How to be an artist AND handle rejection. Chapter 1: Criticism, and the People who give it.

How to be an artist AND handle rejection.

Chapter 1: Criticism, and the People who give it.

It's the age old dilemma isn't it? Keeping that balance between growth and expression while handling the vortex of rejection and criticism that comes from trying to expand your career.

Now, how to find that balance?

Ask yourself: Is the criticism you are getting promoting growth?

There are going to be people that don't like your art. There are going to be people that hate your art. And you can learn a lot from your haters, if you are open to it.

A fair amount of their criticism is going to be “I just don't like charcoal drawings” or “I hate modern lyric dance.” These people were never your audience to begin with, so shake the mental Etch A Sketch in your mind and let them move by like the breeze off a dog's turd: Quickly bypassed and preferably downwind. (Note: Don't EVER delete their comments or argue with them. One, it is a waste of your time. Two, you are robbing yourself of letting others argue your points for you. Everyone on your thread that LOVES art made from recycled antique plumbing will happily fight this battle for you, and will feel closer to your art as a result. Also, they will be bringing more eyes to your work as the argument ensues. Let it happen.)

There are going to be a lot of others that say “this sucks” or “I don't like it.”

If this is all their contribution is, then they are also just warm air wafting past. Ignore them.

HOWEVER, if their response is something like “I don't like how I can't make out the details at the edges of this frame. I feel like I'm missing part of the story,” or “this seemed poorly rehearsed and unprepared,” BEFORE you get your hackles up and prepare to fight like a mother cat protecting her young, stop to absorb it. Is there useful, actionable information there?

Were you unprepared? Did you rush your process just to get another piece of content out there? Be honest with yourself. And I know this is staggeringly difficult. Most people have immense difficulties being honest with themselves, even outside art. (Which will likely be another article.)

But, we as artists, if we want to grow, have to be honest with ourselves. If we want to grow in our craft, our skill, our careers and our souls, then we have to take on actionable input that informs where we are not doing our optimum, or where we can improve.

This is the flip side of people saying they “like” our work, but have no input beyond that. Don't get me wrong, it's great to have people like our work. But that input still doesn't help us grow. This is why good directors, editors and coaches are so important. They don't just tell WHAT we are doing right or wrong, but they tell us HOW we are succeeding or screwing up.

So, find what is actionable in your feed back. Take note of it, and be honest with yourself. But do not let it crush you.

And keep in mind, the way your criticism is phrased may often not be anywhere near as civil as what I just wrote above.

You may get “I hope your drug through the streets naked by rampaging bulls while force fed kombucha for not pointing your toes in your routine, you Commie fuck!” (And yes, they'll use the wrong form of your/you're.)

And yes, they're an asshole. But you know you're going to get these responses. And you need them. And you need to ask yourself.... was I pointing my toes? Dammit, I wasn't. I got sloppy at that part of the routine. Fix it. Improve. Move forward.

Do let the vitriol the input was packaged in poison you. Let it propel you to move forward. Could they have been nicer in how they phrased it? Yes. Does it serve you one iota to dwell on that negativity or waste time fighting them you could be spending with friends or working on your next project? Hell no.

Also, be glad you got that visceral of a response. You want that. It means you affected them, for good or ill. It meant that they got invested enough in what was going on to give a shit.

Absorb. Reflect. Grow. Repeat.

And go forth, and make better art tomorrow than you did today.

Thank you.