My take on Success

Today I began my third semester here at BYU. This semester begins the series of semesters that will be filled with classes for my major, the classes I should enjoy the most. I began today with a technically-art-geared class that has more of a business ring to it. The class is called Creative and Critical Thinking and the focus of the class is to 'open our eyes' to the endless possibilities that lie ahead of us and to see the things we can do as an art major besides living in a cardboard box at the end of a dark alley. It was an awesome first day, but our teacher brought up an interesting question that gained a lot of diverse answers. What does success mean to you? (By this he meant when we will feel successful). As he read the responses of our class, I was truly shocked at how many people had written something about being famous or rich or having galleries all over the world. Is that what success means to you? Can you truly not be happy with yourself until you reach that goal? Because that is a lofty goal that, to be honest, may never be reached by most of us. Does that truly make us unsuccessful?

Let me tell you what my response was, or at least something like it. "Success for me is knowing that I am pleased with what I have done. There will always be someone who doesn't like your work, but if you like it then what else really matters?" You may now be thinking "Wow, James. That's good to say and all, but do you really believe it?" The answer to that is a simple yes. Now let me tell you why. 

I've loved art for a long time and as we all know good and well, art is subjective. Art isn't like math where there truly is only one right answer to an equation. It's not like science where you work to make one result. It's more like reading a book or watching a movie. While I love horror films, many people don't. While lots of people in the Mid-West like country music, I tend to despise the very name of country music. It's the same way with art. Not everyone loves surrealism or abstract. And when you are the creator of the work, you have to be tough in order to think about what people say, but also stand behind the work you have done. A weak artist simply cannot be pleased with what they do because there will always be someone who doesn't like it. For example: 

This is one of my favorite pieces that I have ever done. However, last year when I was displaying some art to my church ward, one of my best friends informed me that it was her least favorite and she didn't actually like it. At first I was a little hurt, but I still loved the piece. I knew the time and effort that I had put into this piece and I wasn't going to let one person's different opinion change how I felt about my work. In all the art classes I have taken thus far, we have had in-class critiques. There again you will listen to some people say they like the piece, others think you could add a little here of there, and then there will be those who honestly just hate your work. And that's okay! Because in the end, who are you trying to please? Who are you trying to voice through your work? If you've answered anyone other than yourself, I personally think you're missing the point. Art is about you expressing yourself. It's about your feelings, your desires, your personality. It's about the way you see the world. And so when you are pleased with your work, don't let others break you down by saying they don't like it. Let them have their opinions, and stand by your own. You and only you can create your work. 

In a later class (Art History actually), we discussed what art is and the professor displayed some quotes about art. I wanted to share a few of the ones that I loved, so here they are.

"Art is the most intense mode of individualism that the world has known."

Oscar Wilde

"Art enables us to find ourselves and lose ourselves at the same time."

Thomas Merton

"All art is autobiographical; the pearl is the oyster's autobiography."

Frederico Fellini

And here I add my take on success and art: If you are pleased with what you've done, then what else truly matters?