Audio Version of the Chapters is Here.
“Don’t look back – something might be gaining on you.” – Satchel Paige
Chapter 4 – Fears About Others
Oh here we are, what are we to do about how others respond to our artwork? Yikes! More importantly, more frightening and more of a noose around the artistic neck, what about the TEACHER? I know you know that I am interested in you making your artwork. You know that I am in it to help you understand why something is working or why something isn’t working. “Say WHAT FKorb?” I am in the art teaching gig to help you become better at understanding the world, the world of the arts, the “rules” of art and how to live in, with, among and break them. Thank you for not taking the criticism as personal attacks, but rather as teaching tools to learn from. The final statement, just above Understanding is that you have “laid yourself bare by exposing your artwork,” and any critique or criticism can be unbelievably painful. You, however (and again), are in it more for the learning than you are for the pat on the back, and for all of that, I thank you.
Understanding…
The above photo shows what understanding is about on a personal level… AMAZINGLY, there are those who are in the arts who are still put off by artwork that is “different,” but more surprisingly by individuals that don’t “fit” into an easy category, or that they far too easily fit into a specific category. “You’re not like us; you’re weird; you’re crazy.” Yep… I am ok with that description of me (or you may be ok with that description of me, or yourself, or others…) and what do we do with that? I hope that, as many of the written critiques have stated about any artworks you have created, we can LEARN from that difference, that strangeness, that uniqueness and put it to good use. 1) The individuals that are “different” from you are full of great ideas and great abilities and great greatness, just like you are, 2) I can sure learn a lot about the world by surrounding myself with those that are “different” and lastly… well… C) imagine what you’d never learn, taste, hear, see, feel or smell if you didn’t allow yourself to experience differences? I’d never know the joy of a perfectly grilled piece of calamari.
While this is not necessarily what the chapter was about, there are things that you can learn here. Understanding may be something that, at this point in your art career, is something very different for you than for me. You are at a point where, unlike me, you cannot put a 5 year gap between what you did then and what you are doing now. Your artwork at the age of 12 or 13 is so very removed from what you are doing now at 17 or 18 (I hope so at least). For me, however, 38 and 42 aren’t all that different (although I can say that the look of Mr. Korb has changed dramatically – someone even told me I had a grey hair!). The work I am doing IS different, but is also very much the same. I can put a bit of distance and understanding between then and now. In addition… the work you are creating now is important to you and means a lot to you, but in the grand scheme of “ART” it is not the most Earth shattering work (nor is mine for that matter). You can connect to the 17 and 18 year olds, but to connect with the 27, 36, 45, 54 year olds who have more of an art history/worldly understanding. That being the case though, they may not be the connection you are looking for anyway. Don’t give up, do understand.
– FKorb
Art & Fear 
I’m gonna try to keep this one shorter than my other responses because I kinda covered it in my last reply. I love to make what makes me happy. Yeah my bowls do not always have perfectly even rims or my glazes do not have the color I wanted. I cannot always keep the glue from showing on my cardboard sculptures or the solder from sticking out from between metal I have married together. All of my works have little imperfections but they are entirely my imperfections. I do not mean ‘imperfection’ as a negative word but as a positive one because what’s the point of creation if it’s perfect? I should probably explain what that means to me which will make this longer but oh well. We try to make things as perfect as we can but things do not always turn out the way we want. If we made one thing and got it perfect on the first try, what would be the point of trying again and making more? It would not be fun because there would not be the chance to grow and improve because of failure. Do I fear others seeing what I create or fear what they might say about it? Yes I do. I really do but what helps me to continue to create is the happiness I get from making the things I love. Commentary is just another way to appreciate art and a way to improve it.
I think for me fear about others and them seeing my art is that they wont see my art the same as I see my art. I think part of the reasoning for that is that they didn’t go through the same process as I did when I made the art. I know I shouldn’t care what others think of me and my art but when its something that I’m passionate about. that’s part of the reason why I don’t like talking about my art.
The Fear of Others is the worst thing created. My experiences from the feedback of others have only effected my mental state that effect my artwork. My endless hours of crafting and the one hour of sleep I get a night just to finish the artwork, and once its time to present the artwork; Crickets. Feedback is highly appreciated; but what makes me want to give up is the lack of participation coming from the people you crave feedback from. But, normally I only get a pinch of it.
