How to handle a negative art review

(Written to: "Karma" by Trevor Hall)

"Art is entirely subjective." -my mother

“I understand negativity much differently today. ”

I'll never forget the first negative review I received.

The feeling was very peculiar. 

Immediately, I felt as though I needed to cut the person down in return. In defense.

They're stupid. They have terrible taste in art. They have no eye. They don't know art.

Thankfully and mercifully, I understand negativity much differently today. 

“It’s a freeing experience of life when you no longer feel the need to defend anything. Not just with one’s art, but with one’s whole life.”

It's a freeing experience of life when you no longer feel the need to defend anything. Not just with one's art, but with one's whole life.

“I don’t need to explain it in order for you to understand. Because you don’t need to understand.”

I need to defend myself to no one.

I don't need to qualify my art.

I don't need to explain it in order for you to understand. Because you don't need to understand.

If you don't like my art, I hope you find some art that you do like.

It takes all sorts of people for the world to go around. And all types of art.

My advice for dealing with a negative review is simple, but not easy.

Take a deep breath, stop reading it (and re-reading it), forget the person's name, and walk away. Go paint. Go compose. Go write. 

Go create more.

“Everything has an equal and opposite. For every person who mocks, derides and belittles your art, there is somebody out there who loves and needs it. And many days, that person will be you, yourself.”

The fact of the matter is, if your art has registered a negative reaction from somebody, it's already more effective than a piece which registers no reaction at all.

But it's not a comparison.

Everything has an equal and opposite. For every person who mocks, derides and belittles your art, there is somebody out there who loves and needs it.

And many days, that person will be you, yourself.

Who are you creating your art for?

“Art is my method of communing with God.”

Art is my method of communing with God.

I create art for myself. It just so happens, that I like to be a exhibitionist about it.

So take a deep breath, forget it, and just keep it moving.

TRISHA WILES