Baby steps…

This is dedicated to the new artists who dare to share/submit their works and to the folks who were here before me and especially to those whom guided me and eased my rocky, rough starting as an artist here…

Dear budding artist:

When you first submit art here (I mostly speak to the wallpaper artists since that is what I can logically relate to as a contributor)… you must remember that your art is amongst MANY submissions first and foremost.

Secondly, I IMPLORE you to create your OWN website, even if it’s a freebie website with ads you’d be surprised how popular your site can become even without your own domain.  Why do I say that? Because it still gives you a chance to get your art out there on “your terms” and that way if something doesn’t necessarily make it here…well, you have your own place to put stuff if only for posterity’s sake right?

Thirdly, art should be an expression of YOU ultimately. Your visions, loves, hates, dreams…nightmares etc. The lifeblood of any art is the feelings put into it by the artist and conveyed to his ‘audience’ because visual “static art” is as much a ‘performance’ as any other art (singing, dancing, playing instruments etc.). –BUT, If all you use is random filters and FX it may come out cool but will it really be expressing what you’re feeling inside or is it just an expression of a few button pushes?

The reason I write this is because I was a big cry baby myself at first. My every art piece [to me] was a thing of wonder (LMAO). Boy did WC teach me to grow up fast about my computer art skills. If they reject your art…be thankful…and remember…when they turn away your ‘baby’ (I know this firsthand…our works are always are babies) just remember that they aren’t saying “Stop, go away, we don’t want you.” They are saying, “No, this won’t do…you CAN do better!” My art leapt by bounds because I wanted to prove myself to them…

So, what is the moral of this story?

If you get that dreaded rejection letter back from WC saying, “We’re sorry etc.” don’t take it bad or take it wrong or EVER take it PERSONAL…they are doing this site justice by being picky. And ultimately, they are doing YOU a favor by forcing you to do your best and not pop out some silly picture every 5 minutes!

WC taught me one of the most valuable lessons of my life…and that is patience. I stopped getting all riled up to submit something that I had only worked on ‘that day’ and now I wait and wait and double, triple and even quadruple take my work before I brave submitting. WC also taught me to be proud when I do good and encouraged me to want to do more and to do better (I’ve yet to do better but I try ).

In closing, just remember…there are TONS of people here to encourage you and help you…all you have to do is ask… Is that not the greatest gift of all? There is so much to be happy for…this is a wonderful site…kept up by wonderful, hard-working, intelligent, thoughtful and compassionate HUMAN BEINGS.

*special side note:

I want to make an EXTRA special thanks to BoXXi who talked to me in the very beginning of my budding WC stint and was so sweet and encouraging and an INCREDBLE and talented human being to boot. Brian, you are a precious and lovely human being. I miss you…*wee tear* ((((((HUG)))))))