Defining Your Competition

Personally I don't feel any competition because with painting, every painter has a signature style and that makes all the difference when someone is looking for a painting. Here on the Gulf Coast, EVERYBODY paints shorebirds and marine life. That is what sells, but each painter is so different that you can look at a painting and tell who the artist is before you look at the signature.

That makes sense, and probably not too much competition here for you from the Gulf Coast area, either. I wonder if Leah feels any competition - her subject matter is so unique to her.

I doubt if she does, Leah's work is so uniquely hers.

No, I don't feel like I'm competing with anyone else except myself. No one can capture what I see in my own mind but me. And sometimes I'm not even able to!

Digitals, too, are so unique. The abstracts, the textures, -- I suppose because no two are alike it would simply boil down to which artists' style and vision someone connects with.

Gulf Coast and no mermaids? to go along with "shore birds" or even a few "snow birds" soon.

Yes Roy, I forgot to mention the mermaids and boats!

Not competitive, though do admire the talents and abilities of others.

I think if I felt competitive, I would no longer enjoy it...

I haven't met many folks that I am really in competition with - there are a few on FAA - we all have the same audience - but our competition is against those that don't do what we do but show up on the non-representational digital abstract pages anyway

For some, competition in art can feel too much like work, since we're such a competitive society as a whole. The fun and magic of creating can disappear.

For a painter, signature style is more important that subject matter.

Plenty here that I admire, & aspire to reach their heights. But competition just doesn't enter the equation - we just don't fit in eachother's shoes.

It's my nature to complete. Don't think it solely a painter's trait. Just some people like to be challenged and enjoy completion.

When I see someone's works better than mine either paintings or photography, I don't see as competition more as inspiration to make me tried harder and get better.

I don't feel like I am in competition with others with my paintings, people either like them or they don't...and the bottom line is that I paint for myself. My subject matter is consistent (animals and landscapes), but my style varies with my creativity.

If I felt I had to compete with other painters, I would stick to one signature style and probably only one or two mediums instead of the huge range I work with, but that would stifle my creativity.

But I do aim to make money from my art so that I can keep doing it, so there is absolutely competition in a business marketing sense to make sure that what I am selling - originals, fine art prints, coffee mugs, t-shirts, phone cases etc gets seen by the people who are out looking to spend their money on 'stuff'.

like Alfred, other artist works inspire and motivate me... my competition is with myself and my previous works...

Some great inputs. I think a better way of me looking at it is, as long as an individual is happy with what they are producing there is no competition.

"For some, competition in art can feel too much like work, since we're such a competitive society as a whole. The fun and magic of creating can disappear."

That's exactly why I don't like to get competitive with Art. Art is my fun time, my escape from the rat race. I don't want to ruin the magic by turning it into competition. If I want to get competitive I'll go take up a sport.

--Roz Barron Abellera

I agree with the non-competitive, I never though of doing art as a competition...even in the contests I don't really see it as that...lol especially in the contests. That would take the joy out of doing it.

I think with painters it's a different ball game. Many artist do plein air - where groups of artists get together and paint the same scene. It's fun and can be a good learning tool as you see other artists work. At the end of the day, the same scene painted by 20 different artists will look different on each canvas. Then it becomes a matter of preference to the buyer - which style, palette, size and so on. I enjoy the company of fellow painters and never feel competitive with them although in reality we are in the same juried shows, galleries, etc.

I think there are the different mind set with painters and photographers, photographers constantly wanted to upgrade their cameras, lens and soft wares to keep up with other photographers and painters can live without too much upgrade or changes. I still use the same inexpensive paint brushes I had since I was in art school, some 40 years ago, I still use the same brand of watercolor paper, paints.

One can believe that any one with a camera is your competition or you can develop
a unique style or vision.

I track my views and sales and really all possible stats quite extensively, both here and on my commercial website, and I am always working to improve my numbers. I suppose that is a form of competition, but really I'm just trying to outdo myself. I always need to improve my numbers, and by keeping track of my progress, I can tell just how well I am doing.

I don't know how I could compete with anyone here, unless it's to become more seen internally.

There are members I am intimidated by, but only because of the volume and the consistent quality the seem to be able to produce. I've never been a volume producer, but that is because of what my market is, who my buyers are, and what they expect of me.

-YoPedro

As for a "Need to Upgrade". It's never been a part of my makeup. I use a camera until it falls a part. I didn't replace my EOS 1d until the shutter failed for the 3rd time, and my repairman recommended it was time to upgrade.

I agree with the non-competition mindset, although Alfred makes a good point about photographers and there equipment. For me competition has more to do with an insecure underlying feeling one might have about oneself and therefore engages in competition seeking some external validation to compensate , rather than something that can drive one to create better art. I personally don't have time for that, I view art talent as a God given gift and therefore nothing to be competitive about.

Mario, well said.

Don't think I'm the slightest bit competitive. And I've been on lots of shoots with other photographers, all of us shooting the same things ... and I've never felt anything but encouragement from them and excitement FOR them when someone else gets a great capture.

I agree with Alfred's comment about being inspired by other artists' works. I just spent maybe the last hour looking through the recent sales pages while I sipped my coffee, visiting individual images, leaving my notes of congratz and frequently wandering off into the artist's portfolio and finding other gems. I'm genuinely happy for each of them and their sales ... and yep, I was very inspired by many. Competitive?? No. A tiny bit envious of their skills, maybe, lol!!! But I'm enjoying the creative journey ... hope it never ends.

I don't know it if this is the right way to look at it or not, but I generally don't see competition here because in the end it's what the buyer is looking for...the eye of the beholder...and we can't control that. 3 or 5 or 10 of us could take the same photo at the same location at the same time. We would each go and process the photos and upload...and they would all be similar. Some would be processed better, some would have better technique, some would look radically different based on individual style, some might print smaller or bigger depending on the camera....but in the end, if 5 people came to buy they might all buy different based on their wants and needs. The guy looking for the phone case doesn't care that it doesn't print big. The designer looking to fill a wall but needs a color to match the sofa might pick differently. And the person that loved that location from childhood might be touched by one that technically is subpar but moves him for some unknown reason.

Just my view!

Matt

I admit to having a competitive streak and I don't consider it to be one of my better traits. When I catch myself feeling that way, I try to remove myself from the situation. For example, I had to turn off notifications on a facebook page (photography club) because of one of the members constantly (I mean several times a day) posting about "winning" this contest or that. I had the (unhealthy) urge to "one-up" him, so instead I just turned off the page and now I no longer see his bragging posts. Whenever I feel competitive with another photographer, I take it as a sign that I am losing sight of why I do this and I need to reconnect with my passion and vision. :-)

I find those having to compete are somewhat insecure. I avoid competition in photography, it's a losing battle. There is only one me, and for me it's about connection. Try not to get wrapped up in what others are doing.

I feel competition is healthy for a number of reasons.

1. Innovation.

2. Customer service

3. Complacency

4. Understanding you market

5. Education

Competition? Heh! I figure that I am the competition.

Egotistical? Probably, but I do the best I can do and tend not to "worry" about what others, even those in my niche markets, are doing.

~ Bill
~ USPictures.com

competition in anything - including art and photography - is not for the insecure. You must be able to give and take. competition helps you stretch, to create better work. you also must be prepared to lose. If you are insecure in your work or in your 'ego' - it might be best to just travel the road alone, taking each step one day at a time.