I was at a gallery opening in Chicago and a stranger's comment made me rethink my whole portfolio

I had a piece in a small group show last month, a digital landscape I spent about 80 hours on. This guy, not an artist, just stopped and said, 'It's pretty, but it feels like a really good wallpaper.' He meant it as a compliment, but it hit me hard. I realized all my work was technically clean but had zero personal story or edge. I've been making safe, pretty things for years. Has anyone else had a moment that made you totally shift your artistic focus?

2 comments

2 Comments

mason4175d ago

That comment might have stung, but maybe it's not the whole truth. People say all kinds of things at shows, and they often project their own taste. Your work being called a good wallpaper just means it's visually pleasing, which is a solid skill to have. A total shift in focus seems like a big reaction to one offhand remark. Maybe just try one new, slightly risky piece instead of throwing out your whole portfolio.

viola_cooper625d ago

My friend quit art after a similar comment last year.