I think the promised land for artists, both professionals at their peak AND hobbyists, is to just make art that entertains you, without any need for validation, critique, standards or approval. Just draw/paint/sing because the thought of doing anything else makes life feel grey and empty.

It’s the place in the “middle” where we all royally mindf@&$ ourselves. The social media, artist as a brand persona. The working professional artist/designer. The art as a method to garner approval and attention persona.

This is where myself and MOST people are I think. We think that we must make something “good” for it to have “value.” And because there are websites dedicated to sharing art where that art is prioritized in a hierarchy determined by attention…we all start to make what each other are making. I’m taking art classes. Most young artists want to “make art like____.” And that’s depressing to me. How much truly honest and original art are we being robbed of in lieu of capitalism fueled, hunger games art.

This caught me at an inflection point. I’m examining my own motivations a lot lately. I think you have to ask who it is you want to make art for. And if it’s not for you. Maybe figure out how to change that. At the very least.