One of the most valuable things I’ve learned as an artist is the difference between intent and impact. I first heard about this in college, our professors wouldn’t let us over-explain our work during critiques. The piece had to stand on its own. And for most of us, that came with the crushing realization that what we meant to make and what actually came across were often two very different things.
So here’s my best advice for anyone sharing their work: just like you study color, light, and composition, you also have to start noticing what your work communicates beyond your control. That might mean bumping into bigger conversations, cultural, political, historical. And while your art doesn’t have to be about politics, that context is always there. You’re not making work in a vacuum.
If you’ve ever taken an art history class, you know how this works, we don’t just study brushwork or technique. We’re always given context. What was going on at the time? What shaped the artist’s world?
I’m curious how other artists navigate this, do you think about intent vs. impact when you share your work?
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