Some time ago, while wading through the dark and murky depths of what can only be described as “Furaffinity,” I came across a quaint little picture adjoined to a journal entry, listed in the description below. The artist expressed a great deal of frustration in spending hours upon hours on a picture, only for it to go unnoticed under the voluminous cascade of submissions that would drown it out. His/ her picture, then, would quickly become buried under the following succession, presumably to never be seen again. They went on to complain how, for putting so much effort into such a picture, they would seldom receive the recognition they felt they deserved, only to receive one, or two favorites, if that. I think the title of the picture was, quite literally, something to the effect of “Spend Hours On a Picture, Only For No One to Care.”
Reading this, I couldn't help but feel a sense of empathy, being an artist of modest capabilities myself, and having dutifully submitted a great deal of submissions over the years. I've experienced the same exact quandary in my exploits. I'd placed a great deal of time and effort into something that I could truly express an endearing sense of passion for, matched with the hopeful anticipation of what recognition I could garner for the energies that I had poured into th object, which in this case would be a piece of artwork. And then, submitting it to those sites that I catered to as an aspiring artist, and hoping that maybe, just maybe, there would be those out there who would see it as I did, and like it. And then, as the hours would come to pass and I would return the following day to see if anything had changed, I'd find the whole ordeal likened to an exercise in futility when not a one person had even looked upon the piece in question.
There are exclusions to this, be it “Furaffinity,” “Deviantart,” or other similar sites. Different crowds respond differently to what they see, and some pictures that would otherwise go unnoticed in one gallery would be flocked to in another. However, in my personal experience, very -rarely- would I get anything more than one or two favorites, if that, or even the ever rare but appreciated “watch.” And so, given my perspective and situation, I could relate to this mysterious artist whose name escapes me right now. I was, and still am, in that same set of circumstances, an unnoticed observer of a sort who seems to merely exist on the fringe of the internet.
No one can be at fault here, however. The audience is not obligated to like something that they do not truly have an interest for, nor is the artist obligated to draw things solely based on the likes and interests of the audience. Free choice lies on both sides of the equation, the exclusions only when the artist sells his/her services to a member of the audience for a price. In some cases, it's not so much the issue of whether or not a viewer likes the subject material that an artist submits, but more along the lines of their art simply going on unnoticed. It's unfortunate, to be a little fish in such a big pond, but that's what it's come down to at times. Big name artists garner all of the attentions of the masses, leaving those of modest backgrounds or humbler beginnings to the very fringes of the internets reach.
To feel entitled to receive recognition from those masses around one feels a bit off, like expecting the audience at a movie theatre to express immediate appreciation for a movie simply on the basis of the amount of time and effort that went into it. There've been many movie flops that have fallen along that line of thought, having spent a great deal of money on the best named actors of the business, with all the special effects and a sense of impact. They'd end up being only regarded as colossal failures in coming years, though. Does this follow true to pieces of art, the collective creations wrought from the creative recesses of our minds? Things that the artist sees in a different light than their audience would, in some cases going far beyond the face value of their valued art.
I really can't say. It's really not my place to determine this concretely with any clear cut answer, given the speculative nature of this “analysis.” It's just something that I have experienced first hand, and continue to experience at present, as well as my many of my peers throughout the websites that cater to the artist and viewer. The amount of patience one has for this sort of thing varies immensely. Some go for years without a word, content to do the things they do without any expectation for widespread success or fame. Then, I'd heard stories of fellow artists throwing massive hissy-fits over unrecognized fame for what they felt they were entitled to. This would, in turn, draw a great deal of animosity towards them from those purveyors of art on the many websites, as they would respond critically to their juvenile frustrations with harsh commentary, or flippant jests.
And then I look at myself, and the things that I do. Why do I continue to draw if the prospect for success and popularity isn't really there for me? I'd been told by those throughout life that drawing in a sketchbook and leaving it there would be a massive waste of my “talents,” and that art should be displayed and circulated. As a young man, though, just starting out in submitting artwork online, there was a resounding question. I forget who or what brought it to mind, but the question was, “What motivates you as an artist?” There were negative connotations surrounding those who solely drew to gain popularity among their peers, or to gain recognition. But I'd be lying if that wasn't just -one- motivating factor along the way. Guilty thing to say, I know, but at the same time.. if that's all that it was, I'd have given up long ago.
But as I “waste” the many hours of my days in meticulous care in my artistic pursuits, writing elaborate descriptions to match said artwork, I am given pause. I guess the sense of feeling that I can share with that unknown artist is a sense of stagnation, as we merely seem to exist in the presence of far greater things around us. And our marvelous works and creations we submit, merely taking up space and wasting bandwidth that could possibly be used for better things. But at the same time, my sense of satisfaction derives from doing the things that I love to do. Creating characters by the stroke of my pen, and fashioning worlds as my mind commits to (digital) paper the imagery that I try to relay from a more creative side of my person. And so long as I continue to improve and develop my crafts, then I can find my time spent in worthwhile endeavors. And it is with this in mind that I can accept the circumstances that I share with so many other “mediocre” artists out there, struggling to improve and develop as well.
The diverse nature of so many different artists coming together only leads me to say to the many of you to never lose hope in what you're doing. As cliché'd as it's become through movies and other avenues of media, belief in yourself will enable you to proceed forwards, with the past an important frame of reference to dictate how you will proceed forwards. Begin by comparing your more recent pictures or works to those of the old to gain a real sense of improvement. Continue to do so in the coming days as you initiate new projects. So long as you find a sense of self-worth in what you are doing, continue doing so. Delusions of grandeur are one thing, but aspirations and ambition are another, and it'll be the latter you'll be actively pursuing. Go the way of They Might be Giants and do your own thing, and perhaps there'll come a day you'll be noticed and recognized for the uniqueness surrounding your person.
I can only hope things turn out well enough for you, either way..
