Advertising and being OPEN
I’ve been thinking a lot lately: about two differing methodologies that sometimes by chance, sync up. That is, the free and the not-so-free. Everyone wants to say the web is free, but what are the top sites? Aren’t they really basking in the power of advertising dollars. Technology is free as long as its funded by Doritos! That’s a tasty chip right there. Hold on, I’ll be back, I have to get some, and some pringles without principles while I’m at it…
Ok, back… nom nom nom…
As much as we’d like to not sell out or be sustainable by the viewers like you; it’s just not economical. There is always going to be some amount of whoring in order for us to pay the bills. What is putting the money in our pocket is someone not concerned about whether or not they can loan us money for a cup of coffee once in a while (payed subscriptions), but someone that’s concerned about a return on investment: monetary obligations. We all want someone to take us out to a nice restaurant and treat us right, but at the same time they’re trying to push their products on us… hard. So what’s wrong with everyone? Just because you say you’re open, doesn’t mean you are. You praise it like a religion, and then peddle your wares.
Perfecting Imperfection
“Oh, you’re an art major?” This question makes me panic. After the fleeting moment of pride in doing what I love, that windpipe-crushing anxiety sets in. In about two seconds, one of two things will usually happen: 1) the person will follow up with a condescending “that’s fun,” and I’ll have to attempt to legitimize my career choice, or 2) I will be pressured to draw a dragon on the spot. If I cannot produce a fire-breathing beastie upon command, I risk losing many respect points. The person will give up on me and later tell someone, “oh, yea, she’s an art major now.”
It is this panic-stricken conversation that drives many young art/illustration students—and hobbyists—into a manic pursuit of photo-realistic drawing skills. We think that in order to be respected by our peers, by our professors, by the “non-creatives,” we need to be able to produce a carbon copy of a pineapple. While skills like this are incredibly useful in any art practice, young and budding creatives often lose so much in attempting to chase down realism. When we could be developing our creative process, our imaginations, our risk-taking, we are instead painstakingly copying strands of hair.