Never before has the immediate influence of others been so available to us.
I could post a photo of a sketch on any of my social media profiles before bed and potentially wake up to thousands or millions of interactions from across the globe (but realistically its like five, MAYBE ten from the Wichita area). Immediately a flood (or a puddle) of influence as just been thrown at my feet.
And so the everlasting battle with social media begins. How can I maintain an online presence while also staying authentic to myself, my life and my art? Influence can be a terrible thing, and if the individual artist is not mentally strong or authentic to themselves, it could bury their creativity.
I think the easiest solution, and the one I've done the past few years, is to just avoid it. I can draw, paint and create to my hearts content and fill up my studio with whatever the hell I want, completely sheltered and in my own little bubble. Plenty of artists have died with piles of work the public had never seen!
But being stuck in a box doesn't do me any good; how can others be inspired either to create or follow their own life's calling, if no one else is doing it? In truth, I cannot grow as an individual without the harsh rays of influence.
A quote from Henri Matisse that I read late last year is to blame for this growing interest in the idea of influence. He says:
"I have never avoided the influence of others, I would have considered this cowardice and a lack of sincerity towards myself. I believe that the personality of the artist develops and asserts itself through the struggles it has to go through when pitted against other personalities. If the fight is fatal and the personality succumbs, it means that this was bound to be its fate." *
I would also be lying if I didn't say that my wife's sudden influx of social media posts was inspiring. Every day I see her making cat-related content and sharing her opinions online for the world to see and it has truly got me thinking about influence.
So I've already started throwing myself out there more with this blog and all my other social media profiles (check them out at the bottom of this page). Since I'm not a social butterfly and I'm rarely out of the house doing things, I must use whatever online tools I can to market myself and my art.
I believe the proper route for me is to refrain from social media unless I am making a post, video, or interacting with those who are interacting with me. This will ensure that I'm focusing on the Self and what's important to me instead of what others are doing. I'm guilty of doom scrolling and I usually never take away anything valuable from my social media sessions anyway. I am not pursuing trends or "the meta", I just want to get my artwork and life out there.
Financial gains are not the sole reason that I'm creating, and I don't want encouragement from the social media platforms themselves, but rather those who are interested in my art. And if no one is interested in it during my lifetime, then that's just too bad for me. Popularity and money are great drivers, but not at the expense of one's Self or authenticity. I never want to be a sell out and I never want to do things that are not true to who I am.
If you're interested in carrying the discussion further, buying my artwork, or providing general support, please check out my Patreon or find me at any of the social sites at the footer of this webpage.
Sources:
* Jack D. Flan, Matisse on Art, New York NY, Phaidon Press Limited, 1978