so good, it must be true
November 9, 2007
So many things swirling around in my head as I’ve created and created and created this week. It’s been a whirlwind of activity. Just busy in my head and in my studio. Email turned OFF to be more productive. And it’s worked for the most part. (I am behind on three projects though, and am thinking I’ll need to work this weekend a bit to catch up. such is life.)
One of the things I’ve been thinking is just how grateful I am to all you readers and creative participants out there. I throw out these random contests and projects, and do Illustration Friday, and I am amazed at the response. And not only the response of simply *doing* the things, but the awesome response of *support* and the positive vibe that comes from it all. I posted winners in my last blog here and lots of you said: hey, yeah! good job!
I think that is so totally awesome!
And it blows my mind.
I think a lot of times people/groups have a tendency to be competitive — “I hate him because he does beautiful stuff that I can’t do.” Or “I hate her because her work sucks and she’s still calling herself an ‘artist’.” — And that DOESN’T HAPPEN (as far as I can tell) with Illustration Friday, or the projects that I host.
It seems like it is truly a good COMMUNITY feeling… of love and creating just for the sake of DOING it…. For the simple JOY of making something! … and oh man. I have tears in my eyes right now as I type this… that positive community thing is just so beautiful.
Cause really? It doesn’t matter if your painting, or the next guy’s painting, is wonderful or horrible. Was it fun making it? Did you enjoy the process? Can you see any life in the other person’s piece? Then THAT is what it’s all about… that is the goal. Who the hell cares if it’s good or bad (it’s not even going to exist in 100 years!). And everyone does good and bad art at different times. And it Doesn’t Matter. You just do the best you can possibly do at that time. You enjoy the act of creating it. And then you celebrate it (if you want to) and celebrate what others create too.
Cause we’re all just a guy doing a thing.
And something is better than nothing. (Unless nothing is your thing… and it that case: it’s really working for you!)
I don’t know if any of that made any sense… but I just want to say THANK YOU you guys. Thank you for doing. And for being supportive of me and everyone else. Thank you for seeing the good. Thank you for just being.
November 9th, 2007 at 11:51 am
Wow, Penelope, what a nice post!
Somehow I feel that the sense of community we (I also feel that!) get comes from the fact that at least some of us work from home, a bit isolated, and rely on the web to contact clients or other artists.
But yes, I also feel that it isn´t as competitive as other activities (such as graphic design, I´d say) because people just ENJOY what they´re doing (as well as trying to make a living out of it).
I guess that in other businesses people are trying so hard to get attention that they don´t do things for the sake of feeling good about them…
Well, I don´t know. I just know that reading your blog, as well as other people´s, is making me feel like I belong to something, as alone as I may feel working on my own.
Thanks for addressing these issues; they´re good and difficult to talk about, I guess.
Ana
November 9th, 2007 at 12:03 pm
hey girl! i just want to say i think you (and your attitude towards life and art) set the tone for IF and so, like attracts like. IF has also been a good reminder to ‘let go’ every so often and doodle a bit just for fun–no deadlines or ADs or $…and ALSO to take time to look at what so many others are doing. online communities (like IF) have been supa energizin’ for me as a freelancer working at home. muchas gracias!
November 9th, 2007 at 6:42 pm
yes yes yes to goodness!
November 9th, 2007 at 7:31 pm
you rock penelope.
November 9th, 2007 at 11:57 pm
…you’re a star, penelope! i think you especially kind of merit a huge, massive thanks too, for all your creativity, energies, ideas, and positive prompts! for making it fun, accessible and not-scary to try and participate in these things, for creating that possibility.
thanks a lot :)
November 10th, 2007 at 2:18 am
It feels so good reading your post.
Thank you, too for creating that positive vibes-you are the main character…..Gee, I feel so blessed everytime I start creating and having fun at the same time.
Lastly, congratulations to your last project. I can see why they’ve chosen them. I’ll be looking forward to the next one.
November 11th, 2007 at 11:31 am
Penelope - I loved what you wrote about IF so much, I wrote about what you wrote! Thanks for all you do! Check it out here. http://ninaseven.blogspot.com/2007/11/illustration-friday.html
November 12th, 2007 at 8:57 am
It all makes sense. It is so nice to have a community that is so positive. From my point of view as an artist I feel like when I put my work out there it is only being judged and not always for the better. Never once have I felt that way about posting art on IF. It is such a loving community. Thank YOU for an amazing job keeping it up. :o)
November 13th, 2007 at 10:39 am
I have found nothing but positive encouragement and great support since becoming an art blogger. It’s amazing how everyone’s trying to reach similar goals yet are so willing to give someone they’ve never met a hand, advice or even an inside scoop…and that becomes catchy.
I believe there’s room for everone and I don’t think I’m the only one thank goodness!
November 14th, 2007 at 12:36 pm
It’s hard to work alone, to keep going (!) and not to forget, what we really wanted to do in the first place. You and IF keep reminding me what my work is (should be) about.
Thank you for this!!
November 14th, 2007 at 2:11 pm
yeah, baby!
November 15th, 2007 at 8:37 pm
As a newcomer to IF, I have to say that it’s a wonderful event to participate in every week. The contestants are fabulous (and very kind!), and it’ just the push I needed to get serious about illustration.
Thank YOU for this.
December 25th, 2007 at 10:52 am
I guess one of the reasons why your projects work that well is because of the way you are and how you handle things.
I´m grateful for having a platform (IF) where I can post stuff right next to someone whose work is phantatic. That helps to develop my own skills. So a BIG thanks to you!