OF SCARY FAERIES AND CRITICISM

This is Cave Rock Woman, recently charged with being scary art. When I got this feedback I stopped what I was doing and really considered the charge. Actually, it wasn't just Cave Rock Woman, it was my work in general. Professionally, I consider criticism to be a challenge to look at my work from a different viewpoint and to decide if I want to do something about it. In this case, initially, the alarm bells went off. My website portfolio is an avenue for jobs. It sounded as if this person didn't even get past my first gallery of images. Was this person part of my target maket? I didn't think so, but maybe she was? I'll admit, this comment got a rise out of me. It spurred a journey that proved to be invaluable.

When my work first began to shift from my original botanical faeries to my present all inclusive nature spirits, I recognized that the intensity of my work had increased tenfold. I was concerned about this, but I knew that for me to grow as an artist this was where my work needed to go. I was never interested in becoming a "fluffy" faery artist. I'm just not fluffy. In fact, that was my initial objection to illustrating faeries when I was asked to do so more than 10 years ago (see February 5, 2007 The Legend of Faery Medicine).

Originally my exhibit work had the purpose of passing on medicinal plant information in an entertaining way - specifically endangered medicinal plant information held by declining indigenous cultures. My first piece that deviated from plant lore was Cave Rock Woman - one of the main culprits in this whole episode. She's intense. Here's why - Cave Rock is a sacred Washoe Indian site above the shores of Lake Tahoe in Nevada. When non-Wahoe people came to Lake Tahoe and saw the magic of the area they eventually wanted an easier way to get there. Cave Rock blocked access to portions of Tahoe beyond the rock if a road were to be built. So, the solution was to blast a hole in this sacred site to allow people to travel through the rock. Is Cave Rock Woman intense? You bet. You would be too if someone blasted a hole through you! (In my art I use the idea held by many world cultures that objects in nature possess a spirit energy that allows them to adopt a persona.) When I illustrated Cave Rock Woman, Cave Rock was in and out of the news and court every day. The Washoe people wanted respect for this sacred site and wanted a say in what types of activities could occur there. So, Cave Rock Woman is intense. She should be. This piece of art evoked some strong emotions. That's good.

Next issue - I publish my illustrations as cards, prints and other items. Is Cave Rock Woman a threat to my livelihood? I took that issue head on dissecting my website and deciding whether to redesign it by putting less intense work ahead of Cave Rock Woman. As I pondered this I got out my sales records for the last two years and did a detailed report on what sold. The "scary" first four pieces on my website are the top sellers. Over and over I have read that 80% of sales will come from 20% of the products sold by a business. I always thought that was an interesting theory, but had never looked at my own business that way. Here was my proof.

Next issue on my list was my professional relationship with publishers and others who might commission my work. I got out my portfolio review notes. When I'm showing my portfolio it can be daunting when my work begins to go in a new direction. Sometimes I will go to illustration conferences and try my new work out in a portfolio review where a job isn't on the line. At the last conference I knew that I liked the direction my work was taking and wanted to see if the reviewer had the same reaction. I put my older faery botanicals and my newer, more intense work into my portfolio for review. The reaction - my older work wasn't as strong. It was nice, but should be taken out. At the next conference I presented my new "scary" portfolio and got thumbs up and publisher recommendations.

Last, I had to deal with the reaction that I had to the criticism personally. That doesn't always happen, so why did the comment get a rise out of me? Well, I discovered, I thought my work was being misunderstood. So, what am I going to do about this scary criticism? I decided that I need to state my intentions as an artist more clearly and introduce my work in a way that allows people who unwittingly surf to my site to know what they're getting into from the get go. I gained valuable information about my work from this journey on the criticism roller coaster. Is it good that someone thought my work was scary? Yes. I want my work to evoke the emotions of my viewers. That is what art is about in my opinion. Art itself is not intrinsically scary or beautiful. It's what your mind does with the image that makes it what you perceive...or better said..."Beauty (fear) is in the eye of the beholder."

Embrace criticism and go on the ride!

You can view a larger version of Cave Rock Woman at Faery Medicine Boutique.)