Why does it hurt so much to see students sell themselves short? I had a teacher once, Gregory D’Alessio, who told me that in our work we completely expose ourselves. It is all there for the world to see- how much we cared, or didn’t care, how sensitive or insensitive we were to the subject at hand, how much respect or lack of respect we had for what we were creating, for the process.
The people who respect art too much to ever create without care, without giving it full attention and their best effort, are the people who grow and thrive and end up with successful careers. It really is as simple as that.
Art demands that we care. Today I saw a room full of beautiful drapery studies by first year concept art students. It was clear that they were focused, involved, and behind every mark they made on the page.
I was privileged to see part of the animation students’ year 4 film project, and I think it will be, perhaps, the best fourth year film done at Max the Mutt…..and then I saw some really poorly done drawings I can’t get out of my head…and they were done by people who’ve also done some terrific work.
Because I know the students, because I know what they’ve already been taught and are aware of, because I’ve seen them produce good work, the work I was looking at told me they’re treating parts of their education with little or no respect for the subject, the instructor, or themselves. They were working as though no one had ever taught them composition and design, or spoken about a felt line, or talked about choosing pencils wisely and preparing them properly. Poorly composed, unfelt, with lines that do not communicate form in space…they know and I know they are capable of more.
Being a professional means you give your best effort to every job, not just the ones that appeal to you. it means you apply your self to the difficult technical parts of drawing because they are the underpinnings that your creativity will travel on.
Excellence demands caring. At the very least, one has to make an effort to bring what one already knows to the task at hand. Ask for an extension if you need one, but take pride in what you’re doing! Every time you work poorly, without focus, without care, you damage yourself.
That’s what kept me up.
Max the Mutt has helped so many people develop real skills and make careers, but at least 80% is up to the student. You have to catch what’s being given to you, grab it, treasure it, use it…and work! Practice makes perfect.
And you have to care every time you pick up a pencil and draw a line. That’s what it means to be an artist.
