I am a big fan of American Idol as I am sure are many of you. One of the things I love about the show is the way the Judges critique the contestants. They are totally honest and call a spade a spade. If someone is no good or has no talent for singing, they tell them outright. I’d have to say that as much as I miss Simon, I loved how direct he was, I am happily surprised by Jennifer Lopez and Steven Tyler, the two new Judges. They are experts in their field and well qualified to judge the contestants.
In our industry of Illustration, why doesn’t anyone tell the truth about want-to-be illustrators. It would save a lot of people a lot of heart ache down the road. Why don’t the teachers tell the student’s who have no talent for illustration, that they are wasting their time in a program that they are not cut out for. Is it because they need the enrollment? Would the teachers get fired? Shouldn’t the teachers send them down the hall to the guidance counselor to help them find something they are truly good at?
Over the years I have been contacted by thousands of want-to-be illustrators and I have always shied away from telling them the truth about their work.
I guess I don’t want to hurt anyone’s feelings but am I doing them a favor by not telling them?
So many of the want-to-be illustrators are young and looking for direction. Maybe if I was brutally honest about their lack of talent, they would look at other options.
Today, the illustration industry is flooded with people who “claim” to be illustrators. It seems like its one of those fields that everyone thinks they are good at. Its like they think because friends and parents compliment them about their artwork that they should illustrate professionally. I mean I put my daughters art work up all over the house and tell her how amazing she is but that’s a mother talking, not an agent.
On last nights American Idol show, Jennifer Lopez broke down and felt she could not go on because it was too painful telling one of the contestants that he was not going to move on, that he was really not good enough to be the next American Idol. I can only imagine how I would feel if I were really honest about all the portfolios that I had to look at.
Should we lead people to believe that they have talent and potential when they really don’t. What is my job as a professional in this field? Some would say ” expert” in the illustration industry. I mean if I don’t tell them who will. How much time, money and energy will they have to spend before they find out its a dead end?
You have no idea at how much crap I get. Really, its that bad, I am not making this up. Its amazing that these people really think they have a chance at landing a commission.
I wish I could show you.
Being the true Sagittarius that I am, I have a tendency to be brutally honest in most situations. Well when it comes replying to emails or critiquing work, I take extra precaution and try to be nice. My mother told me a little white lie never hurt anyone.
So If you send me your work and you ask me what I think, I will most likely not tell you exactly what I think, even though maybe I really should.
