http://sethgodin.typepad.com/seths_.....he-artist.html

I feel like this is something not a lot of people understand or maybe it just gets lost along the way. I see far too many artists out there who get hung up on ideas or fantasies, I have to have a lot of followers, I have to draw what people like, etc.

They get stuck on these idea's like "I have to be popular to be a good artist" or "everyone should like my work". They end up hurting themselves, lashing out because things don't live up to their expectations, and in the end they burn out and give up.

I want every one to take a step back, take a few deep breaths, and think about what it actually is to be an artist?? like really think about it down to it's core. It's not the art itself that's special, anyone can learn to draw, or paint, or make a fursuit, or anything else for that matter.

We are storytellers, it's our job to take that little seed of an idea someone has and bring it to life, to put a smile on their faces. Our industry is all about that service not the end product. What you make, it's quality, your style, how popular you are, none of that matters.

None of that is what puts a smile on the clients face, there are probably 1000 other people on this site alone who could do the exact same thing you do.

So what makes your art unique?? What makes the person who receives it feel special??

You do, the fact that you made it, that you enjoyed making it, or you took an extra few hours to talk them through their ideas, that's what matters. If you aren't happy, if you aren't truly enjoying what you do then walk away.

Seriously, just take a break. If you need a week, 6 months, a year, whatever it is to figure things out, that's what you need.



(on a side note I think this is the last one of these I'm going to post, I don't think anyone bothers to read them)