1) Be as aloof as possible.
2) If someone likes your work on social media, by all means never say "Thank you".
3) If other artists follow you, by no means should you follow them back. Only one can be a disciple, and don't let it be you.
4) Don't give compliments or encouragement to other artists that you know unless you absolutely must (in some rare occasion that their creation excites you). They will begin to think they are more accomplished than you, and you must maintain that upper hand, don't you?
5) There is no comraderie. There is only competition.
You want to ensure that they think you are better than them, and that everyone else knows it too. It's about power and since they bowed to your feet by giving you a compliment, pushing the "like" button, giving a star, or favoriting your work, you have the upper hand. Maintain this gain by maintaining distance. Be cold by not responding. This communicates that you are beyond them, or that they are so below you that their work or studio practice doesn't even register on your radar. You are trying to prove that you are not equals and you are the superior artisan, artist, craftsman, curator or insert whatever title you must.
I believe that this advice is never said, but carried out and believed by artists that want to really go somewhere with their art. All of this is shit.
Of course, I don't see this from people that I admire. They are always supportive of other artists and people. They give attention as they are interested and realize that yes, there is so much room for art in this world that we can and should encourage each other. They are confident enough in their own studio practice to encourage others. They genuinely want others to do well.
Have I been laboring under the wrong idea that I'm only in competition with myself? I think if I believed that I was in competition with others that I would have put down the brushes and pencils long ago as I looked at the works of the Masters, my Mentors, and my peers.
Awhile ago I saw a post on Etsy and a seller was freaking out that another seller who did similar work favorited several of her works and her shop. She interpreted it as a copyright infringement in the works, and questioned the integrity of such a seller that would like her work so much.
I thought that was sad. I understand the root of her thought, but don't believe that anyone wishing to infringe upon her work would be so boldly stupid. I think it was very conceited of her to have such a reaction. Whatever happened to comraderie? Was there ever comraderie? The Impressionists formed bonds with one another. The Abstract Expressionists did the same. They visited each others studios, worked side by side at times, taught one another, and went drinking together. They understood that they were the few of the majority and they needed to stick together. They understood the power of a comraderie. They appreciated their shared or similar philosophies, and gained energy from it for their individual studio practices.
Has the globalization of art and art marketing wrecked all of this? Instead of being delighted with a similar styled artist who "likes" our work, we instead see it as a red flag. What is happening? Am I misunderstanding all of this? Am I revealing how naive I am?
At this point I don't care about revealing how naive I may be. That's alright - I'd rather be that than jaded.
I'm not writing this to be some micro-picky observer that is judging social media behavior and misconduct. Everyone misses things - I've failed to see comments and emails on several occasions, or didn't get to see a new work by an artist I liked until way after the fact. I'm not talking about honest mistakes. I'm also not encouraging being a whore with stars, follows, likes, or favorites for the sake of it. It's alright to have a discerning eye. There is no fault in that. By all means, don't sacrifice your authenticity in order to appease someone. If you don't like it, then don't like it - just move on.
I'm just pointing out something that I've noticed with some successful artists and the mimicking of this behavior on down the ladder. I worked as a tattoo artist for awhile and even noticed it there in the form of never returning calls to interested clients by the talented artist I apprenticed under. The clients would have to call repeatedly and luck out if he was there and happened to answer the phone.
Does it just all boil down to false ego?
What do you think?
2) If someone likes your work on social media, by all means never say "Thank you".
3) If other artists follow you, by no means should you follow them back. Only one can be a disciple, and don't let it be you.
4) Don't give compliments or encouragement to other artists that you know unless you absolutely must (in some rare occasion that their creation excites you). They will begin to think they are more accomplished than you, and you must maintain that upper hand, don't you?
5) There is no comraderie. There is only competition.
You want to ensure that they think you are better than them, and that everyone else knows it too. It's about power and since they bowed to your feet by giving you a compliment, pushing the "like" button, giving a star, or favoriting your work, you have the upper hand. Maintain this gain by maintaining distance. Be cold by not responding. This communicates that you are beyond them, or that they are so below you that their work or studio practice doesn't even register on your radar. You are trying to prove that you are not equals and you are the superior artisan, artist, craftsman, curator or insert whatever title you must.
I believe that this advice is never said, but carried out and believed by artists that want to really go somewhere with their art. All of this is shit.
Of course, I don't see this from people that I admire. They are always supportive of other artists and people. They give attention as they are interested and realize that yes, there is so much room for art in this world that we can and should encourage each other. They are confident enough in their own studio practice to encourage others. They genuinely want others to do well.
Have I been laboring under the wrong idea that I'm only in competition with myself? I think if I believed that I was in competition with others that I would have put down the brushes and pencils long ago as I looked at the works of the Masters, my Mentors, and my peers.
Awhile ago I saw a post on Etsy and a seller was freaking out that another seller who did similar work favorited several of her works and her shop. She interpreted it as a copyright infringement in the works, and questioned the integrity of such a seller that would like her work so much.
I thought that was sad. I understand the root of her thought, but don't believe that anyone wishing to infringe upon her work would be so boldly stupid. I think it was very conceited of her to have such a reaction. Whatever happened to comraderie? Was there ever comraderie? The Impressionists formed bonds with one another. The Abstract Expressionists did the same. They visited each others studios, worked side by side at times, taught one another, and went drinking together. They understood that they were the few of the majority and they needed to stick together. They understood the power of a comraderie. They appreciated their shared or similar philosophies, and gained energy from it for their individual studio practices.
Has the globalization of art and art marketing wrecked all of this? Instead of being delighted with a similar styled artist who "likes" our work, we instead see it as a red flag. What is happening? Am I misunderstanding all of this? Am I revealing how naive I am?
At this point I don't care about revealing how naive I may be. That's alright - I'd rather be that than jaded.
I'm not writing this to be some micro-picky observer that is judging social media behavior and misconduct. Everyone misses things - I've failed to see comments and emails on several occasions, or didn't get to see a new work by an artist I liked until way after the fact. I'm not talking about honest mistakes. I'm also not encouraging being a whore with stars, follows, likes, or favorites for the sake of it. It's alright to have a discerning eye. There is no fault in that. By all means, don't sacrifice your authenticity in order to appease someone. If you don't like it, then don't like it - just move on.
I'm just pointing out something that I've noticed with some successful artists and the mimicking of this behavior on down the ladder. I worked as a tattoo artist for awhile and even noticed it there in the form of never returning calls to interested clients by the talented artist I apprenticed under. The clients would have to call repeatedly and luck out if he was there and happened to answer the phone.
Does it just all boil down to false ego?
What do you think?
2 comments:
Ouch.
Hahahaha!! Should I delete this? I cringed as soon as I posted.
Your response is perfect and hilarious!
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