03/08/2026
Day 7 - Lessons Learned
Okay this one might get a little cerebral, bear with me.
A concept I picked up in art school is Self Design. Familiar with a camel is a horse designed by committee?
At the heart of it, it tells us to be our true selves as artists. Be authentic, honest, and uncompromising in your work instead of pandering to popularity. Make what you wanna make, be who you wanna be, and your people will find you.
I struggled A LOT in art school. I contemplated switching majors because the art I was making was not valued in the same way as my classmates who were more commercial leaning. Think fashion or advertisement type work. It took me a while to understand that there is a place for that work and it’s okay if I’m not in it because I really didn’t enjoy it.
My work focused on a lot of everyday things. Things people see, but don’t look at. I stuck with it, and I even managed to get published with the photograph you see here.
As a creative, it is so easy to fall into the if-I-follow-X-trend or make things in X style or follow another’s steps exactly, I’ll be successful. Many folks, including myself sometimes, get caught up in seeing how productive others are, or what others are making, then we shame and guilt ourselves for not having the same output, style, accolades, or “success” — whatever that might look like.
I full on HATE how modern society only values art if it makes money. Art is not usually practical, or logical, or something meant to be liked en masse.
We have lost so much by minimalizing, conforming, and cheapening everything. Mass production has spoiled and robbed us of appreciating craftsmanship and the value of handmade. Colour is being taken away, too! The beigification of society is a very real thing.
What I’m trying to say is try not to worry about what other people are doing or compare yourself to others. Do what you love to do exactly your way and by doing that, it will be high quality work because you enjoy doing it, and the people who are meant to find your work will find and enjoy it.
