BEING AN INTROVERT IN THE ART WORLD

There are two kinds of people, in general, introverts and extroverts. This is true about people within the art world as well. There are people who are silent sketchers and there are people who shove their idea down your throat. I always was led to believe that most artists were introverts but, most of my classmates are extroverts. 

Extroverts, I have learned, want people to know about their opinion. Whether it's just having a conversation or painting about it. A lot of artists are also narcissists. Yes there are artists who help charities and others, I'm just saying they have a high self esteem and ego. Which is great in the art world because of all of the critics. This is the opposite of what some people believe about artists because of the whole quiet meek artist stereotype. These artists will have no problem getting their name out there and promoting their work. They will probably get more shows because of being so out there and interesting. But what do the introverted artists do?

Technology has been a miracle worker for the introverted. Now with technology artists are able to submit their work electronically to shows and promote their art through many different websites to gain followers. So now that we're so used to only having to talk through typing how do artists deal when they have to actually talk at colleges or lectures or their own art opening?

Even though both introverted and extroverted artists have an ego, and need it, to promote their work and their passion, it can be hard to actually get what you want across to the audience. I've seen some art talks at an opening reception where the artist barely talks and clearly doesn't want to. But I've also seen some where the people are clearly ready to go and talk to anyone. A lot of people would say that the quieter artist isn't as passionate about what their work is about or even art in general but, I think you cannot combine those two thoughts. Yes, it is important to be passionate about your artwork but you can be passionate about your work in a one-on-one conversation instead of a group reception. The fact that there is a show going on about this particular artist means they are passionate and want to share their work. I think it is important to keep in mind that many artists portray their opinion and thoughts through their pieces anyway so have a conversation with their work.There is a lot of power behind whatever you have researched that no one else has found, so use that to teach others instead of thinking of it about as a moment where you and only you are in the spotlight, cause your art is there too (and it will always have your back).

I believe that many people will have an issue with this only because it is so important to make connections and show your passion for what you do, but I don't think it is necessary especially with today's technology. It's okay to not want to talk about your work to everyone that's why we make long labels next to our pieces and artist statements and PR statements. Overall, don't assume an introverted artist isn't passionate about their work and doesn't want to share it with the world. 

What do you guys think? If you're an introvert, how does it feel to you?

CALLING YOURSELF AN ARTIST

Let’s face it, most people struggle with identity their entire life. Some people deal with it by writing songs about it (Think back to Neil Diamond’s “I am… I Said”, or for all of you Disney fans Christina Aguilera… er I mean Mulan in “Reflection”). Even some hugely talented artists don’t consider themselves artists. In my Senior Seminar class we discussed how important it is to call yourself an artist and own it. Many people believe the opposite, that calling yourself an artist means you’re not a real artist (http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20070104073418AAOLVvD) This is related to the stereotype of calling yourself an artist being a horrible and stuck up thing to say. Every artist experiences the critic who will deny you just because you’re an artist. Whether their reasoning is because you aren’t intelligent because you “doodle all day” or because “you’re career path is going nowhere”. These people are idiots. Let’s think about it for a second: we draw all day because it’s our passion and passions are what drive us to keep going no matter what. One of my teachers once told me that our passion as artists is so amazing because we’re willing to work anywhere just to be able to work on our art. Plus let’s face it we deal with critics all the time, why should this critique hurt us? Well yes this one is not just about our artwork but about our lives, and for some people art is why we wake up in the morning or the only time that our minds calm down. So I say stay own it.

No matter what career path you choose you will find people who fake their way into it, it’s just life. But genuine artists shouldn’t be looked down upon for calling themselves artists or believing in themselves and what they do. Art is a passion. Passions are things that people cannot take from you. Calling someone a fake artist just because their art isn’t what you would consider art doesn’t mean it isn’t art. There are plenty of different types of art, it isn’t just painting and sculpture anymore. There has been pop art, architectural art, outsider art, sand art, glitch art, you name it. Not considering Nam June Paik an artist is like not considering Ma Rainey a blues singer.

If you’re an artist, own it. Believing in yourself and what you do is only going to make things easier. People don’t need to understand what you do, hell I don’t understand why someone would want to be a doctor, but we need doctors. Artists see the world in a different way, calling yourself an artist doesn’t change anything for anyone else, it only changes how you see yourself. When I was writing my mini bio in the last blog entry I felt so weird writing that I was an artist. But whether I think my stuff is good enough to be considered an artist doesn’t matter, it’s in my mindset and it’s my passion.