No one else is going to see my art the way I see my art. For a long time that bothered me because I’m more inclined to focus on the concept of the art rather than the art itself, but the average person doesn’t really care if my art has deep personal significance. They want to see something that looks nice. Sometimes art isn’t about looking nice. I don’t need people to think my art looks good or need them to like it if the purpose of my art isn’t to make something that they will like. Once again, I think in order to combat the “fear” that comes from making art, a person has to ask themselves why exactly they’re making art in the first place.
I do not fear others if they are better than me or not, of course I try to be the best but I am aware that there are billions of people in this world which means that there will always be someone that has more skill than I do. I realized that your artwork is made to impress you, not others. Although it is nice when you make people’s jaws hit the floor.
As an artist, I think it’s easy to be intimidated by the thoughts and opinions of others. Bu putting your art out in the world for others to see, it is easy to take what others say to heart, no matter if it’s good or bad. I feel like I do care about what others think of my work, but I also know that I make art for myself. I make art because it gives me a sense of joy and calmness. Just because someone else doesn’t like my art that I spend time making, doesn’t mean that I’ll stop making art. So, while judgment and opinions may be rough sometimes, it won’t stop me from doing what I love to do.
I think fears about others are most noticeable when I have a piece that I like but that I don’t feel a deep emotional attachment to. If a piece is crap, other people’s opinion isn’t a problem because if the comments are bad then I agree with them. If I really like a piece then I can usually just accept bad commentary because that piece is for me, and other people can go look at something else. But getting bad feedback on a piece that I think turned out well isn’t fun.
Almost anyone can relate to fearing the opinions of others. That is especially true when it comes to making art because art can involve a lot of applying your own personal opinions and emotions, and it can be harsh having someone not understand or misinterpret them. I did not apply a lot of my opinions or emotions to my concentration art, but I can still relate to the pressure of people asking questions about why you did what with your work.
I completely understand wanting to take criticism on your personal art like its a personal attack. I never really show my friends that don’t understand art my pieces. I don’t show them because they could never understand what went into making it. I can also see why people don’t want to lay their artwork out for others to see. I hate not being picked to be talked about. It feels awful when people “forget” about your art/opinion. People not caring about what you have to say is a very scary idea. It makes many nervous.
I think that I’m too worry about other’s thoughts on my art. I also have a fear of making art with a new technique or using a new material. I scare that if I using the new materials and my artworks will turn out to be unsuccess or fail. That is the most fear that I have and while I am reading the chapter, I found myself in it. The chapter is totally fit my problem.
This chapter was weird for me. I know the truth about what others think about art, but I guess I suppress those opinions. The chapter talks a lot about how we care what others think. We want approval and acceptance, which makes sense when looking at anyone. I am lucky to grow up in an environment where my parents care about my art as well as my friends. There was a period of time where I was getting lazy and making less art. My dad actually called me out on it. My parents, siblings, and friends all give me criticism I build off of. Therefore, the feeling of other people not caring is not as prominent for me. However, he talks about how we worry about being different. We show our true feelings through are art, and we are exposed to other’s criticism. I definitely face this, especially when people bullied me in elementary and middle school. They actually made fun of my art. They would make me feel my art is not art, which gets into acceptance. Of course, everyone wants to be accepted, and everyone should. I tried very hard to make “art” since my bullies convinced me I wasn’t. I then wanted approval. I wanted to show those bullies I can make art, and it can be really good! I actually, later in life, had someone who made fun of my art compliment me on something I created. Oddly enough, I wasn’t that happy. At that moment, I realized if I am close to my work and I like it, then I am making art. Acceptance and approval are a big part of art, but I feel you need to decipher the constructive criticism from the insults. Most importantly, you need to connect with your art, like the book said.
The objective of art is to create a piece that evokes thought and is visually appealing. However, in meeting these objectives, the artist gives the power of judgment to anyone who views the piece. In giving them this power, we expose our personal nature and passions, for art itself is innately personal. Knowing that others will view a piece and can have conflicting beliefs can create a sense of vulnerability and fear, inhibiting the artist from creating work. I believe that I no longer care about the opinion of the viewer other than criticism that can be considered in order to improve the next work. What is beautiful about art is that only the artist can create that same original idea and perspective in order to create another piece. Art is always in flux and always adapts to new innovative ideas.
