Art is Personal

October 12, 2008 (in discob.multiply.com)

Hello,

So, I am back for a bit… I’ve been busy with studies mostly and spending time with friends when I can…
Recently, I’ve been helping a friend with the organization of a few parties… and after the parties, he usually asks me my thoughts on how the party went by, as a regular customer… and obviously I’d criticize (and some people should know I’m horrible when it comes to criticism, as much as I am learning how to take it from other people) and, naturally, he defends himself saying that each one of us has a definition of art and that art is something personal. I agreed, but it didn’t stop me from letting my mind loose and wonder over this sentence.

Just like art, taste is personal.
Say, if you love purple, and look great in it, you’ll wear it and people around, friend or foe, will tell you that you look great. However, what happens when purple doesn’t fit you? Will your friends still say you look great? Maybe… Is that good? No. Even some of your foes might say you look great, and it still ain’t good. Why do they go down this road? For the simple and easy reason that they are not up for the troublesome task of actually criticizing your work or, worse, they just want to put up an act to look and seem friendly to everyone, for uncountable reasons.

You may be wondering why I am bringing this up. Why am I bringing this thing of the arts.
Some of you may know that I am very into graphic design and photography, even though I am not quite in the business. And, naturally, I appreciate and criticize whatever I see. Good or bad, I analyze it. It’s healthy for your creativity and imagination, since it keeps things moving. It even helps you to TRY to think out of the box.
Thing is, lately, there has been a lot of things that I’ve seen/heard that are simple horrid. I’m sorry, it is true, and whoever is reading this MUST agree with me somehow. You can go down whatever category in the arts and you’ll see how horrible some things are coming up. Music, photography, architecture, graphic designing, interior designing, etc.

I do understand that people should be proud of their work and all (and I am proud of my work) but, as much as I fear criticism, I am my worst critique. I will try to make it perfect and compare my work to other artists. I’ll even train myself by copying (with minor changes) something that I’ve seen (remember “Copycats”?), all for the sake of perfecting myself.
Do all people do the same? No.

I do not like to name names, but I do dare to say that the categories that I mentioned above contain my worst critiques lately. I also dare to say that there’s a lot in Multiply that I do not enjoy checking out. Honestly, I dare you, if you do anything related to arts: look for the artist that inspires you (and that is in the same business as you) and compare your work to his/hers. Then go down the painful road of looking for similar artists and tutorials that allow you to get to a better technique or something. See how good you are. Check what you have failed to “copy” and look for a way to copy it and enhance that “copy” to make it your own style, meaning, once someone looks at your work people will sigh and say your name (just like they do when they see Picasso, for example).
However, I do not dare to say that “if I don’t comment, it’s because I don’t like it”, since I recently discovered that viewing the posts in your e-mail count as a view in Multiply, and sometimes I am just checking things as read, so… I’m not actually viewing it, now am I?

I know some people might tell me that I am no one to criticize, but I do know that some of my friends do value my comments, because I am a fan of constructive criticism. If I do not like it, I point out WHY I don’t like it and, if I can, I will show them how I’d do it.
Don’t think I am criticizing you, my dear reader, but I am probably giving you a tip for you to improve your work.

Thanks again for reading me.

Dann

Copycats

June 22, 2008 (in discob.multiply.com)

Hello,

Lately there’s something that has been bugging me. That something is called Copycats, which is also why this post is named after it.
You probably wonder “Why on earth would Dann post something about copycats?!” Well, maybe because all of us sort of have that small kitty in us, and sometimes that kitty ain’t a pussy and decides to purr louder. And what happens? Well, you basically copy other peoples works, entitling them as yours. That’s sad, now ain’t it? How annoying can that be, someone taking all the credit for something YOU created first? Pretty much hey?

Well, allow me to take you to a not-so-contemporary battle in technology: Windows Vista and Mac OS X. Remember how Vista was considered (and still is) a total rip-off (even though I love the look of it… LOL) of Mac OS X? And that’s just the tip of the iceberg. Because Windows and Mac have been struggling since the beginning.
But there are obviously more battles, like PS3′s and Wii’s, where rumour has it that the new controllers are set to copy Wiimotes! Or take Nokia’s N76′s design! It’s a total tip-off from Motorola’s well known RAZR!! And that’s technology only. Projects can also be copied! Ok, I can’t say I am totally genuine (even though I am mostly genuine anyway LOL –cocky moment), however, when I do intend to copy someone, I will either (1) refer the person who inspired me and give that person some credit — thrust me, I do this — or (2) perfect my work – please read project, design, etc – to the point where you see almost no difference between one another (the copied one), but always adding my own little touch to it, so that when you look at it you have that familiar feeling. That’s when, in my humble opinion, you have achieved a perfect copy.

Basically, my point is that, people seem to love to copy people’s works and don’t even bother to give them some credit, and that really bothers me. Yes, I can’t deny that some rip-offs are indubitably well achieved. However, some projects that are out already and some of the ones that are yet to come are simply horrendous. I am sorry to say this, but this is my most honest opinion.

Oh well, what can you do right? You can’t quiet that kitty of yours all the time, now can you? You should, sometimes, show that you are not a pussy and just purr loud… or should I say roar?? Just please remember to give people some credit, or at least present a flawless work.

That is all for now
Thank you guys for reading me!

Dann