Subjectivity

7 min read

Deviation Actions

Nyanfood's avatar
By
Nyanfood
Published:
2.4K Views


Edit: Due to my forgetting that some people are prone to read into what I have to say, here are a few disclaimers.
  • I am not bothered by anything said below. I am merely curious.
  • I am not hurt by anything.
  • I only wish for your insight and some thoughtful discussion on the matter.
  • Your encouragement is valued but not necessary. What I want to see is what YOU would do in my situation, not words to salvage my completely intact, unwounded and absolutely confident feelings.
  • My self-esteem is alright. Thank you all for worrying, but no need. Your replies will allow me to have a better look at how other people feel in a situation like this. I will be able to use that in my art and writing in the future.
  • Once again, I am not hurt or bothered. I must reiterate this because I find that I don't make myself emotionally clear.
  • Please take the words below at their literal value. If it helps, please read it in a monotone.


Recently, VERY recently, I received this comment on one of my pieces:

it's kind of boring to me PS i'm sorry for being mean
i think it might just need more color to make it awesome

Edit 2: That comment isn't the point of this whole essay, okay? The point is at what point does subjectivity of others start and end when working on a piece. I'm not butthurt and this journal isn't about me whining that someone said an opinion where it wasn't needed. I feel like I keep having to make these edits since people keep commenting like I'm hurt by this at all. I only thought it was inappropriate where it was placed because it was neither helpful nor constructive, but also I thought it was a great example of people's subjectivity!

Edit 3: OKAY SERIOUSLY please stop talking about the comment! It's just an example of subjectivity. This journal isn't about the comment. I don't care about the comment. I'm sick of hearing about the comment and next I hear about it, I'm going to delete the comment. I don't disagree with the comment. I just wanted to use the comment as an example. Please, please, please, it's not the topic sentence but it's the intro paragraph! It's just anecdotal evidence!

Now please, don't go look for whoever it was that posted this and start antagonizing or threatening this person, okay? That's not the point. Besides, I've already replied to him/her. No need to call this person out on being a prick either, since I think we all know that, though if you wish to beg to differ, do so. I'm interested in your opinion.

Anyway.

I was wondering how much subjectivity mattered on the road to becoming a more recognized artist. They say "beauty is in the eye of the beholder." Up until now, I thought that it was a fairly straight-forward matter: The more people you appeal to without sacrificing the intensity of each appeal, the more recognized you become. With that said, bright colors, flashy poses and moe-moe have become a-la-mode when it comes to anime/manga style because it appeals to a larger percentage of the audience.

My art has always been a little less popular than mainstream, which suits me just fine. I use dull colors with small splashes of vibrancy and rather than focusing on filling a trope or a personality genre, I strive to capture expressions, concepts and dynamic that speaks subtly about what it means to be human. That means more to me than a handful of extra watchers or page views. However, because I wish to be recognizeable as an artist, I try to make up for my style's lack of popularity by reaching out to other users, speaking to them, and remembering them as individuals as much as possible.

But even then, there's the matter of subjectivity. I'm curious. Why do you watch me? Is it for my art? Or is it for my humanity? Both? If I added more color to my pictures, would I be able to meet more of you, speak to more of you, and learn more from more of you?

At a certain point, I believe, one piece of art can appeal to as many people as possible without sacrificing one appeal for another. Should I attempt to strive for that appeal in order to live doing art? Or should I stay as I am and travel down my own path, even if it means that one day, I may have to choose between not drawing to feed myself or starving with a pencil in my hand?

What would YOU do in my position if creativity is the most important thing to you? Would you give up part of who you are in order to survive while doing what you like? Or would you stick to your true self to the very end, even if it means giving up living?

Too deep? Here's a more simple question... would you like to see more color in my art and would you request it, knowing that my eyes can't handle it?

A lot of artists have drawn stuff that more people would like in exchange for popularity. They've also gotten super depressed over it, but they keep doing it because it works. I'd like to see what you guys think about the matter.

Discuss!

© 2014 - 2024 Nyanfood
Comments144
Join the community to add your comment. Already a deviant? Log In
lordoaty's avatar
lordoaty
Edited
First I'll begin with a preface of sorts. I am a programmer by profession, and by training. In this job, it is often expected that we work exactly to the client's specifications, no matter our own personal preference. We are just another cog in the machine, perhaps even considered to be the least human part of it. While that is an alright way to make a living, it is naturally not my preferred way of life. What I am devoting all of my spare energy towards, is leading my games dev team to create immersive interactive worlds. I'm still a few years off realising that dream, but I'll get there eventually. That is not to say that I won't do the job that I have to do simply because someone else is leading, just that I like to have some level of creative and/or technical input into the whole process.

My work up until this point hasn't exactly been a roaring commercial success. To keep myself fed and housed, I've had to do a fair bit of freelance work for other people. It's alright, but it's kinda like if you were to moe-ify and colour up your art, it wouldn't really be your touch anymore. I've never really feel any great sense of ownership over contract pieces.

If anything, I treat this kind of subjectively motivated work as a stepping stone. I do it because I need money to be able to work on what I love, not because I particularily want to.

That said, it means the world to me when other people experience my work, regardless of whether it's mine or a freelance piece. I guess it goes both ways a bit.

Why do I watch you? Because within your art and personality I see a bright creative spark. In a sense, I like both your art and humanity. Plus, it's always great fun chatting to you and everyone on your live stream.

I think your colours are balanced to the rest of your style, not sure what everyone else is on about. Sure they're a bit more muted than other artist's styles, but I find nothing wrong with that.

If you're earning enough to sustain both your creative purity and lifestyle, then continue on your way. If not, then dipping into the occasional freelance piece that's a bit outside your comfort zone isn't all that bad. Plus you may also learn additional things that apply back to the stuff you like doing, I've learnt plenty through my own contract work.

Kinda forgot I had written this halfway through the day, whoops! Hope it makes enough sense.