The false narrative of perfect art

It’s raining again in California. I don’t know if this is the wettest winter we’ve ever had, but it’s definitely been the most consistently wet winter, getting rain at least once or twice every week since the year began. I regret not buying those weather-proof boots now.

The Finds

• Yeah yeah, I know everyone thinks that AI-generated art is evil, but you gotta admit AIpocolypse’s montages are pretty freakin’ cool.

• No more metaverse for Meta as they pull the plug on their involvement in NFTs across Facebook and Instagram. Zuckerberg must be feeling major remorse for that name change.

• Photographer and former pro skater, Ed Templeton has a retrospective book coming out featuring his photography and Monster Children talked to him about it.

• Over a week late for International Women’s Day, but I felt compelled to share the work of Willow Stacey—fragile men need not apply.

• This one from Copyblogger has me reeling.

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New in the Shop

People always tell you to never meet your heroes because then they don’t have an opportunity to disappoint you. I’ve been watching a lot of videos about Virgil Abloh lately and though I’m sad about his early passing, I appreciate the idea that I will never have the opportunity to have my expectations of him dashed. The same goes for the likes of Anthony Bourdain, Adam Yauch, and David Bowie, to name a few.

The Dead Heroes Never Disappoint hoodie comes in two colors, black and white, and is available from Small to XXL

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I’ve been at this way too long

No matter how many times I remind myself that the way I have proven to make an impact on others is by sharing my stories, insight, and knowledge, I can’t stop myself from re-indulging the idea that if I just make the perfect art piece, that will change everything for me.

This is a false narrative.

The obvious problem with that thinking is there are no perfect art pieces. No matter how accomplished I may feel about any work I do, there’s no guarantee that it will resonate. This is as true for my outsider, graphic abstracts as it is for someone who paints realistic nature landscapes. There isn’t a single type of art or art style out there that appeals to everyone equally, and if there was, would be even be art?

This video went live today and I talk about how I’m dealing with being rejected for an art show that I thought I was almost certain to get accepted.

The short story is that my ego took a hit and it put me on the bench for several days. Then I realized how much of a tool I was being over it and remembered that I get to write my own ticket for this art career, and if I don’t fit into the box of what some art dealer or gallery is looking for then it’s obvious that I can put them in my rear view and move into new territory where my art is appreciated.

Strategy for Finding True Fans

1. Share my work often

2. Inspire others

3. Put my work out into public spaces (legally or otherwise)

4. Create intrigue and appreciation

5. Grow my awareness

6. As I grow, I gain more fans who appreciate the work and buy everything I make.

It’s a theory, but I’m leaning in. If you want to see more of that in action, you’ll want to subscribe to my YouTube because I’ll be working to prove the concept and documenting it all on that channel.

That’s it for this week.

Thanks!

Dave

Extra

Get caught up in the details with Macrofying.

Shout out to Ian McCausland for the share.

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