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In the early 2000s, I chose to leave behind my successful career as an artist and transitioned into the field of graphic design. Eventually, I ventured into UX
by nbzso 4y ago
In the early 2000s, I chose to leave behind my successful career as an artist and transitioned into the field of graphic design. Eventually, I ventured into UX design and founded my own company that specializes in software development and design.
Initially, my success as an artist had made it easier for people to accept me into the community. However, when I decided to stop commercially painting, people labeled me as a crazy man who had no sense of direction. Only when money returned to my pocket did they embrace me once again as a success.
If your concern as an artist is solely based on gaining people's approval, then you are approaching it wrong. Creativity is an inherent quality that yearns to be liberated from within every individual.
Society needs the unconventional and daring ideas of artists, which they are not capable of producing due to the perceived risk involved in this lifestyle.
As an artist, your guiding principle should be a self-honesty that is driven by a clear egoistic purpose (in a good way). The most crucial aspect of being an artist is the production of artwork. If you let your art speak to the world, then the rest is merely a matter of marketing.
- noduerme 4y agoI relate to this. I still tell people I'm an artist, at first brush - as opposed to a UI designer or a coder. And it's okay, and true, because I still paint all night sometimes, still write music and record, even if it isn't for work. I don't think you have to identify yourself as your job...
- nbzso 4y agoI halted my artistic career due to the concept of identity. It dawned on me that I was tailoring my artwork to suit the preferences and expectations of others, which led to a profound realization. I made a conscious decision to disentangle my creative output from commercial validation and societal pressures.
- noduerme 4y agoI think one way or the other, avoiding narcissism is the ideal thing. I do commercial art a lot. I take pride in my work. I don't consider it "art", just creative communication. And at the same time I'm not sure I consider my fine art to be anything other than creative dreaming / practice. Contrary to what you're saying, I actually think it's good to take pride and get a little emotional lift in both cases when people praise your work... but I think a sense of self is knowing not to define your own worth by what other people think of your output, and by the same token if you do define your worth that way, it makes it impossible to be humble about your own shortcomings. But it's okay to write or paint for an audience. Making art in a void is a lonely place to be.
- nbzso 4y agoLoneliness may have two sides, but it's a powerful tool for self-discovery. My personal instincts at the time told me to shut down and embrace it, and I don't regret it because we're all the same, yet unique in our own way.