Opinions Usually Don't Help.

Maybe the composition of the photo is more interesting than the composition of the painting.

It's possible.

why would you care about anyones opinion anyway - considering your level and all?

maybe people don't care about your art on social media, or don't know why you posted the image in the first place. or maybe they don't understand the image you posted above, or that's their level of understanding. maybe you didn't ask for opinions on the first piece but you did on the second. who knows...


---Mike Savad
MikeSavad.com

I appreciate them and accept their judgement but will never take them to heart or apply them to my artistic process

That to me is a huge mistake. Part of learning and improving involves digesting what others have to say. Especially when those opinions are offered by people with a background that supports their knowledge. Doesn't mean you have to incorporate all of it, but unless you accept some, your art will be stagnant.

The notion of the perspective should give you some ideas on other approaches you can take with your art.

Chuck you're right. I now know to take perspective into account when I use social media. Guess opinions aren't completely worthless.

Mike you have a point too. Could even be the time of day I posted.

Maxwell, you are on to something. People like to see the process behind the work. The more your share about your process the more interested they will be in your work.

Edward- Yes this is something that I've learned the hard way after posting around 40 of my artworks without showing the process. Looking at other artists on social media I see they have much more success by posting their WIPs. I've started doing this art of the week thing on my website where I pick a piece and describe how I made it. And now on social media I do post pics of my WIPs.

I always thought "people don't want to see this WIP, it just clutters up space on social media gallery where my professonally photographed finished pieces should go." I was wrong and insecure about posting unfinished work.

People LOVE WIPs and I have sold paintings people saw me painting. (not many though. Most of the time I cannot give them away and yes, that was proved)

Showing and sharing how and where you do things can help people feel they have also taken part in the creation of the piece. That is an almost emotional pull. Cannot beat it.

Lady- You're right and I wish I had realized this sooner. I've posted pics on twitter that got me a buyer when the piece was still drying. If I had waited till I had a professional photograph that buyer may not have even seen the post.

I find opinions only matter if you can learn from them. I hope I never reach a point in my artistic journey whenI feel I can say "That's it, I know it all!"

Some folks post Youtube videos that show the evolution of a work from start to completion. I think that it can be a useful marketing tool, particularly to the world's most outstanding art genius and marketing guru.

The opinions of others should not dominate you, but there are different kinds of useful info that can be gleaned:
1. You can find out who the idiots are. (A major benefit of freedom of speech rights!)
2. You can find out who are the staid old farts that carefully follow all the rules, and object when you don't follow them too. Some of these are actually quite young.
3. You can find folks who don't agree with your aesthetic values, but are still able to say something that contains the germ of a good idea. You don't have exclusive rights to all good ideas. Even folks like me say something of value once in a (great?) while.
4. You might learn something about popular aesthetic values, which can help you chose subjects that meet your creative criteria but also appeal to the public at large. (Look at Mike Savad's portfolio to see a master at this sort of adaptation.)
5. Best of all, sometimes you find friends to challenge you, who appreciate and understand your vision, and can challenge you to rise to new (unimaginably stellar) heights. After all, who says that the best can't be even better?

People seem to really appreciate the authenticity of posting your own photo of your work.

If I post a FAA link of my work - I get a few " Likes".
If I post my own photo of my work - I get about 15 responses, quite a bit of complimentary dialogue - & a few " where can I buy this ? "

Go figure.

Gregory that was a brilliantly constructed response. Janine, I hear ya. People...

oh, P. S.... Your painting looks really cool from that view - so maybe that is what is enhancing their interest.
Seeing a piece of work more as a 3 D object gives them an idea of what it would feel like in their home..

Artworks are the "Heart & Soul"of the artist. A part of them are there when they create it.
Others are PROUD to show and display them and shouting to the whole world of the greatness and beauty of thier Masterpiece!
Others are shy and hide thier works. Thinking that what they made/created is not good enough.
But sooner or later one has to face the reality, and face head-on what OTHER'S think and say of your creation.
ACCEPT, APPLY, and PUT TO HEART all those critique, advises and praises. IN that you be a BETTER ARTIST.
Good Luck Maxell Hanson. Great artwork, thats a good start.

Max,

Are you watching any videos on how to market using Google Analytics, Twitter, your own WP.org website?

Study and take it to the next level. It is a numbers game where people need to be dowsed with your product.

Dave

Janine- Good point, I will take that into account, especially with my canvas works. I doubt the 3d quality of my paper works would have the same appeal, however. Not that you'd know I work on paper a lot.

Otil- I can't help but still find frustration in applying and taking to heart other peoples' opinions of my artwork and creative process, particularly if they themselves are not creating something. I do see that there is something to be learned from just about everyone, but I'd disagree in that everyone's statements and opinions should be taken to heart and applied in my art. That'd be a paradoxical, chaotic mess.

David- I admit I am preeeety weak in this area. Do you have any threads for where I can find resources with this kind of info, I'd appreciate it. Or perhaps a link? I've got a WP.com site: artbymaxwellhanson.com It's generating consistent traffic, although a modest amount with the occasional spike. I really love having this site because I think writing is an artistic practice I'm fairly decent at and enjoy yet overlook tremendously. I've got a twitter, @mhanson47. I'd be interested in learning some free techniques to up my Twitter game. I'm completely ignorant of google analytics, that is something I will have to research. Marketing is definitely one of my weak points.

Maxwell,

Use YouTube. Try to search out better videos running about 5 minutes give or take
on how to use GA to market. That combination does not mean you have to use GA all
day long, but it means you will get a good idea of the tools.