I read my comment from last year and cringe at it because that is almost what it would be like in a perfect world, however it is NOT a perfect world and I do not have that confidence that I wish I did sometimes. I think EVERYBODY thinks about what other people are going to say when they see “it” but that is just a thought, whether they do anything about that is what you can then judge their character on.
I agree with multiple things talked about within this chapter including the idea that problems arise when we confuse others’ priorities with our own. As an artist, you have to accept the fact that not everyone will love your art as much as you do and may have strong opinions about what you should have done differently. Acceptance and approval are two large concerns I have with my art almost all of the time. Coming from a very supportive family, it frustrates me sometimes when I can’t find the constructive criticism I need when it comes to issues with my art. Of course I love having such a big support system, but I only discover different ways of handling things through my art or different aspects I need to focus on during the critiques with my classmates. Though I work better when I am making art alone at my house, I think that I need to seek the opinions of other people throughout the process to solve any uncertainties that may arise or different techniques I could be using in order to grow as an artist. However, I need to also keep in mind that I am making art for myself and not to meet the expectations or priorities of other people.
Our own fear against the judgement of our own work is because artists have a personal connection with the pieces they create. This work is a reflection of oneself, and for someone to criticize the work is for the person to criticize us. The fear we develop is because “you hand our audience the power to deny the understanding that you seek” (Bayles and Orland, 39). I am not overwhelmingly concerned with the thoughts of other people disputing my work, rather I am more afraid that I will not accept my piece of work as art. The perfectionism I face in every piece overwhelms any other need to be understood. The viewer may critique the piece as successful or unsuccessful, but for me as an artist to accept my piece is much more complicated. The chapter discussed how an artist hid his current work away from public to allow a chance for the art to be better understood by the maker and to allow the finished work time to find its rightful place in the artist’s heart and mind. This concept appealed to me more so, because I am constantly feeling that I am rushed through my work. My internal desire is to consume myself with a piece until the point of completion. However, this does not allow reflection, internal debates, or compromises to be reached throughout the process. Allowing the exposure to other people reflects the artist’s internal state into a tangible form. The connection between the two are the only true and pure communication and understanding.
When you make art, out of class or somewhere quiet. You still thrive the need of opinions of others. Some tend to create problems and some do not. As artists we do have the feeling that we are being watched and criticized about every move we make. Most times we feel good about our artwork when others are insecure about theirs. They feel more superior than the ones who are insecure. Some look form pan understanding of your work, but some want to overpower you and it gives them the power to hurt you.
For me, I want to please the audience because I know that is how you make money off of art; in other words I care what others think of my art. I like all feedback, but I prefer the negative feed back over the positive to learn what I can improve or change. Positive feedback is nice but doesn’t always tell me what I did to make the art “good”. This is not true for all feedback though; some people state what is working which does help me more then people simply saying, “This is good”. What surprises me about people is that they look for pieces that look the most realistic and say that they like that, but that is not how art works. Although realism is difficult and very time consuming, there also is abstract, which for some, is difficult to do but can look easy to the uneducated public. But this is not the only thing that effects me. Being someone that is very competitive, I strive to be the best around the people in my class. I have realized a while ago that I am the best, but only with one thing; being me. But even though we sometimes get an assignment to do an abstract piece, I will still try to make mine better then everyone else. It is simply something that helps me push myself.
Producing something that you put your name on when it is said and done is what I consider art to be. You put your name on it, you talk about it, you explain the message that you’re trying to convey, and ultimately, take full credit for it. You are the artist, or I am the artist, and our art means something to us individually. If you are creating art that means something to someone else, and not themselves, then tell THAT person to make art for themselves to save yourself the time and effort. All of the art that you create should be meaningful to you and the phrase “fear about others” should become irrelevant. Unless you’re being paid hourly or on a salary, make art you like and if other people don’t like it then so be it.
