WOW! Am I upset!

I just got the July / August 2010 issue of Airbrush Action Magazine and saw that they have a new feature section in the magazine called “Strokes of Geniuses” … to be frank, I was pretty excited about it. The idea is that every issue an airbrush “genius” will be asked to share tips, tricks, or advice: One for beginners, and one for Pros.

AWESOME! Some direct attention to the n00bs! Yay!

I’m reading along, all tickedy-boo, and then I get to the last artist who is very well known and very talented. I met him once (if saying “hey, I love your work” as he was on his way to the washroom counts as meeting him) and he is totally a nice guy, I am sure of it.

But man alive, what a downer!

Seriously, you’re advice for beginners is:

“[Start early]. When you’re still young you have time to hone your skills.”

and

“Don’t quit your day job; you might starve or you might not succeed if you don’t got the right stuff.”

UHHGG!!

Well I guess if your older than 25 and you’re interested in learning to airbrush, you can just pack up that dream and go… no sense in wasting your time, right? Oh,ya, and if you have some pipe dream about becoming a pro, you know, like getting better over time, don’t quit your day job. You’ll just embarrass yourself.

I am SO sick of hearing this stuff from artists. I really really am. This rant is not pointed solely at the artist in this magazine… I have heard it from MANY artists and it pisses me off!

I’m sure in this case it was all quoted out of context and that is not what he meant at all…..

….but to all you other snot nosed, stuck up, better-than-thou, arrogant, born-perfect, naturally-able artists who feel like it is your purpose on this planet to take the wind out of any budding artist’s sails I say this:

BITE ME!!

Here’s what I have to say to beginners:

1. If you have a dream, go for it and don’t let anyone stand in your way.

2. If you are 80 years old and want to learn to airbrush – all the power to you and good for you dammit! Way to live life to the fullest. And to those naysayers that say “Do you know how old you’ll be by the time you learn to airbrush?” you tell them “Ya, I’ll be the same age that I’ll be if I don’t”.

3. EVERYONE, do you hear me, EVERYONE was a beginner once. I don’t know why it is so hard for people to remember this once they are professionals. They weren’t born that way… allow yourself the opportunity to be a beginner!

4. Anything you do that makes you happy is worth doing whether it is good or not. If you create total and utter crap but you enjoyed every minute of it – keep doing it honey! Art is for you. And if people want to buy your “utter crap” good for them … obviously something about it appealled to them.

And about this “Don’t Quit Your Day Job” crap…

Has anyone on the face of the earth ever uttered that phrase and not meant it as an insult?

It’s insulting. It just is.

I could (and did, but deleted it) write a friggin’ dissertation on all of the negative connotations that one little phrase has.

How about being a bit supportive of your fellow artist… How about saying “take precautions before you consider quitting your day job” …. was that so freaking HARD!?!?! Ug.

Here’s the thing, Guys…

Art should be fun. Art should not be a competition. Yet, many artists treat it as though it is … and the really crappy part is that sometimes they hit us when we are most vulnerable – when we are just learning.

And what is worse, is the better you get, the worse “they” get.

I understand that the art world is not an easy place to make money in … and that I understand that many artists make their entire living off of their art and therefore, it would only seem normal for them to discourage rising competition or, make claims that the art produced by other is not as good as their art.

The problem is, in doing this sort of thing, even if they mean well, they are not discouraging their competetion, they are discouraging the people that look up to them and who idolize them and the people that would have spread the gospel about how amazing their work is…. at least that is how it was for me.

Over the years I have looked up to dozens and dozens of artists and, it never ceases to amaze me the crap that comes out of their mouths sometimes:

  • One artist, who I admired and raved about constantly and referred other people to when they requested work from me that I was incapable of called me a “two-bit wannabe” and based on that one little comment I didn’t paint for months.

  • Another artist, who I knew was a little eccentric but totally admired, told a room full of bright-eyed teenagers that art was a losers bet. I watched as the enthusiasm these kids (and myself) had gained over the last three days evaporated into thin air.

  • Another artist I used to admire and rant and rave about bitches about the stupidity of her own students on twitter. Wow. Can’t wait to take a class from her so she can bitch about me to her 20,000 followers.

  • Another artist I travelled hundreds of miles to learn from said “If you haven’t made it by now, you probably won’t ever make it” in reference to my age and the years that I had been painting. Thanks Buddy. That was super helpful.

Lastly…

In your quest to learn airbrushing, if you ever meet someone who is supportive, understanding and helpful in your pursuit of your art take the time to tell them that you really appreciate that aspect of them. Tell them that they have made a raving-customer for life out of you without you even buying a thing. Tell them that it meant a lot to you and tell it to them often.

New artists need to teach exisiting artists that we are important to their business and to thier good names. New artists need to help existing artists realize that there is room for all of us.

New artists need to remind existing artists that creative ventures come from the heart, not from the ego.