Comments on: Take a Deep Breath

By: Art of RetroCollage

Sat, 29 Jan 2011 21:30:04 +0000

Fortunately, one area I cannot be upset about is how people react to my art. Either they like it or they don’t, but that has no effect on how I feel about my own creativity.

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By: Stop apologizing for imperfections — Art Biz Blog

Fri, 02 Oct 2009 18:41:31 +0000

[…] Take a Deep Breath Introduce Yourself Politely (on social media sites) Believe In Your Art SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: "Stop apologizing for imperfections", url: "https://aaartbizold.wpengine.com/2009/10/apologizing.html"; }); […]

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By: Michael Newberry

Mon, 14 Sep 2009 15:35:07 +0000

Alyson,

Great advice. It reminds me of the online saying that if you call someone a Nazi you have lost. 🙂

Michael

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By: Fazzino

Tue, 11 Aug 2009 20:04:03 +0000

This is sound advice for any artist who must inevitably face the music of criticism and, unfortunately, one form of bigotry or another. Becoming heated and reacting as such impulsively is a sin I think a lot of us are guilty of, and we often pay for it later with regret and/or making the issue worse.

Be calm, take the criticism (or ignore the ignorance), and respond once things are in the clear.

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By: delia

Tue, 11 Aug 2009 19:17:31 +0000

Great subject! It amazes me how brazen someone can get with comments, especially if done without their real ID…I saw some very rude, negative and hateful comments on a YouTube video. I was very angry seeing what people wrote, so decided to defend and mention how stupid the comments where….as I was writing my comment, I realized that they would know my YouTube ID and turn on me…so that scared me off…but once I had written my thoughts, but not published them, I realized how cathartic this was to at least write it down getting it out of my system…Reality is, that you can’t resolve the problem of hateful comments, but you can change the world by being a positive person.
I have never received a negative comment on my artwork but have experienced a very hateful comment on one of my art blogs, I had the option to publish it, but didn’t…I knew the truth and that I was right, I didn’t have to respond to defend the truth, so didn’t….but wrote it out and got it out of my system, just like you expressed Alyson….great advice I adhear to.

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By: Alyson Stanfield

Mon, 10 Aug 2009 20:59:17 +0000

Eroica and Lisa: It never hurts to read and re-read solid business advice.

Denise: Interesting. I wonder if it’s sometimes better to remove a comment than to respond to it in anger.

Sari: Hmmm. This is a little different because the people you’re writing to can actually do something about the situation. I think it’s important to keep the tone civilized–regardless of your anger level. I think it’s 100% true that you catch more flies with honey than with vinegar.

Kathryn: Burning and tearing up are the piece de resistance!

Philip: So true. I can recall more times than I care to admit that I wish I had bit my tongue.

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By: Philip Koch

Mon, 10 Aug 2009 18:59:26 +0000

It is funny but artists have two conflicting jobs. One the one hand they are supposed to become as sensitive and feeling-oriented as possible. On the other they have to survive repeated rejection. Of course their are going to be bumps on such a road.

The ability to sometimes bite one’s tongue is necessary. Pick your battles carefully. Good advice from Alyson.

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By: kathryn hansen

Mon, 10 Aug 2009 18:12:29 +0000

i learned the hard way years ago not to respond in anger. i do the same as you…write out a letter that will never be sent just to get out my anger, thoughts and feelings. i just take it a step further and either rip it up or burn it as a way to release the negativity. it’s amazing how much better you feel afterward!!

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By: Sari Grove

Mon, 10 Aug 2009 15:36:14 +0000

I live in a very very polite neighbourhood…I have watched as beautiful homes have been torn down to build slab high rise condo flip developments…Everyone has been very polite about it…Now they are going to tear down a famous Canadian architect’s studio…I have been empowered to write articles, letters & blog posts, by my outrage…My polite neighbours are shocked at my honesty…Politely, they appreciate it…Anger is not something I use too often…But it can be a powerful tool at the right moment & censoring my words might have dampened the effect…But, this is an exception to the rule, & I do agree with you wholeheartedly…

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By: Denise Hall

Mon, 10 Aug 2009 15:28:46 +0000

Thanks Alyson for the advice. I believe I responded in anger in one of my blogs to someone’s comment about my artwork. I guess I realize it really isn’t professional and people have their own opinions about art. Thanks for the article. I think I’ll remove that particular blog. I’m long over it now.

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