At the beginning of the chapter, the quote at the top, “Don’t look back- something might be gaining on you.” -Satchel Paige. I understand this quote because, like we have been told since being of a very young age, learn from your mistakes. One makes so many mistakes in there past and I wouldn’t say “run away” from them but rather walk with them side by side. Take your mistakes with you and own them because they make you who you are and they better you every single day whether its with art or the other aspects on one’s life. A part of me feels like I don;t have a particular “voice” in my work because I am all over the place instead of sticking with one style. On top of that, some times I feel like my art doesn’t get accepted and understood because most people can come up with a huge paragraph on why they have a single brush stroke down and here I am, without major description. Overall, I like my work but I wish it could be just a step better and even though many may not accept and/or like my art, I have to be the ‘one’ to accept it and like it.
I like to make art because I enjoy doing it. I enjoy the person I am when I’m in my artistic zone. For me, I tend to care a lot what people think of my art. But most of the time I will not change my piece because I made it the way I wanted it.Everyone looks for acceptance. It is in our nature to want to feel loved and wanted by the people around us. This applies to art and artists as well. Artists like myself want their art to be wanted. We want to feel accepted as artists. Acceptance and approval kind of go hand in hand, but I often find myself wanting someone acceptance of me and the art I create rather than their approval. I can’t say I ever recall striving for the approval of others because that would often mean sacrificing something that is or a part of me. I can say I agree with this chapter for the most part. The only minor detail that I don’t agree with is the word “fear”. I don’t fear not having peoples approval and understanding of why I do what I do. I simply consider their opinions and comments and then move on.
Each piece we make should be new and different. However, when put up alongside others works ours are need to be know to be our own. I used to struggle with this idea because I had not found myself in art. Everybody knows and has heard this 1,000 times but landscapes are my groove in art and I have found my way through them to be able to stamp all of my other artworks as my own even if they are not a landscape.
We are all different. That is something that everyone understands but does not accept. We try to convey ourselves in an expressive way of who we are and that is whatever we love to do. Then people with the understanding that we are all different call us weird and crazy. Sometimes I have a hard time overcoming that. However, that is just sometimes. It is only that because when I realize I am doing what I love and expressing who I am those words mean nothing because I am happy and since I spend most of my day in arts classes I am surrounded with people who understand that. So in my life there are not many people in my day to day surroundings that judge people for being themselves because they are all amazing and have found what they love to do also.
“Make work that looks like art, and acceptance is automatic.” This is an amazing phrase because it tells an artist that whatever the path they choose to be their journey in art it will turn out as art as long as they believe in themselves.
Approval is the idea of your artwork being liked. Not everyone will like your artwork. The key to that is that if you love what your doing that is what matters. What people say and think does not have to correspond with your own views, do not make any bad comments be what you capitalize on what your artwork is. Also if you do let that lead you in your art journey, make that the courage to push you forward. Take the bad reviews as constructive criticism and make changes as needed, but most of all make that make you happy in the face of the critics and prove them wrong. This is hard to do, this is something that is hard for everyone but it needs to be done. Also most likely your art will be liked by people so if that happens then disregard the previous portion but keep it in the back of your head.
-Mary Heebsh
“For the artist, the dilemma seems obvious: risk rejection by exploring new worlds, or court acceptance by following well-explored paths.”
This line really stood out to me and where I am artistically at this point. I’ve established a certain style for my art that I have accepted and that everyone who knows my art is familiar with, so going outside that is a little scary sometimes. Like a normal person, I enjoy when people enjoy my art. But it’s important that I make art for myself and try new techniques and mediums and subject matter instead of doing the same thing I’ve always done just because I know I’ll get a good grade or whatever. Experimentation might not always be received well, but in the long run, it’s what makes art great.
For starters, I make art because I enjoy it. I don’t care what others think of my art. If they like it, they like it and if they don’t, they don’t. Some artists don’t care if their art is approved or accepted by others. They had an idea, probably change a couple things, but in the end if they are satisfied with what they have created and opinions don’t matter. Then, there are artist that want people to accept and approve their art. They become so obsessed with a piece that they don’t stop working on it. Even though the artist may enjoy the work they created. The fear that others won’t like it makes them keep working harder or change the piece completely.
