Comments on: To Thine Own Self Be True and Other Difficulties

By: Victoria

Victoria — Sun, 20 Dec 2009 21:50:59 +0000

A central part of art is the gift. It is what you give in the artistic creation and present to the world. Not every gift is received or embraced with the love that was poured into it. But that rejection should not stop the artist from pouring more love into the next project. Keep in mind you will never control receiving. What you do control is giving love and art to others. Identify your real, authentic source of love, keeping that source open to continue gifting art to others.

By: Anne Alexander

Anne Alexander — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 15:48:04 +0000

One of my fabulous clients sent me this post. I learned about what you are sharing here many years ago when my ceramic artist business partner educated me on how you aren’t just putting a finished report or a new piece of software out there (those these, too can require a type of creativity), you are putting a piece of your heart and soul out there and it can be VERY vulnerable. I love the phrase “stay on your own side.” So crucial. Thanks again for your post.

By: Sarah

Sarah — Sun, 06 Dec 2009 12:53:54 +0000

@Susan–so true, and good to remember that people who don’t have a background in your medium probably won’t understand–easier to take it when they don’t!

@Faith-Wow! Yes, performance art is really putting your art out there because you are your artwork! I find your idea interesting of owning the negative reviews/criticism and reclaiming them. And a work called “piece of shit” –it seems like we could get it to the point where it’s just really funny instead of hurtful. Thanks for reading and I’m SO happy it was helpful for you. Keep me posted as I’d love to know where you end up taking this thought stream…

By: Letting Your Family Off the Hook :: Make Great Stuff

Letting Your Family Off the Hook :: Make Great Stuff — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 03:49:43 +0000

[...] thought I’d continue to explore the nuances and perils of getting feedback (and the different ways it can manifest) because it brings up a lot of complicated feelings that [...]

By: Susan

Susan — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 16:35:28 +0000

I find confidence in my work when I really understand what I’m doing and why. It may not have the intended result (which can be exciting) the first or second time but I know where I’m going and, with convition, I go there. This gives me a stable base from which to receive feedback. I know I may have to explain what I’m doing before a real conversation can take place.

I also avoid asking people outside of my area of trust to (either professionally or personally)comment on my work. You have to find people who are open to your work, how you’re pursuing it and where you going with it and that’s a rare find. You can’t expect people who don’t have a backgound in your medium (whether an artistic pursuit or not) to understand what it is to produce your work. It just doesn’t translate across diciplines without helping them understand what you’re doing and why. And if they don’t understand, I take what they have with a grain of salt but not as a personal insult or a serious suggestion.

That’s been my experience. NIce to hear that others struggle with these issues as well.

By: Faith

Faith — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 06:29:18 +0000

Wow! This is so helpful for me to read right now. I am a performance artist so often what I am putting “out there” is very personal and by its nature vulnerable — since it’s me, my body, experiencing live how the audience is reacting. I’ve been thinking about this so much — how to put some distance between the performance and me as a person — so that I can handle it when the crowd’d not into it. Because of course they won’t always be. And especially if you’re into taking risks and making discoveries… well, what you’re risking is that people won’t follow you, won’t connect, won’t get it, and that hurts.

I’ve been thinking about the ‘toughening up’ that is required… I hope this doesn’t sound like I’m equating performance art with civil rights, but in a way I think there is something to be learned from people who take the worst slurs used against them and reclaim them. I think taking the worst criticism that you can imagine or that you’ve heard said about your work and wielding it with pride — quoting your worst reviews in press releases, say, or titling your sculpture “piece of shit” — can be a way of owning that risk and not letting it overpower you. But I don’t know, I’m still working it out. Obviously.

Anyway, thanks for giving me some good perspective!

By: Sharon

Sharon — Thu, 26 Nov 2009 15:57:57 +0000

Love it! I feel the same way too very often. It is, however, the judgment developed inside ourselves over time allows us to take what feedback is good for us and what’s not.

Thanks for sharing.

By: Nat

Nat — Thu, 26 Nov 2009 01:48:33 +0000

I think working in the creative industries is far more challenging than anyone outside them can understand. Naturally we pour some of ourselves into our work, and we can’t rely on facts and figures to say “yes, I calculated things correctly, therefore, I am doing my job perfectly.”

You’re right Sarah, taking criticism is really really hard. Thanks for posting your advice. Glad to have found your blog through Brazen Careerist.

By: Sarah

Sarah — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 22:05:51 +0000

@Karen–thanks, I hope so!

@Havi–Yes! So true about the Right People thing–I actually think that’s why I felt so hurt–because I thought that was what I was doing(!) Which got me thinking about how important the sovereignty thing/being on our own side is, because we can’t always be right/safe about these things. Easier said than done of course–as you speak so wonderfully about on your site!.

By: Havi (but blaming Selma)

Havi (but blaming Selma) — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 20:17:22 +0000

Wow. Hard. That sucks.

I’m sorry you had to go through all of this … and relieved that you’re figuring out smart ways to think about it.

My own personal rule (which you don’t have to adopt or anything) is: I don’t ask for feedback from anyone who isn’t one of my Right People.

Because, in my experience, the feedback of people who don’t get it isn’t worth very much. And it hurts. And it’s so often completely irrelevant. Oh, the stories!

Anyway, you are so right on so many things. It’s awesome.