Artistry vs Industry
We are all born artists. Every human has the capacity for creativity, and as children we have this unbridled freedom to express our inner aesthetic. Mostly because no one is telling a kindergartener that their drawing lacks composition and their color choices fall flat.
When we are young, artistry is encouraged not judged. The exploration of imagination is celebrated and applauded by parents who are amazed by your singing of the ABC’s and hang your pictures on the refrigerator. When you are a young kid, no one is judging you, or commenting that the feet you drew are disproportionate to the length of the legs. They don’t say that your scaling is skewed and smiles don’t curve at that extreme of an angle. I have seen a lot of shitty drawings from kids or had to listen to some crappy version of Twinkle Twinkle Little Star where they forget half the worlds, but I still make them feel good for trying!
As a child the act of creating art is an end in and of itself, and the outcome is less relevant.
But at some point, the art you make starts to be considered either “good” and “bad.” The opinions of others infiltrates what you think of your creation, and then ultimately your creative process. There comes a point where the audience begins to matter more than just the simple act of making.
Of course, not all people who were discouraged from becoming an artist lets that stop them from pursuing their dreams. There are many examples of those who persevere past the disapproval of others and turn out to be epic socially relevant masters of their field. But that first time someone judges your work, and isn’t impressed by what you have done, can be soul crushing.
Not everyone can make a living off their art, not should they, but I feel like the fact that art programs are being cut out of our public educational system is more about preparing people for a lifetime of working in the industrial field then there not being enough interest or money to support the arts. The less connected we are to our own inner artist, the more complacent we will be in jobs that having nothing to do with creation. It is not like you will ever see someone telemarketing for free in their off hours, but you will see someone singing their heart out despite the fact they can’t commodify their talent. The passion to live your art is something that I hope everyone can maintain in at least some aspect of their lives despite this seemingly deliberate effort to eliminate artistry.
Munchee ART! The picture on the top right is obvi a buffalo running in the prairie, the top left is an alien space ship landing and the mother spirit floating back into the stars to warn the others, the bottom left is a self-portrait, and the bottom right is some soft core porn.
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