Saturday, August 11, 2012

Should Anyone Be Published?


So I got to thinking today while my dog was walking me - Should anyone be published? Can anyone be published? At what point can one call them self an author or artist? What is an artist? If everyone is an artist how can any of us make a living as an artist, author, musician or whatever? With internet tools like: Etsy, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Amazon, iTunes, Pubit, Tumbler, Wordpress, Diviantart, Youtube, Kickstarter, Google, and yes Blogger - anyone can make their art available for consumption and can generate an audience for FREE. Is this good for art? Is this good for artists? and is it good for our consumers? What is the cost of more artists getting more attention than ever before in the history of the world?

Some say the down side is that more mediocre art will be seen than ever before. That the quality of art is being diluted. That if people without "proper" training call themselves artists or authors - the lay person will not know the difference. That the masses will unwittingly consume bad art. That everyone loses because the revolutionaries are storming the Bastille and the established master artists will lose the power of their voice in the coming wave of amateurs.

What do you think?

Here's what I think: Baloney!

I don't think things are that much different now as they were 20 years ago -as far as artists having to work super hard to get attention. Rewind the tape and lets go back to 1992 - before all those internet sites were created. I was told that I was crazy to try to become a professional illustrator in '92. The same was true if you wanted to become an actor, musician, photographer, comedian, or gallery painter. Why was it crazy? -because there was so much stinkin competition! The big difference was that there were more gatekeepers than there are today. Reps, agents, companies, publishers, labels, agencies, galleries, etc were the entities that vetted artists for their perception of quality. Sometimes they got it right - sometimes they blew it - like the publishers that told JK Rowling to take a hike.

So now that many of these gatekeepers have lost some of their power - we're seeing artists self publishing all forms of art:  books, music, visual art, performing art, etc. I think it's great! I believe that everyone is an artist (sometimes). I believe that most artists feed off of their audience and the feedback can be both encouraging and discouraging - but both are necessary for growth.

I don't think that more artists vying for attention is bad at all - in fact I believe it's a good thing. If originality is taking a known idea and combining it with another idea than I believe that more artist's means more ideas. More ideas breed even more combinations of ideas which means that the quality of art should go up. I see this already happening -  I've seen more creative ideas in the last year on Facebook than I've ever seen in my entire life.

To become an accomplished artist takes many years and long hours of practice. In the past the practice was done without much of an audience. I believe that artists can now improve much faster with the exposure they can receive through their network of friends online.

Some worry that their products won't be found in a sea of other products. They better worry. We should all worry enough to make sure our products are DIFFERENT - ORIGINAL - CREATIVE - EXCEPTIONAL - even EXTRAORDINARY or we will never get the attention we seek. But this isn't new either...

Consider all the books that have ever been published in the history of publishing. Google estimates this number at 130 million. How did anyone ever get noticed? ONE HUNDRED THIRTY MEEEELION BOOKS???!!! - YIKES!  Most of the good ones got noticed because there are systems in place to help you find what you're looking for. Take Barnes and Noble for instance. By my rough calculations (keep in mind I flunked math) Barnes and Noble Stores carry a few hundred thousand books  - much less than 1% of all the books ever published. So B&N acts as a filter for it's consumers - they only carry what they think you will want. In addition those few hundred thousand books aren't overwhelming because they are organized into sections. When you or I walk into a B&N we already know what section(s) we're going to check out that might have a few hundred books to browse...piece of cake - you just found Linchpin by Seth Godin.

The same thing is happening online. Review sites, List sites, retailers, awards, bloggers, etc are tripping over themselves to find the good stuff to bring relevancy to their sites. They want to be able to sell their products and attract advertisers so they have to suggest good products to us in order drive traffic and stay viable.

In the end I think there will be just as many superstars creating works that reach some level of mainstream success and then there will be the rest of us - hoping, dreaming, working our butts off, and having a great time doing what we love.

25 comments:

  1. The only difference between now and the past is that there's more of everything... good, bad, mediocre. If people think that being able to more easily share something is bad, that just means they're too lazy to look for anything good.

