05-19-2017, 08:53 AM
@John:
Sometimes John, your eloquence approaches Shakespearean levels ;).
It is inevitable that we fail occasionally but for me, that knowledge doesn't remove the fear of failure.
My personal opinion on this is that if you take the average person and put them through the right training, they will be able to get there. For me, getting good at art is not about a god given talent, but about hard work. Talent is a bonus and will help a person get there faster. Now I'm not saying this to make you feel good about yourself, but from what I've seen, you definitely have more talent than the average person off the street. Don't give up man.
For me, the answer to this is paradoxical. A bit of a disclaimer here, what follows is my personal opinion and open to being shot down in flames.
People who answer "yes" have a deep passion for art for it's own sake and for these people, fame and fortune is of secondary importance. They will paint when the sun is shining and they will paint when they sky is grey. They will be happy when they discover new techniques and they will practice with patience and dedication. These people paint for no reward other than the joy they take from moving the brush over the canvas. As a consequence these people are more likely to achieve higher levels of mastery.
People who answer "no" will value fame and fortune above doing art for it's own sake. These people are more likely to get frustrated and impatient with art. They will be happy to paint when the sun is shining, but they will have to rely on their strength of will to paint when the storm clouds of life gather. These people paint because it is their pathway to fortune. These people are less likely to achieve higher levels of mastery.
So my theory in a nutshell is this: If a person would still draw and paint even if they knew they would never achieve mainstream success, they are more likely to achieve that success, but it is only of secondary importance to them. If a person would stop drawing and painting if they knew they would never make it in the mainstream, they are less likely to achieve that success even though it is of the utmost importance to them.
Personally, I am working on myself inwardly to become someone who would do art even if I never made it. To savor the journey above the destination. Do I still dream of one day being able to make a living from my art? Of course I do. But I really believe that to achieve that dream, I actually have to let go of it and grab hold of a deep love of the art journey. In that way I will be more likely to get there. Even if I don't, at least I would have had a blast along the way.
Anyway, enough of me chuntering on, thanks for replying anyway John :).
Quote:We all eat our balls.
Sometimes John, your eloquence approaches Shakespearean levels ;).
Quote:Question is: if it's inevitable, why should it bother you?
It is inevitable that we fail occasionally but for me, that knowledge doesn't remove the fear of failure.
Quote:Basically what that guy said was I should just quit art altogether. No company will ever hire me and better to spare myself from that misery.
My personal opinion on this is that if you take the average person and put them through the right training, they will be able to get there. For me, getting good at art is not about a god given talent, but about hard work. Talent is a bonus and will help a person get there faster. Now I'm not saying this to make you feel good about yourself, but from what I've seen, you definitely have more talent than the average person off the street. Don't give up man.
Quote:Is it still worth it to do draw and improve my craft even if I am bound to fail forever?
For me, the answer to this is paradoxical. A bit of a disclaimer here, what follows is my personal opinion and open to being shot down in flames.
People who answer "yes" have a deep passion for art for it's own sake and for these people, fame and fortune is of secondary importance. They will paint when the sun is shining and they will paint when they sky is grey. They will be happy when they discover new techniques and they will practice with patience and dedication. These people paint for no reward other than the joy they take from moving the brush over the canvas. As a consequence these people are more likely to achieve higher levels of mastery.
People who answer "no" will value fame and fortune above doing art for it's own sake. These people are more likely to get frustrated and impatient with art. They will be happy to paint when the sun is shining, but they will have to rely on their strength of will to paint when the storm clouds of life gather. These people paint because it is their pathway to fortune. These people are less likely to achieve higher levels of mastery.
So my theory in a nutshell is this: If a person would still draw and paint even if they knew they would never achieve mainstream success, they are more likely to achieve that success, but it is only of secondary importance to them. If a person would stop drawing and painting if they knew they would never make it in the mainstream, they are less likely to achieve that success even though it is of the utmost importance to them.
Personally, I am working on myself inwardly to become someone who would do art even if I never made it. To savor the journey above the destination. Do I still dream of one day being able to make a living from my art? Of course I do. But I really believe that to achieve that dream, I actually have to let go of it and grab hold of a deep love of the art journey. In that way I will be more likely to get there. Even if I don't, at least I would have had a blast along the way.
Anyway, enough of me chuntering on, thanks for replying anyway John :).
“Today, give a stranger one of your smiles. It might be the only sunshine he sees all day.” -- H. Jackson Brown Jr.
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