Don't Listen to Online Artists!

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If being involved with the online art community for a few years now has taught me anything, its not to take what people say on the internet to heart. 


PEOPLE REPEAT WHAT THEY'VE HEARD

Sometimes when you ask someone a question or if someone is prompted to state their opinion, what you'll get isn't really what they believe. What you'll likely get is what they've heard other people say. People aren't doing this purposefully, it's just easier. Each of our lives are so intricate and our brains have to keep so much important information. Giving someone what you've heard is just far easier on your mind than actually taking time to give a well thought out answer. 

Photo by Matheus Bertelli

PEOPLE WANT A UNIQUE OPINION (be the one to say it)

If you browse YouTube you'll be bombarded by crazy sounding titles (even for something as simple as art). Titles like: ONLY IDIOTS MAKE THIS ART MISTAKE or WHY I'M DONE USING GOUACHE are not that far 1fetched from what you'll actually see. Whether or not these artists actually believe what they're saying is irrelevant because, the titles are designed get attention. It's not necessarily a bad thing to make titles like this (I've done it too). But as a viewer you should keep in mind that while a punchy title or opinion may be for real, it's just as likely that it is for attention. Whether its for good or for bad, people just want to be known as the person to say it.

SOMETIMES PEOPLE JUST HAVE TO SAY SOMETHING

Another reason people say things that you shouldn't take to heart is just because they have to say something. If an artist is asked a question, whether or not they have thought it through, they'll probably give an answer. This too is not done in malice but rather it is done to keep things moving. If I made voiceovers to my painting videos where I talked about the fact that I don't know this and don't know that, they'd be very boring. While the most honest thing to do when you come upon a topic you are unsure of is to take a step back and admit that you don't know, its much easier to just 'make something up'.

Photo by Kürşat KURT:

DO WHAT YOU WANT AND FIND OUT

If you take nothing else from this article please hear this. Regardless of what an artists tells you, or what tips they give you, you can literally do whatever you want. From my own experience, when I was learning about gouache, I kept hearing that you cannot layer wet gouache over thick gouache layers. This is a common thought that you will see even still today. Like I said in the first part, people just say what they've heard. I've used thin gouache over top of thicker gouache layers all of the time and have enjoyed the result. The goal of this point is not to get you to try to use wet gouache over dry gouache, but instead to just inspire you to try what you want with your art in spite of what others tell you.


Comments

  1. AnonymousJanuary 31, 2024 at 11:46 AM

    Good advice, even outside of art. It's funny, I saw the same thing about layering wet gouache over thick gouache, and since I'm still new to it, I kind of just took it as true since I haven't tested it out myself yet - and maybe I wouldn't even have tried it in the first place after reading/hearing that. I'll keep the general idea in mind. I think that even people known for their originality or expertise can fall into the mistake of saying things they don't believe (or at least, haven't verified themselves) or taking things other people say at face value.

    And speaking of value (haha), I've gotten/get a lot of that from your articles and channel. It's inspired me a lot.

    I wish the best for you!

    ReplyDelete

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