GA runs deep. Probably far too deep for most, but you can make major inroads even
if others will not try to learn it.

Dave

Nice Peace of Work Maxwell... Do any of you know why Oklahoma isn't classified as the Midwest when everywhere else we are. So the border of Kansas is as far as the Midwest goes???

I think that painting's awesome from both angles, Maxwell.

The only opinion that counts is your own opinion.

When someone tells me that they don't like my work, I believe them. I am always skeptical of those who say they like my work.

here's the thing - you have to have a thick skin. and who are you making the image for. if its for the people - and the people don't understand it, then you may have to revise. if you made it for yourself, who cares what the people think?

Marketing 101 by Mike Savad
Why Your Work May Not Be Selling - By Mike Savad
Evaluating Your Own Work To Sell – By Mike Savad
How To Critique And Edit Your Own Work For Better Sales

these are my blogs.

i'm also skeptical about people liking my works, people tend to hand out compliments, the same way people hand out gas at a chili cook off. unless they either compliment it when i'm not around. or they can tell me why they like it specifically, its just an empty compliment. and if they don't like it, i need the reason for that as well. otherwise i'll assume it's pettiness or jealousy.


---Mike Savad
MikeSavad.com

You can certainly learn from the opinions of others. Especially if you've got any hopes of commercial success. People buy what they like, find out what that is and you can sell it to them.

As far as social media.....I find that people like to get a personal glimpse into your life and your work process. Posts that reveal this are quite often the most popular. I think that would be the reason that some notice so much interest in their WIP posts.

"People.... This is why I will never succumb to their opinions whether they are good or bad. I appreciate them and accept their judgement but will never take them to heart or apply them to my artistic process."


Are you serious?

Maxwell; I for one really like the piece you posted. Question? Isn't your piece of artwork hind of like your opinion. You use your opinions to determine where to place a brush stroke or a dab of paint. If you sell something it's the buyers opinion of your work that results in the sale. So don't ever rule opinions out. That's what makes you a success or failure.

Ricardo- Dali was told his style was too whacky and dreamlike to be understood.
Van Gogh, who his entire life sold only 1 painting, was told even by his own brother his style would never succeed.
Picasso and Basquiat were told their art was too childish to be taken seriously.

Did any of these people decide to take these opinions to heart and apply it to their artistic process? I think not.

In art class I was told various methods of how to approach an artistic process that I found obsolete. Not to sound arrogant but I made some of the best art of my school using techniques that were directly contrary to what I was taught. One of these being "ALWAYS work background to foreground". If I had taken such nonsense advice my best pieces wouldn't exist at all.

Can you imagine if any of the people above took what people were saying as their work developed to heart? They wouldn't be what made them great. They'd be just like all the other artists of their time.

Call it arrogance, I call it more than justified.

To everyone else: thanks for the compliments and advice. Dave and Mke, this is a lot to process but thankfully it's archived here for me to pick apart. I truly appreciate your efforts.

It's not like every single little opinion someone has about my work or the way I conduct my marketing is useless. Of course there are bits of useful info here and there. If I really thought that I wouldn't be asking Dave for resources to this information.

I guess what matters more is WHO the feedback is coming from. If my favorite artists had feedback on my art no doubt I'd take it into consideration. But the average Joe? Forget about it.

I too am slightly skeptical of compliments. Especially when I notice if I can get one person interested in my art I can usually get their small circle of friends "interested". I'm not too worried about it though. If they like and compliment they work, awesome! If they don't really like my art but they compliment it, atleast they weren't rude. If they're rude about my art behind my back, I couldn't care less, thanks for the free marketing!

if your in school, you should listen to the teacher and make it there way first. you can change it later if you don't like it. assuming its your best work right now is silly, because you may improve and find your were dead wrong. now they might have been wrong as well, but if you tossed the idea without even trying it, that's foolish as well. thinking you know better than someone else who has far more experience, that won't help you to advance. and it won't give you an open mind.

its good to do your own thing, but to sound arrogant, that's not a great trait. just nod your head when someone says something. listen to what they say, and see if it applies. because what i'm hearing right now is that you have no ability to accept a critique and to be able to critique yourself because you already concluded that your right and everyone else is wrong.


---Mike Savad
MikeSavad.com

i find it doesn't matter who the feedback comes from. if they are right then they are right. their background isn't that important. if they don't like yellow on blue, they might be right. if they haven't ever done what you did, and give tech advice, i would ignore it.

i was on a critique site for many years. the amount of ability a person has, doesn't have a bearing on the critique they gave. they may have been perfectly correct for not liking something or liking something. the amount of years one has shouldn't be a factor, because generally speaking - you don't know how many years someone has unless you do a background check.

i never accept compliments. its just at thing. i never give them either. compliments usually are followed by requests for free work, 90% of the time. i'd rather they say good things behind my back. if they are saying bad things, you should listen to that too.


---Mike Savad
MikeSavad.com

Not in college, this was back in highschool. I mean "some of my best work" as in some of the best work I've created so far. I can accept critique but may not take it to heart or choose to apply it. Like I accept that you may think I'm arrogant but I have my own opinions on that.

Why are you asking if it doesn't mean anything?

I'm sorry maxwell I'm the best! i'll fight you for the title but be aware I'm a brown belt in martial arts and I'm a plumber, iron worker, pot head winner that don't take no ---- from no trick ass bi----es! word!



ps i like your paintings

Jean,

The young man is smart. He is calculating what matters in life. He gets it
as he thinks it all through.

Dave

i did this a couple months ago!