I make art because i enjoy doing it and it is something I love. I don’t necessarily take it personally if someone doesn’t like my work. I like to hear what is wrong with my piece because i can improve on the next one. I do fear i am not good enough to make it on the next level. College or even the real world. I want to make artwork that people like, but it is hard to plan out an interesting composition, make the piece how you want it to look and then also have others happy with it. I like my art work but i don’t think others would buy the piece. I am struggling with this and i hope to push myself further.
When I create artwork I for the most part do it for myself. I do care what others have to say, any constructive criticism is nice and if I used a new approach I like to know how others see the product because the artist and the viewer have very different opinions of most works.I find myself generally looking to other artists for input, viewers often look at the image rather than the layers and the process, not to say that the image isnt important but artists tend to look more deep than the surface. However if i ever put my work on display I will value all of the opinions that people have on my work. I am the one of two people that encourage me to create artwork, and that is enough for me. If people want to see my work they can but like I said earlier, I make most of it for my own benefit.
When I make artwork, I always start out trying to make it for me. However, it seems that it never ends that way. I always seem to take other people’s considerations and opinions into my artwork rather than my own. I believe that when I do make artwork solely from my own thoughts, it does turn out better. That rarely seems to happen though. The AP judges scare me a bit to be honest, because the art that I am producing now is some of the best art I think I will ever produce. I hope they will agree, but then again, I need to learn how to be happy with my art, and not for other people’s pleasures.
As difficult as this may be to hear or understand – you are correct. Make the art you are happy with. If you are in the art world to SELL your art, you may have to make some considerations to make art that others will buy. If you are in it to not worry about selling your art, well then, make no considerations to others. That is good too. Whichever way you go, make art and stand behind it! This is a challenging world we are in and we need to learn to live in it – making our art that does (or does not) please others. This is the best art you are making now and keep making it!
I definitely need to care less about what others think of my artwork. Right now I feel like I am making art for the audience and that shouldn’t be the case. I should be making art that I like and that I want to do. I think when I do make art for myself it will be stronger and in turn the audience will probably like it better. On the other hand, though, I do need to take the AP judges into consideration when making my art.
I enjoy your final comment. That said… the art that you make, that you enjoy, that you work to learn from is going to be developed and strong… aspect s of which the AP Judges WILL respect and recognize (I hope). The DEVELOPMENT of the work you do FOR yourself will be strong and will show that you are in it for YOU and YOUR development as a visual artist. If you go into design, photography, drawing… whatever, the results of your developing your images will be seen in the future.
Quite frankly I don’t care what others think about my work. If they dig it and understand what i’m trying to convey thats great. When I make art that has meaning to me, I am my biggest critic, not other people.
It is nice to hear others ones work though. No?
I really do see the perils of being different in art making having a lot of positive and negative effects, we all have our own views on said sides but I do think that it really does effect how and what we create in our art. Its a pretty normal human thing, nobody likes being judged. This goes hand in hand with the creating “New” art that has “New qualities” and is interesting but still keeping the idea or techniques original. I also really felt the comment at the bottom of page 38. The bit about being singled out and ridiculed for being different. These three things are some things I really think artists have a constant internal war with themselves over. As far as me being worried about other people’s critics on my works, I value them to an extent but I also think that I could live without them. Perhaps a group brainstorm would be more beneficial to get more ideas flowing. I do like input on my work and I care what other people think about it unless it is a piece that has personal meaning to me, in which case I dont care at all. Reasoning behind that being that it is MY self expression and they are indulging themselves to a personal bit of me.
Art is like our everyday life. We are all critiqued for every reason. What we wear, movies, our vehicles, ectra.. and than our own art. I look at my work and I see what I like. If people don’t like it that’s fine. I don’t make art to impress others, to show off a skill or to prove anything. I honestly would rather not let people see my work. To be honest I don’t like hearing others opinions about my work because I know that I can do better at it or it needs work… All I want to be seen in my art work is me. I want the people to be like hey that’s Deliahs work because…
While in the process of making art, I try to convince myself that I don’t care what other people think, so I can just make art. and honestly, I don’t know if I really do care so much. Sitting in critics for both Ap and Advanced drawing, I’ve seen myself only really care what people are saying when I myself don’t like my work. Mainly because I want to know what to do better. And when I do like my work, while I absolutely still listen to the critics and look for what they’re saying, however it doesn’t really affect me if its negative. I just want to be happy with it. I guess that mostly I see that as I’m still learning and so is everyone else. I haven’t had experience showing my work to anyone besides family and classmates, and actually hearing other people’s responses. I guess I’m just enjoying the ride right now.