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  2. The masses have always unwittingly consumed bad art, so I don't think there's going to be any big paradigm shift on that front. You make some great points, and I agree with you that everyone jumping into the pool is just fine. Besides, it is what it is. In the end, as you so well put it-- "hoping, dreaming, working our butts off, and having a great time doing what we love" is where it's at. Even for the superstars, I think!

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    1. Personally I think that those who don't think it's a good idea that the newcomer have a voice are just afraid that they won't be heard. We're all a little afraid of that all the time right?

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  3. My daughter takes ideas and techniques from other artists and often asks if she is copying (she doesn't want to take credit for other people's work). If she is learning from it and developing it into something more, then it is a good thing. Being able to see more art whether professional or amateur is a good thing. You are totally right, sharing will lead to more creativity by building on other ideas. Like musicians, "oh so & so took a little Michael with a little blues and it sounds awsome." Totally with ya, Will

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    1. We all copy in the beginning - some of the best exercises are copying master works so make sure she knows she's doing it right. The key is to start generating more and more original ideas as you mature as an artist. To be able to be inspired with ideas of others and then to spin it around and pop out something that seems totally fresh. :)

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  4. Great Blog!
    Many more great artists will be found. That has to be a positive thing.

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    1. Thanks Rob! Yes - some are saying that 2012 was the first year of "The Artist"...whatever that means...to me it means that we are finally seeing a time where artists don't have to wait for permission to declare their intent. Don't have to wait for permission to start selling and supporting their dreams. It's a wonderful time to be an artist.

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  5. I read your post, and agree on a lot of the points. The world is pretty much the same, just with new media.

    I think everyone should be able to publish even if you have lousy ideas. But the belief that all the cream floats to the top is only partially true. There is a lot of bad work that gets to the top (barnes and noble selected) by virtue of the marketing dollars behind them, conversely a TON of great work will never see the light of day because some artist have no marketing savvy.

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    1. Good point David - I can't disagree but I think this is where producing a body of excellent work comes into play. I've known a lot of artists who have cranked out picture book after picturebook (one guy for 20 years) without much commercial success. Then his new release blew up selling hundreds of thousands of copies - which helped him sell his back list - which really put him on the map. I believe that for the most part there is a direct correlation: the less creative the product the more marketing dollars need to be pumped into it.

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  6. We are agreed in this Will. You know it was only in the last few years, I've allowed myself to say I'm an artist or writer. Even though I've been published since the eighties. I can say I draw or I write, but to confer the title was a big step, and I tend to not say author. I would also point out though it's true SOME author/illustrators have had formal training, some even in that particular field, many have not. As well as quite a few who have formal training do not primarily work as an author or illustrator, taking ancillary jobs like writing programming or teaching Literature. I'm with you on this, Flinstone/Nike thing, "Loosen the bone Wilma and JUST DO IT!"

    Agy Wilson

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    1. Thanks Agy - yup - just do it - I'm always surprised how hard this is. Just do it. Seems so simple right? I think it comes back to embracing failure. If you embrace failure you're less likely to be paralyzed by "JUST DO IT!!!"

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    2. I'm at a point where I feel like a failure and all I have left to do is embrace myself. Yup, makes it a bit easier to be brave, already done foolhardy. I got Blink (Tipping Point and Outliers both impacted my life) and Lynchpin. Let you know if that changes anything I think (though I've gone into the whole life thing, knowing it's more about making the differences work, than assimilating with the crowd. Odd thing that, we still would love to assimilate.

      Agy

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  7. Great blog Will! this is something that has bothered me for years. Being an artist felt controlled like you cannot really think for yourself, your work is monitored and changed into what publishers think society wants.

    Which for the most part makes the art I see generic, very few actually create out of the box, from their own soul and vision. I am sick of going to the bookstores and seeing art/books that lacks creativity and life.

    So it's great artist can break that mold and give their own ideas wings and really share what art means to them. Inspiring and touching a life or two in the process.

    Like you said we don't need permission to do anything.

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    1. So true - some publishers really get it and understand that they are involved in creating art and the sacred process that occurs...some are not...the pubs that don't get it really crank out uninspiring work...and frustrate artists in the process.

