Art isn’t for everyone. Tastes differ. Everyone sees things differently — and very much so when it comes to art.
And some people … they’re just never going to get it.
It’s not their fault. They simply don’t see the world that way. Indeed, no matter how great, nothing labeled “art” is going to enjoy universal acclaim. It’s just not.
You need to understand this.
When you first share your artwork with friends and family, some will appreciate it, even love it … But you’ve gotta expect that others will be clueless.
“Why did you put all that stuff on there?” one will ask.
“I think I like your regular photos better,” another will offer.
These are NOT the people you should be looking to for artistic advice. No matter how much you value them as friends or family members, they’ve just identified themselves as the creatively irrelevant as far as their role in your artistic life.
When it comes to your creative endeavors, you can contentedly smile and mentally dismiss their opinions from here on out.
They clearly do not get it.
And that’s okay.
Because the world is filled with people. And many of them WILL get it.
That is your audience.
You cannot allow yourself to care about what critics say about your work, even when those critics are otherwise well-meaning family members or friends.
The last thing you want to do is take someone’s befuddled confusion over what you’re doing and let it affect what you’re attempting as an artist.
They are not artists.
They are the Creatively Clueless.
And because they are the Clueless, they do not get a vote.
Your job, as an artist, is to not give a damn what the Clueless think about your work.
(In a way, if you are an artist, this might actually be part of your job description. You are an artist; you CREATE; you do not give a damn what anyone thinks about what you create.)
And really, what’s the alternative? Are you going to let a few befuddled non-artists tell you what you should do with your life? Are you going to give up something you love to do, and play small, just to safely conform and fit in?
Come on. You’re not 7 years old anymore.
Here is my advice to you:
Just keep creating. Find what brings you joy as an artist and do that.
And by all means, happily share your work with the world. Except where someone clearly doesn’t get what you’re doing. Again, some people are never going to get it. That’s to be expected. So when someone sees your work and frowns and says something like “Oh. It’s kinda like art, right?” just nod and smile . . . and simply make a mental note to skip showing them your next piece.
One of the things I love most about our advanced “AWAKE Group” is how our artists are able to share their work and bounce creative ideas off one another in an encouraging environment, where everyone is an artist, and everyone “gets it.”
But the world at large is a different sort of place.
When you share your creative work with the world at large, just go into it expecting some to get what you’re doing, and others not.
And be OK with that.
It’s all good.
Just keep doing what you’re doing.
Embrace what brings you joy and continue dancing your beautiful dance, even if sometimes it seems you’re the only one who hears the music.
– Sebastian
PS: The image featured on this post is by the wildly popular AWAKE artist Billa Bozem (Germany). You can see more of her work on our portfolio site at https://artboja.com/art/8rn7ir/ Yet as amazing as her work is, even in her case you can be sure her artwork isn’t going to be appreciated by everyone. Some just aren’t going to get it. But what of that? Just look at her work. I really don’t think she cares. And thank goodness for that!