Thursday, April 25, 2013

Pander, Seth Godin and Quirky Passionate Art

Voyage
encaustic and paper 18 x 24
Do you pander?  Do you indulge your audience and create for them rather than for yourself?  Do you stay true to yourself and your creative voice?  I'm defining pandering as using your perception of your customer's wishes as an excuse to do work you're not proud of.   I think this is a trap that many artists, bloggers, and creatives fall in to.  In my creative life before painting, I know that I fell in - big time.  I know I fell in when I was a small business owner too.  It can actually be a bit hard to avoid, especially if you have a taste of success.  Its easy to be average and to produce for what you think people will like rather than stay true and authentic.  I'm borrowing Seth Godin's words here - I get his blog posts in my email.  Sometimes I don't bother to read them and sometimes I do.  But this one... for some reason really struck a cord with me.  Its a little body check, just to make sure that THIS time - I stay true to quirky heart filled art.
The reason you don't have to pander is that you're not in a hurry and you don't need everyone to embrace you and your work. When you focus on the weird, passionate, interesting segment of the audience, you can do extraordinary work for a few (and watch it spread) instead of starting from a place of average.
Go ahead and make something for the elites. Not the elites of class or wealth, but the elites of curiosity, passion and taste. Every great thing ever created was created by and for this group.                                                •••  Read the entire blog post HERE
 

34 comments:

  1. Meraviglioso!! Happy PPF!
    Bellalullo

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  2. Very wise words. Your art is not average, that's for sure. Certainly some pieces will speak to a larger group, and some will be for the "elite" as Godin says. Your squid is proof of that, amazing work!

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  3. I have been down that road and in the end it stifles you. Thankfully no longer. Your work is wonderful and so honest.

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  4. This piece is spectacular Marji, I love it! Important words too, as a torn paper pet portrait artist I have to work somewhat to my clients specifications but when I create for myself all bets are off! Fabulous post Happy PPF!

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  5. Wonderful words and a great painting. I was a carer all my life, and am trying to learn to care for myself now! Valerie

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  6. A great post. I know exactly what you mean. I paint what I love and am inspired by but sometimes wonder if I would be more successful in selling my art on line if I did more 'commercial' things that seem to sell well. I don't want to do that though as I need to love what I create. I love this octopus - you create such amazing artwork every week and it's all pieces I would very definitely hang on my walls!

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  7. Awesome painting, mysterious and a bit scary! I get Seth Godin's posts, too, this is really good!

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  8. Fantastic!
    Love the title Voyage, too!! Awesome!
    ♥♥♥
    Happy PPF!!
    Mary
    Mixed-Media Map Art

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  9. Beautiful painting..wonderful movement and energy..gorgeous work!

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  10. Amazing, amazing painting. Marji I am completely impressed with your talent and creativity. Thank you for putting such wise and true words in your post. Love and blessings to you

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  11. Wow das ist wirklich grossartig :) ♥ Conny
    http://piaromsartjournaling.blogspot.de

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  12. Hello Marji, your art always strikes me! There is I agree such an energy to it, captivating!

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  13. Really a charming composition!

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  14. Love your octopus! (I think that's what it is - right?) It's an interesting question and one that I struggle with in trying to find the middle ground between my licensing commitments and what I'm drawn to paint. Thank you for the quote. Happy PPF and thank you for your kind words on my blog!

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  15. Your blog is anything but boring, Marji. I learn something each time I visit. Your encaustic painting of some pretty weird animals is so beautifully done. I should take to heart the wise words you have quoted.

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  16. Being an artist is a terrible way to make a living, but I think that gives you a lot of room to do what you want. What is nice about your work and so much of the work I am drawn to is that it has an authenticity to it -- I can tell you're following your vision and artistic passions. Who knew an octopus could be a graceful invitation to dream of voyages? You did and you created it and shared it and now we know. Thanks for a great post and all your wonderful art.

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  17. I love the artwork this week... fabulous composition and your incredible sense of shape and structure are shining through... and the quote is awesome...
    I actually found myself starting to pander to customer requests and ideas when i was showing my work int eh artists'' collective so I took my work out and am giving myself 6 months to reset my brain to reset itself and get all that out of my system which is working a treat... I am going off to read the rest of the post now... thanks for the link...xx

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  18. Wow the movement in this new piece is terrific. I have never been able to bow to the norm. I have to stick to color because I love it....sadly it can be restrictive!

    Very thoughtful post....I'm inspired!

    Hugs Giggles

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  19. Amazing image. I love the angle you have painted him from, this is so effective! Looks great on the old map to:) I have never had a customer to 'pander' to but I know I am never happy with any work that is 'forced'

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  20. Oh wow, the movement in there and the background ... great work! I can understand artists pandering if they have to make a living from their art, but I think in the long run it makes you unhappy. I've done some commissions in the past and I must admit I hated it, not being able to use my own colours and changing things as I go along. So I decided I won't do that anymore, I just didn't enjoy it and got really frustrated. So pandering is not for me I'm afraid ....

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  21. Pander is not part of my vocabulary : ) I learned the hard way not long ago, spending months on a commission that didn't materialize.While working on the projects I found I so desperately missed working on my own personal artful visions and once I had completed the commission i felt relief and freedom but not without the disappointment that the customer didn't even have the decency to leave me a note saying that she wasn't fond of my work, I'm a big enough girl to absorb negative feedback; I wouldn't have been an Elena the vampire...lol So in short, I take pleasure from making unique and personal art, first and fore most for me and if others like it it's a bonus. Art is a personal thing : ) and I am very lucky that I don't have to make a living with it, just enjoy the seamless tapestry. Thanks for the link, I've subscribed. He writes good thoughts.

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  22. um. yes...so easy to fall into 'following the trends.' thanks for the reminder! love your unique work! happy PPF!

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  23. this piece is absolutely stunning Marji-wow!!!

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  24. Your painting is just perfect. I love this creatures of the sea. Yours is looking very real!
    Hugs
    Erika

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  25. I'd much rather hang out with the wierd, curious and passionate. thanks for sharing Seth's words. Marvelous sea creature!! Happy PPF

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  26. Gorgeous octopus painting! And very wise words. It makes you think about it. :)

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  27. thank you for sharing these words. i have been pondering pandering of late. beautiful painting today. happy ppf

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  28. Gorgeous encaustic work!
    I draw/create in fabric/paint for me ... Then I hope others will like it!

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  29. Beautiful work! AND I LOVED the article - thank you for sharing - so true! xoxo

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  30. Another AMAZING piece! Colors, composition and subject - just excellent! Thought provoking Godin quote... I have never really had "customers" for my art, just here and there someone who happened to have liked a piece and bought it, so I do not have experience with this as an artist. BUT, in life as general, I can apply this idea to all sorts of places... fear of rejection can (and has cause) lots of trouble for me. Working on it as we speak. IT's a journey!

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