Of donkeys and lost boys

[Tom Edgerton]

I had an art professor WAY back that gave me the greatest gift anyone could have--objectivity about my work. He was known for excessively rough critiques, and the students either loved him or hated him; a few individuals left the program after suffering particulary withering criticism. But if you toughed it out, you realized that it was always about the work and not personal, and that he was generous, accessible and very supportive of us as students and fellow humans.

It's a slippery stance to cultivate within oneself, the position of being self-confident and self-affirming and yet relentlessly objective and always somewhat dissatisfied with one's work. But I believe that growth as an artist resides there. It never gets easier, you always find that upon reaching a horizon, the next view is merely that of another distant horizon. But really, if it were easy, there'd be no museums, and no reason to strive.

"Nothing is more apt to deceive us more readily than our own judgment of our work. We derive more benefit from having our faults pointed out by our enemies than from hearing the opinions of friends." --Leonardo Da Vinci

Somebody remind me of this the next time I'm moping about tepid reception to a mediocre work of mine.

Also thanks, Beth, for your generous affirmation.

Love to all.