On Art and Design Part Three: You are Unique as an artist. You don't need to be as good as "What's her face"

"Some talents may be similar than others but honestly; I have not seen two completely identical fine artists. No painting is the same and neither is talent. Just because someone else can draw just as good or better does not mean that they are competition and that you will never make it in the field. That person has the capability to develop their own taste and talents that will make them stand out and be unique. God created us equally unique in his image. We need to take that idea and run with it."

- An excerpt from my assignment...again. 

Oddballers,

Another day another dollar. Right? So today we are embarking on a similar series that I have started on art and design. I guess I am using this to remind myself in the future ideas that I need to keep in mind as I grow as an artist and attempt to reach my goals. It is important to have a place where your roots are found, so you can refer to it whenever you are feeling discouraged and frustrated about something. So I guess, my friends, that this is the place where I take my roots and spew them at the internet. Sorry if you find my ideas insane, but too bad. I'm insane deal with it. It's thoughts from and Oddball not thoughts from a Sane person. :) In case you didn't know.

I have thought about a specific experience that only film students will understand-- film critique screenings. It is where a bunch of students will get together, and the professors will screen your assignments and students will share their thoughts on it. This is the absolute worst thing ever for an artist. No one wants to be criticized, and the negative results of this are very evident. What I’ve seen in those who take the criticism very personally and have it break down their self-worth and ability to achieve in their field, or, they criticize the crap out of everyone else to find fault in others to make themselves feel better. I, on the other hand, am in a predicament when this happens. I don’t do either of these things. It’s very frustrating for me because it makes me feel like an outsider but the more I think about it the more I realized that it makes me ahead of the ahead of the game. I am not trying to knock all the other buildings down. I am not lazy and not working towards building my building at all. I am building by building by listening to others, and help them build their building too. This is what it means to utilize your gifts for the benefits of others. Yes, sometimes I feel doubts because someone was extremely successful in achieving their goal in a project, but I need to not focus on others and strictly pay attention to what I need to do to get better.

WE need to do this everyday. Stop worrying about what everyone else is doing. Being successful isn't about you, it is about the journey and your growth as an artist. Yes everyone wants to be the best, but you can be the best by building the tallest building or knocking the others down. It is your choice what you decide, but trust me, the first choice is more enjoyable and worthwhile. You don't need to be like James Cameron to be a successful filmmaker, Heck you don't need to be like anyone! Just be yourself and express yourself. Everyone is unique as an artist. Utilize that and forget about pleasing people. It is not as much about pleasing people as it is about telling an amazing story. So tell some SICK stories with your work that mean something to you and others, and stop being a little thing and focusing on how you can be like someone else, because then you will never get a job. Because "that guy" will always have the job and not you. REMEMBER THAT!!! You can be someone else, so stop trying and don't compare yourself to someone that you are not. In that case...it means everyone. STOP it!!!

Much love though, its tough love but you'll thank me later.

God Bless

Oddball