The Work Is For Me

If you like it — if ANYONE likes it and WANTS it — and CARES enough to offer funds in order to INVITE it into his/her home… then that’s gravy, baby.

That’s just gravy.

You see, if I’m not paying attention, I find myself being led towards audience capture. I find myself making things that I think other people will want rather than making things that I want to make.

The difference is clear and present in the work. It’s the difference between stale/boring/blah and real/genuine/truth. In a world of ubiquitous fakery and distraction, authenticity is key. If I’m not making it for myself, I’m doing a disservice to the universe.

Just keepin’ it real, man.

I was reminded of this recently while revisiting Rick Rubin’s book The Creative Act. In it he hits home the point that the artist must stay true to him/herself in order to make the best work possible. I can attest to this. During one show this past fall, I sold several original pieces that fit into a certain theme. Thinking that’s what the audience wants, I went out and made more of that. But rather than making it in an authentic, organic way, I followed a more cookie-cutter approach. And the pieces fell flat.

They didn’t have any passion. No umph.

If an artist isn’t making art that he/she truly wants to see in the world then the result is obvious, often cringe. And no one will buy it.

So as the great lyrical poets Digital Underground once said: DOOWUTCHYALIKE.

Do you agree? Tell me in the comments!