posted
As you could well imagine, not everyone likes my stuff... well actually there's some who are fairly vocal AGAINST it. But there's folks who don't much care for Disneyland either.
I've run into them just about everywhere I've done a project. Sometimes I get protested, yelled at and even treated not nice on occasion. It goes with the territory I suppose.
I also realize that these folks ARE entitled to their opinion. I certainly admire the PASSION with which they often express their views.
I try to take it all in stride. In fact I look for the opposition. If it's not there I figure my design must be a little too ordinary, run of the mill to stand out. It's like a guage to measure my projects.
I also realize at the same time that many folks DO like my stuff and I look for reactions from these same folks as well. These folks also tend to react strongly to my work and let me know when I'm on the right track.
The breakdown works something like this in my experience... 10 % will hate my work. 10% will love it. And the other 80 % will not react much one way or the other. Ordinary work won't get much of a reaction, either way so it's easy to measure the success of my design.
In the end I try to please myself and hope the world is a little happier when I'm done. As for the 10% who hate most everything I do?? Well, I figure there's not much hope in pleasing them anyway, the kid in them died a long time ago and it's their loss.
-dan
[ June 24, 2004, 01:37 PM: Message edited by: Dan Sawatzky ]
-------------------- Dan Sawatzky Imagination Corporation Yarrow, British Columbia dan@imaginationcorporation.com http://www.imaginationcorporation.com
Being a grampa is one of the the most wonderful things in the world!!! Posts: 8738 | From: Yarrow, B.C. Canada | Registered: Nov 1998
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I agree with Roger. It is hard to understand people not loving the work. It is Awesome. Maybe they just don't appreciate the creativity and hard work that goes into it. Again Dan, AWESOME WORK!
-------------------- John Duckett Strike Creative Greenwood, South Carolina Posts: 277 | From: Greenwood, SC | Registered: Feb 2004
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posted
I like your work, but it has a certian style, style can be a good thing, but it can also be bad....I wouldn't like to see it everywhere, but it has it's place. I think designing to a theme can be rewarding personally, but when it doesn't blend with anothers vision, then what can you do? If only 10% hate your work, you are doing good, and that is why you are busy....I don't think it's naysaying, but a style conflict, your designs are very strong, they are going to evoke a strong opinion, and that the part designers have to struggle with, if it rolls off your back, great, but I think it's good to take into consideration others critique, part of the challenge is not only designing for yourself, but doing something that means something for others. I think if someone is willing to cough up millions to do a themed project, they appreciate the inner kid in them, it's just not the same kid you are....
-------------------- Rick Chavez Hemet, CA Posts: 1538 | From: Hemet,CA U.S.A. | Registered: Jun 2001
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Art is subjective. Some people will dislike a design just because it has a color they don't care for, a certain texture they disapprove of, or any number of reasons.
But look at it this way... You made them look. Even if the don't particularly care for it, the work got their attention enough to comment on it..
Make 'em look...that's effective design. Rapid
(edited for way too many typos and the wrong "instant graemlin". Just another attack of "stupid fingers"...sheesh )
[ June 24, 2004, 06:53 PM: Message edited by: Ray Rheaume ]
-------------------- Ray Rheaume Rapidfire Design 543 Brushwood Road North Haverhill, NH 03774 rapidfiredesign@hotmail.com 603-787-6803
I like my paint shaken, not stirred. Posts: 5648 | From: North Haverhill, New Hampshire | Registered: Apr 2003
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Just to clairify my above post... I dont have a problem with those who don't care much for my work. Don't bother me a bit.
I have no problem finding enough clients who want it either.
The folks I speak of are the sidewalk supervisors. I get a kick out of these folks who are glad to offer their opinion asked for or not.
They offer me a valuable service, an instant reaction to our project. And I'll happily take the good with the bad.
Its when I get no reaction at all I get worried, for then my project isn't doing what it's supposed to.
To those few who really violently oppose what I do I remind them that's it's a free country, and just like they can oppose what I do - I'm also free to keep on building.