Later on, I know I’ll want to be accepted, because lets face it, I’ll want a career. And while I wont be making drawings or paintings, I’ll still want my bill board or my package to be accepted. The part in the chapter where it talked about making you’re art vs. making society’s art really stuck out to me, it got me wondering whether all those graphic designers, and bill board designs, and product packagings are really THEIR art, or just their art that pays the bills. It got me wondering how advertisements and everything would look if the artists made the work their authentic work vs. conforming to the society.
The whole part of understanding really hit me also, mainly because I always see so many ways to view art, that I never know what the artists wants to say. In a way though, I think that’s really the magic of art. That you can use you’re subject matter to convey an experience you had, but someone else can see something completely different. It’s all based on that persons journey, and what experiences they’ve had leading up to the moment they’re standing in front of your work. To me personally, if someone was able to understand something more about a particular experience, or relive a particular memory from my art work, even if it wasn’t the message I was trying to send… It would still be a successful understanding. That to me is the magic of art and why I am so drawn to it.
My perception of needing approval in art making…
Ultimately, when I’m making art I’m doing it to quench this drive for creation that I’ve got. I don’t make art with the goal of gaining recognition or acceptance from people. However, when I’ve finished making something that I’m proud of or that I think someone might like, I enjoy sharing the stuff I’ve made. When other people acknowledge, approve of, or intently study the stuff I’ve made it somehow becomes more real to me. I guess that’s because I feel like the purpose of art, whether it be written/drawn/filmed/whatever is to connect people. There’s something deep in a person’s personal creation that touches a place of understanding which people cannot easily reach through conversation. Maybe my biggest fear then, about art approval is that my art won’t speak to anyone, or no one will get it on a primal level.
Approval: The last entry in the chapter “spoke” to me the most be cause it is something I am going through right now: approval, or being encouraged to continue making artwork. One thing said that I really understood was “For artists who thrive on confrontation, rejection is not a problem, but for many others the constant wear and tear takes a toll. For those artists, survival means finding an environment where art is valued and art making encouraged.” In some ways, the people I surround myself are very similar to me, but other times, its like I don’t even know why I hang out with some of these people because they don’t care for or understand art like I do. I don’t feel encouraged to keep making art when I am around them, although, when I walk in to my studio space at home, or the art rooms at school, I forget about them. I am then surrounded by people like me. I feel comfortable. But when I am out of the art rooms are my studio space, I feel discouraged. I have people tell me all the time “art making is not a real profession. You have a one and a million shot in making it big.” This drives me insane when people say this because as they are saying this, they are holding a soccer ball or volleyball, and they have just as slim of a chance making it big in sports as I do in art.
Anyway, this section was about approval, and something else I found interesting was the philosophy that you can either “do something or you can’t”. For example the judge of the pianists either gave the “contestants” a 0 or 100, clearly stating either they can play, or they can’t. I think this statement powers people to succeed. If someone told me I couldn’t make art to save my life, I would continue to work at it till I got that persons acceptance because it would drive me crazy that they didn’t like my work! Art is my number one passion, and while I will never stop, I do get discouraged by people not approving of it, but I will never stop, but as long as people discourage me, it will fuel my fire.
I kinda feel like this is a bunch of jibberish to someone else, but in my head it makes sense!
I feel like I do not really care what others will think of my art while I am working on it, but when it comes time to do critiques I care a little more. Seeing my work up with everyone elses’, I want people to see what I see in my work. I don’t really think anyone else except for my classmates and maybe people around school will see my work if it gets hung up. And I’m okay with that. I’m in the stage where I am still learning and getting to be a better artist. Later in life I think I will care more about what others think because I plan on having more people see my work and I will be to the point where I have learned enough and I know what I want to do with my art.
Thank you…