I got a message from a total stranger on Facebook earlier today. She’d seen me comment on someone else’s status and decided to look at my art. As an artist herself, she decided to message me and inform me that I needed to get away from representational art. The point she seemed to be trying to make was that I wasn’t expressing myself well enough. Something about the audience and that art isn’t a craft. Basically, her opinions on what she thought art was, and how those opinions applied to my art.
Sadly, this isn’t the first time I’ve gotten this. People (and not just artists, but everyone from crafters to photographers) seem to be concerned that I’m not “truly expressing myself” with realist art, that I need to break free, go abstract, leave behind the structure and really just go for it.
Other artists tell me to change my subject matter – paint birds they say. There’s money in birds. Really? Go paint them yourself then.
Every time I get this, I get really annoyed. There is a certain lack of respect that these comments convey that irritates me. Some seem to be convinced that I couldn’t possibly be happy with my art and that there is a problem that they’re helping me fix.
Others are just oblivious that this my creative expression and just because something is right for you, doesn’t mean it’s right for me.
And just to clarify something once and for all…
I love painting realism. I find realism expresses perfectly exactly what I’m trying to say. I am not copying a scene, I am painting my interpretation of it. It just so happens that my interpretation happens to involve objects that are believable. I like that. I like the challenge of it. I have to stretch myself, learn to see clearer, observe more.
I enjoy the parameters that realism imposes on my art. How can I use it to convey emotion, my reality, my vision? I like to create another world that is just as believable as the one we live in. I’ve always been fascinated by the concept of worlds within worlds. That’s what I do when I paint – create, literally, the world I want to see, the world I want to preserve.
When I am moved deeply by a scene in some way, whether it’s a landscape, or painting figures, I want to recreate that scene the way I felt it. It’s still that scene, it’s just seen through my eyes. I love trying to make it believable. I get all giggly and excited about it. That’s just the way I like to make my art.
This does not mean I think abstract art is somehow less than realism. Abstract is just as awesome an art form as realism. All art is awesome in my opinion. But if you were a leather crafter and I said to you, “You know what you should be? A metalsmith. You’re just not expressing yourself fully with leather” – that would be rude. That would be inappropriate and uncalled for. Your leather, or your metal or your photography is your form of expression. It makes you happy. Realism makes me happy. I feel like I’m expressing myself exactly the way I want to.
Most artists get this I think. Earlier on, I voiced my frustration on Twitter and got a boatload of commiseration. Sadly, this seems to be quite a frequent occurrence in the art world.
I hold no resentment towards the people who tell me my art should be different. I understand that you think you’re helping. Maybe you would be unhappy making the art that I make. Maybe my dedication to realism would drive you nuts, make you feel confined and restricted. That’s fine. You should probably not do it then.
But next time you find yourself about to tell another artist how they should really be making their art, stop for a moment. Ask yourself, does this artist seem unhappy with their chosen mode of expression? Have they said they don’t love their art form as much anymore? Have they told you they want to explore new directions?
If yes, go right ahead. Tell them your ideas. Share your opinions with them (gently).*
But if they’re happy with the way they make their art, if they’re doing what they love and it brings them joy, then take a deep breath and leave it.
Maybe you’re right. Maybe they would be happier if they changed how they made their art. But maybe you’re wrong too. And either way, they’re not ready to hear it right now, so all you’ll do is make yourself look like a disrespectful ass and ruin their day. No fun for either of you.
Art is an incredibly personal form of self expression. Artists should know that better than anyone. It can be hard enough being in a society that under-appreciates artists as it is. Let’s not make it worse for each other.
Be respectful, be kind.
*One caveat to all of this – if the artist whose work you’re looking at it is a complete stranger, and you know nothing about them outside of their name and a few pieces, just don’t. You don’t know them, you don’t know what makes them happy, you don’t know their story, nothing. Anything that you say is going to come across as inappropriate and rude, no matter how kindly you meant it. Please leave your ego at the door for a second – you don’t know them and you don’t know what’s right for them. Respect them enough to let them make their own choices.
What are your thoughts?
Have you ever had this happen to you? How did you handle it? Share ‘em in the comments!
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16 Comments
Sarah, well said. I too am attracted to realism, but although we paint believable scenes and enjoy making it that way, we are – none the less – putting our own interpretation into it.
Again, people online begin to test you – if they were speaking to your face to face, they would never say such things.
I am writing a post for Fine Art Views today – on artist etiquette, and giving unsolicited negative opinion on someone else’s art is indeed rude.
It’s good to give encouragement – it’s hard enough to paint and draw. Representational art has a stronger market than abstract right now. Perhaps these people are upset because they realize that and cannot draw or paint representationally to save their life.
Only an envious person would say such things in my opinion. Sarah, I commend you for standing up for yourself and painting how and what you love to.
I’m afraid this sort of thing goes with the territory. But that doesn’t mean that it’s ok.
I stopped going to an art fair because the comments from the public towards some really good artists made my fists itch.
On one hand, art is a passionate field that requires an amazing amount of dedication, self-discipline etc – so it’s not surprising that artists can be a little too pushy (I won’t litter your blog with my real description of that behavior.). I’d also agree that a certain class of malicious “advice” is really coming from insecurity and jealousy.
Either way, we have to get used to taking “advice” and “comments” from strangers with a massive amount of skepticism. Some are nice, some aren’t… But art requires artists to listen to their inner voice, vision and unique passions for guidance. If we’re dependent on surfing compliments, or we are easily flattened by stupid words, then our work (and spirit) suffers too much.
