I got an opportunity this week to be in an indie zombie film that was being shot in the woods about an hour away from my house... in a town called Middleville. I did not know this movie existed before I wrote this past chapter. It's creepy how much real life imitates art. I decided not to do it, not wanting to become a Mary Sue to a fictional character. Also because I was afraid my girlfriend would suddenly find out she was adopted.
Anyway, with regards to today's actual comic (does it still count as a comic if it's just one panel? I suppose it does), there's this weird idea that artists aren't true artists if having an audience is important to them, which is just snobbery (and probably a big dose of jealously). I loooooove drawing comics, but it's definitely more fun when I know people are actually reading them. Never feel like you're not a "true" artist/actor/writer/comedian/stripper/etc. because you want as much of an audience as possible!
Well on the one hand, art for art’s sake, el wooez, but on the other, while art doesn’t need to be seen to be inspirational or cool or eco-chic or whatever, it certainly does help to have an audience if you want it to actually inspire or set a trend or save the planet or whatever. Make art because you love it, sure, but wanting other people to love it just seems like sense to me. It’s a shame really, because nobody has ever read my stuff, so I could really get into that snobbery thing… although I suppose that actually finishing anything might help me there?
The criticism of artists who actually become successful has been and always will be inane. “OMG you can eat something besides ramen noodles now! You’re making a living doing what you love while I’m stuck in my awful job! Sellout!” Now, if an artist starts changing their art for no other reason than because it stopped selling as well, that’s probably open to some criticisms.
Yeah, I hate when people think you’re “selling out” if you’re actually making money doing what you love. Selling out is changing entirely to please whoever is giving you a paycheck, and even that is sometimes confused with naturally evolving as an artist. Basically, stupid art snobs are stupid art snobs.
I’m reading!
That’s all I have, it’s late.
I think art (especially illustration, but fine and personal included) is about communication. It’s about a message. If no one is there to hear that message, you’re just talking to yourself.
I agree with the sentiment that it doesn’t matter if you have an audience or not as long as you love what you’re doing. I think you also shouldn’t be pissy about WHO your audience is (like Dave Chappelle was) you should enjoy it when people enjoy what you do. I don’t understand people get up in arms about people drawing fanart, writing fiction, or pairing their characters, I would take it as a compliment.
I do think you should probably have an audience if you’re a stripper though. It would be more productive. Lol.
I think… there’s a difference between not being famous and being a crazy person in a forest. I mean, if Jackie became, let’s say a stage actress in a mid-sized city she’s still playing for audiences and getting the love and the applause and all that, but she’s not famous-famous. I dunno. Maybe I’m thinking too much.