colours, so you ignore how much you love them. Or you feel enormous disappointment that Facebook friends don't love your new painting style, and this can make you rush back to what's familiar and popular.
But think of any artists you admire and ask yourself, were they more concerned with authenticity or with approval?
I firmly believe that art isn't art if it's not honest and from the heart. You might disagree and that's ok, but I won't change my mind. To me "Blowing in the Wind" is art and "Sexyback" is a pop song. Both have their place, but let's not pretend they're the same thing.
I'm currently working on a series of self portraits. I've been interested in figurative work for a while, and the pull just keeps coming back. But I want these portraits to be more than just pictures. I'm not interested in flattering myself. I'm not going to make myself look pretty. I want to paint my insides. I want to paint the parts of me that are not usually seen. This is for myself, not for anyone else. If other people like the paintings, that's cool. I'm happy for them. If they don't, I totally understand. Either way, I'm on my journey. Either way, I'm making my own work.
I'm currently working on a series of self portraits. I've been interested in figurative work for a while, and the pull just keeps coming back. But I want these portraits to be more than just pictures. I'm not interested in flattering myself. I'm not going to make myself look pretty. I want to paint my insides. I want to paint the parts of me that are not usually seen. This is for myself, not for anyone else. If other people like the paintings, that's cool. I'm happy for them. If they don't, I totally understand. Either way, I'm on my journey. Either way, I'm making my own work.
And this, I suppose, is my message for this week. If we want to touch others with our work - it HAS to come from our true, authentic, deep down selves. It's easier than you might think - it just means only doing what YOU want. Only following your own curiosity. And NEVER adjusting your artistic decisions to please other people (real or imagined).
If you stick to your own choices, preferences, desires and interests, your work will be unique and interesting. If you try to adjust to someone else's it will be fake, shallow, and ultimately pointless.