A couple of days ago my friend Steve tweeted a link with this great quote by Ira Glass.With the immediacy of social media I expanded the circle of sharing by retweeting and posting the link on Facebook.
Then I got to thinking. While many forms of social media are fantastic for being able to quickly share stuff with others, I felt like this particular piece of information needed a more permanent home. Facebook and Twitter are what I consider fleeting instantaneous forms of sharing but this blog offers something a little more—the ability to call it back without a tiresome search method.
Permanence.
Inspiration.
A shelf life.
So I’m putting it here.
It’s good stuff. Especially when you are feeling like you can’t do anything right.
I am honestly SO glad I stumbled here. This really hit home for me and gave me some perspective. Thank you for sharing
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This is a great piece of advice. Many people give up because they’re not getting anywhere with what they want. But nobody tells them that it won’t last forever.
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This came right on time. I had started painting and I was frustrated and couldn’t put into words, why I was. Bam! Reading this put the puzzle pieces together.
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Thank you for the quote. I do not consider myself the most artistic but I have always loved to write. Right now, i do not think it is that great but I will keep putting in the work until I break through to where i want it to be.
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[...] I plan on making posts on this blog count towards my “ridiculous word count goal from hell that I am doing for a reason‘ because, and don’t laugh, something not-entirely-unlike-thought goes into this. It [...]
I’m glad people give up. The worst part of working hard, getting past the “I give up” stage and finally getting your work to the way you want it? Not finding a job because everyone did the same thing you’re doing, but beat you to the application process.
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[...] (Poster via ArtistMotherTeacher.com) [...]
[...] (Poster via ArtistMotherTeacher.com) [...]
[...] (Poster via ArtistMotherTeacher.com) [...]
Wow, like someone else had mentioned, I am so glad I stumbled on this one! I go through this on a daily basis…constantly questioning my choices of going into design. There are so many negative people out there, then instead of complimenting your passion and determination, they remind you of things like the economy and how there is nothing out there for newbies. Ok, so maybe they’re right, but still….Thanks for this bit of hope!
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Megan Oteri (memomuse) Reply:
April 24th, 2012 at 1:41 pm
@ Krysta I agree with you. It can be hopeless sometimes trying to break into the industry. I am a photographer and I am dealing with photo piracy. I am a true creative and want to put my art out there, in hopes to being discovered somehow. I feel like I am spinning my wheels. There is so much info, social media, and artists — sometimes it just feels so overwhelming. It amazes me how much this quote has generated comments and “aha” moments from people. I am trying to figure out the left brain stuff to get my work noticed or hopefully land some assignments as a writer or photographer. I have to reread this quote everyday. It really simplifies the artist struggle and gives tangible words to the feelings of chaos artists and creatives feel. We live in a left brain world. I wish I had more left brain skills. On one hand, my mind says, “Well, your photos are that good if people are stealing them.” (someone actually copyrighted my photos and is selling them — a big left brain nightmare to try to resolve). Then on the other hand, my mind says, “Well, if you watermarked the photos and understood the business side of art, this would not have happened.” I’m telling you (all of you) — people don’t choose to be artists — art chooses us to express it. Sometimes I wonder it might be easier to just say screw it, I won’t create. Nah — that won’t happen. Art beats and stabs at me to get out… and thank goodness for artists, we cast so much light on a very dark world. There is a lot of beauty in the world and artists and creatives have a special way of celebrating what needs to be celebrated! Keep creating! Hope. Wish. Dream. Be.
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John Reply:
April 24th, 2012 at 2:32 pm
And yet so many scream that being able to just download others people’s work free from the internet is their right! Keep your dreams alive.
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Megan Oteri (memomuse) Reply:
April 24th, 2012 at 2:37 pm
Thanks John. Some days it is easier to do than others.
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Krysta Reply:
April 24th, 2012 at 3:34 pm
Thanks for sharing Megan
Can I ask, just because I’m curious, how did this person get a hold of your photos? Just something for me to be careful of before I (if ever) start sending anything out 
I so totally agree with what you said about choosing to be an artist. It seems I was told ever since I was younger that getting into ANY kind of professional “art” is like impossible to make a living. But I felt that I could not ignore my passion for interior design and decorating and be stuck working in retail, making minimum wage, horrible hours and totally miserable for the rest of my life. Which is what brought my butt back to school. Now since I graduated, I am with you on how hopeless it can feel. All I can keep trying to do is start each day positive and know I’ve done all I can do to get myself out there. Truly an overwhelming venture!
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Megan Oteri Reply:
April 24th, 2012 at 5:09 pm
@Krysta, I had a website dedicated to all things rodeo and cowboys (I have since taken the website down or rather made it password protected). I put up the photos without watermarks. I wrote in the caption of each photograph that they were copyrighted to me and All Rights Reserved. I was eager to share the art of them, as they were black and white portraits and photos of cowboys in Wyoming. You can imagine how artistic they were (are). You can view some of them in my portfolio at http://www.talenthouse.com/memomuse.
I was trying to build a platform (as literary agents and publishers encourage writers and photographers wanting to get published). I uploaded the raw image (not really understanding the possible consequences). I made it very easy and convenient for people to right click and copy. The rest is history in a series of websites that have uploaded the images (from Photo Bucket, to a gay guy’s website for cute faces, to a Russian mail order bride website advertising a wild west party to a girl selling them and also on Pinterest). These are the ones I know about. It has been a left brain nightmare. I’ve spent more time tracking them down on the internet and sending emails to people to take them down, than I care to admit. I almost feel like I need to let go of them, and just allow serendipity and karma to take over — but it is hard because it is my art.
As far as your dreams go, you are in a field that has many people in it, but you can accomplish anything you want with hard work. Find a mentor and seek their help. I have a mentor and friend who is helping me with all the legal stuff with my photos. I have leaning on her for advice. I have since started using watermarks. So I guess I had to learn the hard way. It’s a tough economy for artists right now — art is often the first thing to be cut, from education budgets to household budgets. It’s a shame because art is powerful. I would love to see some of your work. Feel free to email me memomuse@gmail.com. Keep your head up — you are an ARTIST and it will find a way.:)
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So glad I stumbled here. Helped a lot.
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Writing is a progressive thing; just keep trying and you’re sure to get better as time goes on! Amazing quote.
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