-dan
-------------------- Dan Sawatzky Imagination Corporation Yarrow, British Columbia dan@imaginationcorporation.com http://www.imaginationcorporation.com
Being a grampa is one of the the most wonderful things in the world!!! Posts: 8738 | From: Yarrow, B.C. Canada | Registered: Nov 1998
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Sorta like the guy that comes up while Im doing a window and says, "I'ont like at." It dont bother me either Dan. I just take it in stride and keep going. Your work speaks for itself pretty loudly. Its those that do like it that are in the high numbers. Like you say, we have to have both sides.
-------------------- Maker of fine signs and other creative stuff. Located at 109 N. Cumberland ave. Harlan, Ky. 40831 606-837-0242 Posts: 4172 | From: Ages-Brookside, Ky. Up the Holler... | Registered: Jul 1999
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They only say stuff because deep down they know they could never pull off that kind of work, they don't understand the work, and it makes them jealous. They can't think of anything positive to say so they go for the negativity.
It's just something "forward thinkers" have to put up with.
I'll probably run into the same thing when I'm ready to build my house. I'm thinkin' "Jetson's Style", single floor, circular plan, 360 degree view, a support structure much like Buckminster Fuller's Dymaxion House only perched on a 300ft tall stationary center mast and the ability to adjust the location of the house along the height of that mast. Kinda like a "mobile spaceneedle". I've got property out in the middle of the desert away from population but there are already yuppies out there complaining about the guy that built his house outta car bumpers and corrugated tin. Yeah, it's ugly as hell but you gotta respect anyone with the cajones to live in a tin house in the desert!
-------------------- "If I share all my wisdom I won't have any left for myself."
Mike Pipes stickerpimp.com Lake Havasu, AZ mike@stickerpimp.com Posts: 8746 | From: Lake Havasu, AZ USA | Registered: Jun 2000
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-------------------- -------------------- Dave Cox C2 Media Services (Formerly That Sign Guy) dave@c2mediaservices.com -------------------- Full Color Printing Posts: 295 | From: Sacramento CA | Registered: Jan 2003
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Dan, I personally like your work too . . . but as has been mentioned, art is SO subjective.
While there are many styles of art, lettering or striping, even music, that I personally do not like, often there are parts of the process that fascinate me so much so that I want to experiment with that process and blend it with something I do like.
Even if I really dislike certain subject matter or styles, I ALWAYS appreciate and respect the time, effort and skill, and use of material that an artist has put into the peice and I can almost always find something intriguing about it.
Oh yeh, I forgot to mention the "naysayer" part. I usually don't think of people who say the don't like my work, or question the work, or even the work of others as "naysayers".
My first question is "why?". People who are not artists often will speak off the cuff. For example, they may hate green so if a peice has a lot of that colour in it they will automatically not like the peice. They will also say they "love" something for no real reason as well. I like to try to do two things with people in this case.
1. Asking them why they like or don't like something makes them respond and think which opens up doors which in turn enables you to create communication. After pointing out other things in the peice besides the colour green, and/or explaining the technique the artist used to achieve the effect, that person will almost always say things like, "Hmmm, I never thought of that!" "I did'nt even see THAT before . . ." or, "Wow, I never realized what was involved in creating that effect." I love to watch people when they really begin to see things this way. They never see art the same again. The next peice of art they see they will how to ask themselves these questions first and make honest more educated opinions.
2. Whether they do or don't like my work, either way, I want to know why because they may help me see something I can't see or that I missed. I certainly don't pretend to be the end-all and even someone who does'nt understand the first thing about creativity may say something that sparks a vision. Often people have commented on something they liked that I took for granted and I appreciate all over again that some people do "see".....
. . . . 5000 words later . . . I think I wanna say thanx Dan, for makin' me remember all this stuff . . . . .lol
quote: I figure there's not much hope in pleasing them anyway, the kid in them died a long time ago and it's their loss.
That's one of the saddest truths I've heard in a long time Dan
-------------------- “Did you ever stop to think, and forget to start again?” -Winnie the Pooh & A.A. Milne
Kelly Thorson Kel-T-Grafix 801 Main St. Holdfast, SK S0G 2H0 ktg@sasktel.net Posts: 5496 | From: Penzance, Saskatchewan | Registered: May 2002
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