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  8. Love this post. Now I just want to know one last thing--who drew the little black and white dude up there???

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    1. Thanks Ginny - I drew this about 6 years ago when I was teaching at a H.S. in Cali and was trying to impress my students...don't think it worked. :)

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  9. I agree with you 100% I've run into others with the opposing view (lots of time) and I find that yes, for the most part they are scared. Scared of not understanding the new technology, scared of what's going on with the print industry, and really scared of young guys and gals like myself who are trying to really break in. I think the older generation is a lot less social than the newer. There's a sort of revolution going on right now. You're part of it...to me any way you're sharing your knowledge with us and we're all helping each other out sharing what we've learned. I think the older generation sometimes feels that they should keep it all to themselves that if they share they'll lose something...their jobs...? I don't know. But what I find to be true is that the more you share and network the more you gain. You draw attention to yourself and end up more successful in the end....may have strayed of topic...sorry..Guess what I'm saying is if people are concerned about the quality of those of us coming up artworks or stories or music....how else are we going to learn than by trying, failing, correcting, and then finally becoming successful and then passing on what we've learned to the next generation.

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    1. Couldn't have put it better - and the fail cycle should be taught in public school but unfortunately I'll probably be dead before that ever happens.

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  10. I agree! This is an exciting time for artists and really, all creatives. I can understand why the old guard might be a bit afraid. More competition can seem overwhelming. But I think, as you said, if your work is original, creative and strong, you will find your audience, now even more easily than ever!

    Although I am part of the "older generation", but I am a neophyte with regard to being a professional illustrator and I have to say, I am thrilled with how technology and social media has made the craft and the promotion of it so much more powerful! Trying to do my part to spread the word to other old-schoolers as well, hee hee! Your blog really helps on that front. Thanks for your continued insight and tutelage, Will!

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    1. Thanks Linda! - I think this will get easier and easier as more accomplished artists like yourself accept and embrace it. It's scary. I must admit that I have my fair share of fear. But fear is a good thing - it's what got us hunting and gathering long ago - and it's getting my butt in gear to tackle projects that I would have been too afraid of 5 years ago....I think a lot of our colleagues might need a little help getting through the grief process.

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  11. Always inspiring your posts are! I really appreciate them and look forward to reading your positive messages for artists! I am so happy that gone are the days that an artist must die before becoming known! Who defines us as an artist? Is it the beholder? I know I am being cliche here, but as a newbie to kid's lit illustration and writing it's all I can draw from...no pun intended!

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    1. Thanks Sabrina! Great point - artists don't have to sit on really good work - now they can get it out there. Makes you wonder how many amazing artists never learned how to get published and sank into despair....

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  12. So I decided to go back to the basics on designing the characters for my collaboration with Margot. I draw and paint animals, I can characterize people, but animals are harder. One of the things I did (besides look up your great tutorial on the YouTubes and review my crit partner Laurel Francis's wonderful tutorial on www.Yellapalooza.com) was to order two books written by Tom Bancroft. Not knowing who he was, illustrator Wilson Williams Jr. and former Yellie/Dreamworks story artist Jen Lerew recommended him highly. Tom is a wonderful character designer for Disney, now in business for himself. Anyhow, both are well worth it, and no matter how you're published, I believe you have to apply yourself to the very best of your ability and often that means putting more tools in your writer/illustrator box. Anyhow, while reading the second edition, he talks a little bit about other artists. I know there are some in our field who didn't go to school. Not to say they don't do it, and every day. But this is an aside. When Disney first dipped his toe in full-length animation the head character designer Freddie Moore had no formal training. The principles he laid down, became the foundation for what has followed. Above and beyond that, Tom gives examples of the assignments puts in his books, and one of the assignments is rendered by names in the business. I'm struck again some have nothing but talent and drive and that 1000 hours principle put forth by Gladwell about becoming and expert (and I daresay it's even more than that. One of the people featured is Sean "Cheeks" Galloway, the lead character designer for Sony Pictures Television's The Spectacular Spiderman and completely self-taught. It comes down to the product always. Is it harder, hillsyah, but not impossible.

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  13. do you think I could say anyhow one more time? Sheesh.....

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