Why Your Art Sucks

The one thing you're doing that guarantees your art ends up in the bargain bin at your local thrift store

The internet is killing your vibe

As an artist, I’ve spent literal years of my life scrolling endlessly through infinite pages on the internet hoping to find a secret nugget that could lead to the extravagant lifestyle that I lead in my head.

I’ve also created umpteen Etsy shops, more than a few Shopify stores, and at least a few Gumroad pages.

Inevitably, upon opening one of these shops, I get sucked into the vacuum of information from the gurus of these platforms.

They preach on the quickest, fastest way to build a six-figure store, the hottest products, blah, blah, blah. And I fell for it, time and time again.

I’m such a sucker like that.

Seriously, I’ve done it, I mean, it’s ludicrous how many times I’ve followed their advice on how to research trends in order to make products that will skyrocket your sales only to find out this magical product is something I’d never buy or wear.

Not in a million years.

I’ve signed up for this website and listened to that podcast. “Do what I did and you too can create the Etsy store of your dreams.” (In that annoying used car salesman voice)

I’ve filled up two hard drives with digital assets from all of the Etsy shops I’ve opened.

Truth is, it’s all garbage. Nobody cared, and why should they?

That shit doesn’t resonate with an audience.

I couldn’t bring myself to make one more shirt that said, ‘Live, Love, Laugh.”

Barf.

What resonates with an audience is authenticity.

It's easy to fall into the trap of creating art that caters to what we think others want to see because we’re following the scent of the benjamins. At least we think we are.

We find ourselves caught in a cycle of researching trends, conforming to expectations, and ultimately producing work that lacks originality and soul.

But here's the hard truth: when we prioritize pleasing others over expressing our true selves, our art suffers.

Trying to see yourself or your art through the eyes of other people diminishes the value of your art.

Making art solely for the purpose of gaining approval leads to mediocrity, at best.

I can pretty much guarantee you that %100 of the time there is at least one person who’s pissed off at me for some reason.

You can not be all things to all people in life or in your art.

It’s less about the content of your message than it is about the way in which you deliver it.

If you don’t believe me, think about the story of JT LeRoy.

Some say this was the greatest literary hoax of all time. This author took on the persona of the character in her book in phone conversations. She even went to the extent of putting her sister-in-law up to appear in public as JT. People were pissed when it was discovered that they’d been lied to and that JT was not a real person.

It’s better to be hated for something that you are than to be loved for something you aren’t.

The paradox of pleasing everyone makes for lame content.

We've been conditioned to believe that success as an artist comes from catering to a wide audience and conforming to popular tastes.

Nothing could be farther from the truth.

Attempting to please everyone often results in bland, generic art that lacks depth and emotional resonance.

Creating art that speaks to your unique vision and experiences is far more powerful and impactful.

When our primary focus is on replicating what's already popular or imitating the styles of others, we stifle our own creativity and hinder our ability to create something truly unique.

Authenticity is the secret ingredient that breathes life into art.

There’s another secret ingredient, storytelling. The ability to tell a story in your art is one of the most fundamental concepts in all mediums, crafts, and art forms.

True artistry requires a willingness to be vulnerable and take risks, and sometimes that means being honest about who you really are in your work.

By embracing the unknown and trusting our instincts, we unlock our full creative potential and create art that captivates and inspires others.

Perfectionism can be the enemy of creativity.

By letting go of the need for everything to be flawless, we invite spontaneity, experimentation, and a sense of freedom into our creative process.

By letting go of the fear of judgment, embracing vulnerability, and trusting our creative instincts, we can break free from the shackles of audience approval and produce art that is truly extraordinary.