We Can Always Hope
As an artist, I hope that people will like my artwork, enjoy my art, even love and embrace it, but I also live in the real world.
Love it Hate It
In the The Devil’s Dictionary by Ambrose Bierce, he wrote, “Painting, n.: The art of protecting flat surfaces from the weather, and exposing them to the critics.” I think all artists understand what he meant. We, as artists, would love it if everything we produced caused everyone to fall in love with our work… but it just isn’t so here on planet earth. People react differently.
People are different.
It always strikes me how two people coming from the exact same background can see the world from two widely diverse viewpoints
Different Frequencies
Take my two sons. Born just two years apart, they have always been night and day. One lighter in complexion, one darker. One towheaded, one dark-haired. One artistic, one mechanical. One found school a 12 year challenge, while the other breezed through, unable to understand why his brother found it so hard. Both are highly intelligent, knowledgeable men—but they are wired for entirely different frequencies.
Honesty is Welcome
Years ago, my youngest son walked up to my easel, looked at what I was painting, and said plainly, “Dad, I just don’t get it.”
Your Lips are Moving but Nothing is Coming Out
Even now, as I tell this story, tears try to form in my eyes. But I truly understood what he was saying. The visual language my artwork was speaking was absolute gibberish to him. It might as well have been the muffled “wah-wah-wah” of the teacher from Charlie Brown. It didn’t strike a chord, ring a bell, or connect.
Coming in Loud and Clear
My eldest son, however, is sensitive and artistic—an accomplished photographer. He gets it. He doesn’t always say it in those exact words, but the communication is there. When he stands before a canvas, his quietness isn’t a sign of bewilderment. It is the quiet absorption of potential. He is decoding the hidden things he sees.
Just Different
Both of my boys will tell me they like my work, but they see it through completely different lenses. And that is just how we come wired. You cannot expect everyone to see what you see—not even your own family members.
We are built beautifully.
We are just not all the same.
…and I have come to see that that is a good thing.
Vive la différence!
Dave
