Looking for design inspiration?   Browse our curated collections!

Hush

Terri Meredith

Blog #13 of 17

Previous

|

Next

March 16th, 2015 - 10:52 AM

Blog Main Image
Hush

"I won't change my mind...but I will shut my mouth...I will HUSH"

I mean that I will not be responding to any social network criticism that is not specifically posted on MY ACCOUNT/PAGE/WALL. There is a broad audience because of the internet and I will need to turn a blind eye to that which does not concern me...so, I will...

HUSH

The vow I'm making to my bestest, after getting read by her about my response to "unsolicited criticism" from strangers. She wants me to brush it off, I could tell her that I will. That will be a lie. I will always be incensed by someone who I barely know, WHEN I HAVE NOT KNOWINGLY PLACED MYSELF IN AN ENVIRONMENT FOR JUDGEMENT (i.e.; competition, gallery, evaluation by creative peers, etc.), giving their breakdown (publicly especially) of what I've done wrong "in their opinion" on a piece. Here's how I look at it, whether right or wrong, this is my take:

1) I am my absolute toughest critic. I am usually not satisfied with many of my pieces that others have lauded. It doesn't get much rougher than me assessing my own work. I rarely need help in that regard.

2) When you don't know an artist's goal, you risk offending them with your interpretation of what you feel the work is lacking, or by describing where they took a wrong turn. You may be used to the "realism" of my work, and comment that a piece where I implemented cubism (Thanks Kathryn ;) is not on par with my other creations. Here's the gotcha though, it was not intended to be. You have now spoken up, completely ignorant that MY goal WAS met.

3) I have professional peers, mentors, and friends - whose work and opinions I hold in the highest regard (Love to George, HBCreative, Antoine Mitchell, Lateef A. Reid, Antonia Jenae', Sancha McBurnie, and Iowan Stone-Flowers) and when I go to them and ask "what am I doing wrong with this piece??!! HEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEELP?!" although they fear for their lives, because they know how I am, they will answer me truthfully

4) There is a saying "If you have nothing nice to say...." keep scrolling. I am of the opinion that people on social networks would be better off if they took that to heart. It is absolutely not necessary to comment on what you dislike when you can ignore it. I have never gone to a department store, and while purchasing a blouse that I like - show one that I thought was a hideous pattern and said to the clerk "just wanted you to know, I think this blouse is hideous. I mean, I have no intention of buying it, I will instead be purchasing this beautiful one that suits my taste...but it's important that I let you know this one right here sucks." (blink...blink)

This blog is where you get me, my artistic musings unfiltered. Right or wrong, you will know me as an artist.

While I may never reach the stage where I can brush off the critiques of self appointed review committees...I promise her that I will HUSH. She sees something in my ways that I can't and sometimes you have to take the advice of the ones you're blessed to call "friend", even when you're not sure you agree.

So, I will HUSH. ;)

Comments

Post a Comment

There are no comments on this blog.   Click here to post the first comment.