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Not too long ago, I received an email in which the writer proceeded to bad mouth the work of a very well-known designer, calling their work “boring” and questioning why anyone would hire them. I was so taken back by the voraciousness of the email that I decided not to even answer it. I did, however, consider printing it here but decided it would be best not to give the negative words any more airtime.

You see, I know what it feels like to be judged. On more than one occasion, I have heard or been told that my work is so “overdone” that it boarders on “tasteless” and “vulgar“. While I am human and it is never easy to have your art dismissed, my response has always been, “You may take your opinion and go to h…“. Not everyone will like my work or yours, but it’s one thing to respect the work of the artist and simply say “it’s not for me” than it is to judge and condemn it. We all have opinions– and are all entitled to them– but what surprises me is that those who are quick to judge often look past the fact that there are clients who like our work.

Those are the opinions that matter to us.

I believe the idea that we are the ultimate taste makers is perpetuated by many of the reality TV shows currently on television. As artists, we should always remember that our designs should feel “right” to us and be designed with care and integrity. If we follow this basic outline, we will often find that those designs will feel “right” to our respective clients.

My advice, from one artist to another, is to be open to constructive criticism from loved ones who understand your vision and ignore those who try to use judgement to kill your dreams.

There is a difference.

Blessings,

Preston

Question:

Who is the one person whose opinion you trust in regards to evaluating your work?

As an artist, are you affected by the judgments of others, even strangers?