The question “Does it really matter what other people think of my artwork?” has been asked more times that I can count. And I hear where that question is coming from and I think it definitely deserves some time thinking through. As a full time artist, a big part of me says that it shouldn’t matter what OTHER people think of my artwork; the only thing that should matter is whether I as the artist think it’s good or not. That sounds right…doesn’t it?? To care what other people think just seems like it would completely destroy any wellspring of creativity, right? I definitely don’t want my creativity constrained.
Track with me here…does it matter if people like what I sing in the shower? Does it matter if people like what I made for dinner last night? Does it matter if anyone likes what I wrote in my journal last week? If any of these things matter, I probably need counseling for narcissism. Why would anyone even care?
But…
But caring about what people think about what I sing, cook or write is ridiculous because people are not paying me to sing (think God), cook or write. But since I am creating artwork to SELL TO PEOPLE, I absolutely HAVE to care about what other people think about my artwork. And I have never found that to be constraining my creativity at all. Quite the contrary, over the years as I listen to people and seriously take comments to heart as I’m selecting new ideas to work with or old ideas not to try again…the willingness to listen and let other people guide (not completely determine, but guide) my work has been so, so helpful.
I can hear some artist laugh derisively “Sell out!”. Maybe. I don’t feel like a sell out though. I’d be a sell out if I felt in my soul that I wanted to express this or that with my artwork and then did not because it would make me or my work unpopular. I’d feel like a sell out then. But I don’t have much of anything to express other than joy. That might sound so very sappy. I’m sappy. I absolutely love painting. I don’t remember anything I’ve been asked to paint that I didn’t have a blast in the process of creation. If that joy does not come out in a piece of art that I create, THAT will mean that I’m a sell out. I’ll leave the serious artistic subjects, the social commentaries and societal critiques to other artists. They’re valid and I enjoy their work, but that’s not who I am. And since I want studio visitors to BUY my work and not just stare at it, I think it’s rather important that I swallow my pride and listen to critique.
So does it matter what other people think of my art? No. Not at all (if I don’t expect to sell any of that artwork).
