What to do when comments sting đ
“There is no such thing as âgoodâ art. Thereâs only art that is good for you. Today. And the art that is good for you today, may not suit tomorrow.”â Christine Porter â Mastrius Master Artist
Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words can never hurt me.
Wait a sec, that canât be true! Most of us have learned – the hard way – that words can hurt, and the hurt can far outlast the pain of any broken bone.
The artist journey can be hard! As artists we tend to develop tough skin with time, donât we? We feel deeply so even well-meaning comments can sting. Like thisâŠ
âWell, thatâs interesting.â đ Iâve stopped counting how many times Iâve heard that comment about my work. But this is my fave⊠âAre you high when you paint?â Lol! Fortunately, this comment came from a collector who purchased a piece of mine⊠but it still stung!
What Iâve learned from my mentors is that people generally donât know what to say about artwork, but they want to ENGAGE with the artist!
They simply donât know how OR have the vocabulary to do it well.
Our job/privilege/responsibility is to not react but help them BUILD THEIR VOCABULARY. So, when less than favorable words are thrown your way, REPHRASE them and send them back. âNo, Iâm not high when I paint, but I can understand how my lyrical, celebratory work makes you think of that euphoric state of mind. How does my work make you feel?â
Be the change you want to see in the world. ClichĂ©âŠbut true!.
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As we make Mastrius the BEST community for artists, letâs make sure that weâre choosing our words well when viewing other artistâs work too. When I see a painting that doesnât resonate with me, I try to find 2 to 3 good things to say about it anyway. Itâs good practice, improves my ability to critique well, and itâs good for my heart. It makes the artist journey better for everyone.
Christine Porter (Master Artist and Mentor) has some good INSIGHTS on the topic as well as a few TIPS. Check it out HERE.
Happy painting!
~ Julie deBoer | Artist & Founder