Showing Your Work

April 29th, 2021 (Day 4, A Draft a Day)

So I’ve been reading this book, Show Your Work by Austin Kleon.

A a person, you already know what it’s about without even having to open the front page. However, how the ideas are constructed, how they are put together, form a very compelling story of why it is so important for you to show your work.

I don’t know about you but when I was kid, my most mortifying experiences came from when I would show my work, and I would smell a hint that someone thought it wasn’t any good.

I’d like to think I’ve grown beyond that, but I must say that fear does run down some dark nerve in my spine.

One side of me would love to just show everything I do to everyone. The other side, wants no one to see anything, so that I can live in peace.

The book, Show Your Work, not only convinces you that as an artist, you need to go an show your work. No matter what, you need to be brave enough to share your work, show what you are working on, and be your own advocate. By showing your work, and being involved in the community, you have the opportunity to become better at your craft, become more immersed, but also do what art is all about, inspiring others similar to what got you into art to begin with.

In addition to that, there are also derivative ideas that serve as a good reminder of what else it takes to be an artist in the internet age. As someone who is just starting out. As someone who is finding and trying to establish their voice. The advice seems solid, and something worth rereading every once in a while.

I would highly recommend that aspiring artists read this book. For those looking to create, we could likely all benefit from sharing our work more.

With Love,

Jeffo