I *STOLE* this....

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poboyross's avatar
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Sometimes, all it takes is one comment from the wrong person to poo on your day, right after you've gotten up in the morning.  Very often, this is the case when someone with less-than-honorable intentions decides to comment on some little aspect of a *finished* piece.  "OH, that vein on the bicep would do *this*, not *that*" or "your cloth looks like it's made of X material, when in reality it would be Y".  *SIGH*  facepalm.

While people are free to make such comments, they most certainly are not welcome. Nitpicking is a bad habit, and not becoming of the professional artist.  I have found that many folks who do this do *not* work professionally; and, to the contrary, have problems finding jobs.  I'm FAR from the best sculptor out there...and I mean FAR...FAR FAR....FAR! However, I've been blessed with being able to find the right job when I need it, and stay gainfully employed.  Why is that?  I believe it's due to being under the tutelage of those greater than myself, and asking why they had and kept jobs.  They never nit picked others' work, they always gave constructive criticism on the big things and never on the small  things unless prompted, and they never had much of an ego.  

When I first got out of college, I had a hell of a time finding work.  After my first job, that got a lot easier, and hopefully it remains that way and increasingly so! However, back then, when I was jobless, I started looking for excuses and came to one conclusion....it was *my* fault. I could easily point the finger at crony-ism, racism, and other forms of bias. True or not, it didn't matter.  I had to look at those who were successful in finding work and say "I need to learn that."  You can be an excellent sculptor in ZBrush, but do you know Maya, Max, Magics, Meshlab, Paraform, 3d printing software, traditional keying techniques, print tolerances, or basic math?  See where I'm heading? If you don't have work, you are *not* the best undiscovered talent! As an artist, and *especially* a digital one, you must have a broad knowledge base.  Why would anyone hire a great digital sculptor if you're always having to go and repair their meshes for a week or more afterwards, before even going to print prep?  Furthermore, why would I hire the same person with a chip on their shoulder and an over-inflated view of their own work?  If you're getting hot under the collar at reading this, or have some feelings of resentment and desire to argue with me about it, chances are *you* are one of these people....GET OVER IT.

Two things I'll leave you with, the first is a two-fer.

1) The first great professor I ever had, Tan Tascioglu, found me in the labs at midnight my first year/first computer course at SCAD after I had his first class earlier that day.  He came up to me and said one thing and walked off "This is why you will kick others' asses."  The man was always professional, but his bluntness was refreshing.  Believe it or not, it only takes marginal talent with massive investment to be successful...and a good attitude.

The second great professor I had was Joe Pasquale.  He was an old school guy who worked on Tron in addition to being there for the foundations of 3d in film.  One day in class he threw this gem out there:  "I'd rather work with a guy with average talent, an ability to learn, and is the type of guy/gal I'd like to have a drink with after work than work with the greatest artist who is an a**hole."  Indeed.

2)  In order to be true to "stealing" something referred to in my title, I present a commentary from my close friend, master sculptor (does circles around me, easy peazy), and general good guy, Tim Miller. He explains why he does not welcome critiques on his work any longer....I'll clue you in...it's not because *he* is the one being a jerk.


"I frequently get asked why I discourage critiques of my work.

All of my work represented here on dA is commercial. For each piece, I work closely with design teams, art directors, and licensors, and each piece I do is run through a gauntlet of critiques. I sculpt things the way my clients want them sculpted. The last thing I really need to hear when I post something to a site like dA is 'It would be better if only you would...' It's not my decision to make it better. Also, and I don't mean to insult most of you, the critiques and recommendations given here usually aren't coming from working artists. Working artists already understand all of this, and they know that the piece has already been through the aforementioned gauntlet.

I frequently read comments which protest that I could still learn something from blah blah blah. At the risk of sounding rude or arrogant, save it. I've been sculpting professionally for the past 14 years. That's sculpting for the special effects industry, film set production, and collectibles. I currently work with the top art directors in the collectibles industry. If they've not caught a 'mistake' in my work, don't think you have. Sorry, go feel validated somewhere else.

Perhaps its the wine that makes me sound harsh, but it's probably not. It's probably that I'm just tired of some inexperienced, puffed up 'artist' telling me that the legs I sculpt are too long. Well, the guy that signed the check wanted them that way, and I might think they look cool that way too.

In short, remember what your mama taught you, 'If you don't have something nice to say, don't say anything at all'."


Thanks, Tim.  I stole this without your knowledge this morning....I'll tell you later.  Always better to ask for forgiveness than permission, no? lol!



Have a great day, ya'll! :)
© 2011 - 2024 poboyross
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morganagod's avatar
Very cool indeed. Nitpickers are the worst. I'm no professional, certainly the portfolio reviews I've had say as much. So I never feel like I'm coming from anyplace of authority when I ignore or rebuke nitpicks. As a fledgling artist, I find that those nitpickers have begun to, in a way, direct my work. I make things a certain way, do things a certain way, even my subject matter is chosen all so I "don't have to hear it." That doesn't seem like the best way to grow. So journals like yours and Tim's really help me move forward.

"1) The first great professor I ever had, Tan Tascioglu, found me in the labs at midnight my first year/first computer course at SCAD after I had his first class earlier that day. He came up to me and said one thing and walked off "This is why you will kick others' asses." The man was always professional, but his bluntness was refreshing. Believe it or not, it only takes marginal talent with massive investment to be successful...and a good attitude."

I hope this is true. I really hope this is true. I'm in college right now (nothing so prestigious as SCAD, mostly because I can't afford it... that's my excuse at least), and just starting to really learn digital sculpting. Unfortunately, our computer lab has hours, so I can't be there till midnight, but they keep having to kick me out at the end of the day.

"I'd rather work with a guy with average talent, an ability to learn, and is the type of guy/gal I'd like to have a drink with after work than work with the greatest artist who is an a**hole."

This one I worry about... ha ha.