Don’t let other people’s opinions form your self worth as an artist!
I am writing this post for myself. If I am able to help others, then that is even better, but I really need to remind myself of something which I have struggled with for decades. My worth as an artist, whether that art be Orthodox Iconography, photography, modern art or drawing, is completely independent of what anyone thinks of it. This has always been a struggle of mine. Wanting the approval of others and taking it personally when they don’t like my work, or worse yet critique it. I regularly forget that the value in my work lies not in what others think of it, as nice as it is to get others approval, but in the work itself and in the fact that I created it!
Being raised Roman Catholic and having developed a clericalist mindset, it offends me most when priests critique my work. It is as if the ordination by a bishop gives that priest some artistic knowledge and ability to understand well done icons from not so well done icons when the priest has never picked up a paint brush in his life. 20 years ago then Fr. John A, now Bishop +JOHN and I had this very conversation when a certain Pittsburgh priestmonk who styles himself an Igumen would critique my work regularly. Fr. John tried repeatedly to convince me that what this “Igumen” said about my work mattered little, especially since he had never held a paint brush in his hands in his life. And yet I let his critique effect me deeply. I am so stubborn that I did not take to heart the wise words of the priest now bishop. 10 years later I was still struggling with this very fact when the now Archbishop of Pittsburgh was consecrated. This Igumen said quite a bit about me and my work to the Archbishop who happened to be old friends with arguably the greatest icon painter in the Western Hemisphere. The archbishop asked if I was familiar with the work of his friend, which I was due to my having had the book of his work for years. I thought so highly of this iconographer that I had his book in French because it was published in French years before it was published in English. The archbishop offered to introduce me to his friend, and then in front of the “Igumen” told him that from that point forward he (the archbishop) would listen only to the opinion of his old friend about my work, since his old friend actually knew what he was doing with iconography. When I met this amazing iconographer a few months he was very gentle with me in evaluating my work and only gave me constructive things to work on.
The fact of the matter is that everyone has their own opinion of art. However, their opinion is not the basis for the value of your art. Even if they are educated in art, their opinion of your art is just that, their opinion. Everyone’s taste is different and some may prefer one style whereas others may prefer another style. This is especially true of those who have never worked in the art form that you work in, but is also true of fellow artists. Just because another icon painter does not like my work, that does not detract from the value of my work. Likewise, just because the best artist in Pittsburgh is a fan of my work, that does not make my work any more valuable. The value of any artist’s work is contained in the work itself. The work is valuable and worthy for the shear reason that you created it. SO I really need to stop beating myself up when Fr. X says “I don’t like that icon because of x…” My response should be thank you for your opinion and to go right on with creating the next one. I have been doing this art form long enough (23 years) that I am an expert in it and need to constantly remind myself of that when I get an opinion that is not favorable toward it.
As artists we are sensitive creatures and we want others to like what we do. There is nothing wrong with this. There is nothing wrong with being happy when another person likes what we create. However, what is wrong is when we let one negative opinion effect us in any way, shape or form. If you struggle with this like I do, please know that you are not alone. Knowing that you are not alone, and knowing that the value of your art comes from your having created it in the first place, go out and create until your hearts content! And know that the world is a better place because of the beauty which you have added to it!
Glory to God in the highest!
