one of the lamest and most needlessly tiring trends i talk about with my other artist friends who live partially off of posting online is process posts. sharing creative process. there’s just a major drop in art literacy and independent thought culturally that requires the artist prove that their labor is laborious enough to respect the final image.
and every time we get together to talk, the topic comes up and everyone is tired. the audience needs to peek behind the canvas and verify “hmm yes this indeed isn’t a Rothko or John Cage and took time, which is money, which is now deserving of praise.”
the cosmetically sanctifying desire to verify that the work isn’t AI does not make the situation or cause better or easier for the artist. it does not feel good to be viewed as a thief first when you are, in fact, not one. we feel something, it moves us to produce a visual, and we want to show you the visual so that you hopefully feel something.
the “parts and labour” of the work are deeply unremarkable and rob this intimate transaction of so much. and when someone requires receipts in order to fully engage, it really does cheapen the whole thing and turn fine art into a hyperconsumer transaction. i think this instinct comes so naturally to some people. and i also think they should take it as a sign that the art is not for them. less politely, i also think they have inner work to do. this is just a weird time, lads.
this is Tumblr, so i know the general cadence of commenting can sometimes look like dogpiling edge cases because this platform is beautifully and necessarily filled with edge case people. it moves me to say that there have always been a bevy of educational resources for young and aspiring artists to Frankenstein their own process outside of an algorithm. if an artist you love helped you by sharing their process. that was their choice ultimately and no harm done. but the systematic pressure to do so is something that shouldn’t exist. i think this sentiment can peacefully co-exist with whatever positive anecdotes another person can drum up.
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jacobvanloon
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kianamaiart
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