Criticism...

Well friends, I did not go to art school. I am not your traditional artist. I am over a certain age. There are several things that people could say are going to make it hard for me to find success. If I let those things stop me, I'd be done before getting started.

In my quest to get started, put myself out there and put my art on display, I was prepared to receive some criticism or to be ignored. I posted my art on a website in a gallery and received a spirited reception. People criticized me for putting prices on my pieces.

When I signed up for the site, there was never an indication that pricing was not allowed. It appeared that the criticism for doing so only came from someone's opinion and a "this is how we've always done it" approach.

I understand that point of view, however it is limited. We as artists are innovators. We are ground-breakers. We are fearless. It is with a will that cannot be stopped that I'm even strong enough to put myself out here at all. If it were not for absolute desperation, I would have stopped long ago.

I have to succeed. I have to take risks. I have to take chances and possibly receive more hate than love. It is because I have the responsibility to others to make myself successful that I must go on. I have to do this. I cannot fail.

So it is not to offend anyone. It is only to become who I am supposed to be. To make it easier for those in my charge. To keep the promise I made to those that came before me to not give up. To not lay down and die. To reach the top of my field through sheer undaunted courage. I must proceed. I must persevere.

I really don't have a choice. So before you criticize, try to imagine the other person's point of view. It is poetic to be a starving artist, but not desirable. It seems unfair that as much joy art brings, we don't always support our artists until they are well known.

It is my goal to support other artists when I reach my success. So when you support me, you support the future. I won't let you down. I simply can't.