Keep art to yourself

Today I went out to lunch with one of my past older schoolmates, and she was to register as an architect. However, her real interest lies in painting actually, and she wants to be a painter. She said, that was really her career, not being an architect.

She should have shown her paintings to others but she actually kept all the works to herself. She didn't really want to publicize what she did, and she mentioned something about publishing.

The reason why she was not to publish her paintings, either posting them up or photographing them and showing to others, is that comments from the public would lead to many undesirable effects. Art is something personal, and may not be subject to different comments from the audience. She told me that someone once said that publication was the death of an artist.

Comments should help an artist, assuming that they are from people who can practise self-discipline.

Being talked about isn't something nice at all sometimes. I have far too much experience in this. You know, I do digital art and posting my pieces up is just too easy. Sites like deviantART encourage people to submit and receive comments. They started from a good intention and the functions should help the artists in a good way, but it is all assumed that the people who comment can practise self-discipline.

Unfortunately, many of the people in our world aren't that considerate. Togther with the fast speed over the Internet, things are fast food and you can't expect the others to think too much before saying anything. Quickly, bad comments start to spawn all over the place, no matter they are from good intention or jealousy. One thing is certain: if you don't like it, you should shut up. Ironically, I guess only 10% of the world know this and really shut up when they come across something they are not into.

Publication is the death of many artists.

When an artist faces these comments, especially the ones that accuse him or her for something that he or she didn't intend, one can imagine a hot discussion would commence in an uncontrollable way (for most of the time). In the end, an artist will be easily stray away in order to fit into the general taste, unconsciously or consciously.

My friend said, if you were so confident with your work, and if you were so sure about what you were doing, you didn't really need any comments. Yes, that is when you were a good artist already or even a maestro. In a way I have to agree. I don't think I am a master, but I guess I don't need any more comments or suggestions from people especially those from deviantART who are mostly abusing their "freedom of speech". I only need wise words from masters that I admire, I guess. At least, Shakespeare probably didn't need comments from others every time he made a masterpiece.

By the way, I just can't believe France lost. Sigh...