Personally I think realism, magic realism, and traditional methods are making a major comeback. Most artists our age seem to be working in that tradition and shunning the purely conceptual stuff. But that’s just my opinion and I’ve been wrong before (twice… I think).
You’re very mature and professional about it, completely unlike me, which is probably a good thing. Keep it up!
Oh people will do it to your face as well, Lori. I recently had someone very sweetly tell me that I should knock up some Scottish landscapes because I’d be bound to do a better job than the ones she’d just seen in a gallery and I could make a lot of money.
While I appreciated that it was meant well, I’ve just spent the last 8 years establishing myself as a very different kind of artist. Maybe I could knock out landscapes but it’s not something I have any interest in. And I can’t imagine that I’d be instantly good enough to compete with the very talented landscape painters that already exist out there.
I can relate! Has happened to me in real life and online. You just have to let it roll right off. Oh, and seriously the delete key is your best friend. Delete delete delete
First off, Sarah — how annoying! And this happens all the time, too — ugh.
When I was a practicing artist, I never had unsolicited advice of this kind — guess I was lucky. Then again, I didn’t have the internet — the only people who saw my work saw it in a gallery.
I think that’s the down side of artists having their work online — more people will see it who just don’t get it, and feel compelled to say something about it.
My goodness. There needs to be some sort of Badass Response Artist whose mission is to give artists Readymade Badass Responses to inappropriate and out-of-line comments. Or to just read the out-of-line comments for the artist and hit that “delete” key.
I laughed. I cried. I so get it. I so DON’T get people who do that. I do what I do because it makes me happy and for no other reason. If you like it, good. If you don’t, good.
Well stated. Kindness is a necessary tool in everyones pocket, unfortunately some forget their tools. I am a realist too, much for the same reasons you stated, I do add other techniques and processes for my own enjoyment and learning, sometimes adding them into my realistic work. I believe every artist needs to find what works for them in their own time and in their own experience. We can encourage one another without dictating how another artist should or shouldn’t do their work. Critizism or advice in my opinion should be when you the artist asks for it from those you trust the most and value their judgment but even then it will always be up to the individual artist to decide what will or will not happen in their own art. I admire your honesty and willingness to step out there and be real in your work and in your written blog.
I’m with Christy, the delete key is your best friend. I’ve used it before and I’m not afraid to use it again if I need to.
Sarah, all you have to do is create. As an artist, that is your only responsibility to the Universe!
I am an abstract painter, and it goes the same way on the other side of the fence. Your art isn’t meant to inspire the entire population. That’s an impossible task, and a tiresome goal.
Only you – the true creator within – would know if you needed to change styles or try something different. We are fortunate that many of the great artists we love did not change to please others, and followed their passion instead.
Keep creating!
Sandra
I’m still at the Figuring Out What The Heck I’m Doing stage of things, so I’m a touch more open to suggestions than most. I don’t take them all, mind you. (Some things people have me kinda scratching my head and wondering if they have the faintest idea what I’m trying to do.) But my usual response to well-meaning advice is to nod and tell them I’ll think about it. It appeases them and they don’t have to know what those exact thoughts are.
Hi,
I found you via @chrisguillebeau. I am not an artist but I read it as I was intrigued. A similar thing happened to me the other day, someone who started following me told me that it’s a waste that I do pre-marriage coaching and parenting coaching, considering my background with “prestigious education and career”, and that I should be using my talent in fixing what’s wrong with this country (our country, Japan). I politely told her, “thanks for your compliment, I suppose…” But then, I know that it is also insulting. I pointed her to read my blog so she’ll know why I do what I do. I don’t know or care whether she actually d?oes, but it gave me something to think about. I’ll write about it in my blog in the near future.
I would never say that to anyone. If a guy decided to go back to his hometown and be a farmer after graduating Harvard, there should be a good reason for that. I would never start questioning his choice of life without making some effort in getting to know him as a person. Even then, I don’t think I would question his choice…
Thanks for sharing this story!
Just discovered you from a retweet. So, hi!
I had no idea this sort of thing happened so often! I have a friend who does the coolest ink and pencil drawings of people. He really enjoys drawing them. Another artist looked at his art, sighed and patronisingly stated that they remembered when they felt their art ‘had to look like something’ too, like that was immature somehow and he’d grow out of it. GRRRRR.
I LOVE to make art that ‘looks like stuff’. Ok, my canvas is a child’s face, not a … err… canvas, but the point still holds. Keep doing what you love and ignore the detractors and those who think they know better.
Cheers
I also found you via a retweet from another page I’d found by a retweet
I’m not a painter, I make jewelry, and I also have heard many many comments like this, and sadly, some even worse. It used to bother me, hurt me (comments from family and friends still hurt a bit) annoy me, but I’ve been releasing those feelings lately. Some of them, enough so it doesn’t sting anymore. I feel that part of it is a theft of my energy on their part, and that might be the most off-putting aspect of it all.
And I agree, the delete key is my friend!
I love your art. I love the detail, the care and attention, I love how they transport me to another place, I love that they manage to make me feel an emotional response that I so often don’t get when looking at art, I love imagining the story behind the object/scene/person, I love your writing, I love how you help out your friends, I love how you keep putting yourself out there. And if any of these things stop being what you want to do at any point in time, then I’m still going to think you’re awesome.
I think one of the most important things about becoming a mature artist is to be really solid in ones approach/style of painting. People make all kinds of comments some useful, but not so useful. Mostly they dont have a clue because it isnt something they themselves live and breath. So I just nod, consider the source, and decide for myself if its worthy to consider.
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