Today I heard a quote that probably has motivated many artist for years. It is meant to fuel animators and artist alike to never be satisfied with their work. That quote is, "No art is complete, just abandoned." I heard it from someone who heard it so excuse me if its not the exact quote, but you get the idea.
I'm proud to say I disagree with it 100%. I thought about it long and hard on the ride home and wondering why it angers me. The reason is simply because I don't believe in it. To accept this quote is to accept that someone else or the artist could have improved their work, and to that I say, "Who cares?"
Surely as character designers, 3D modelers, animators, etc. we should always look to please an employer and continue trying to develop a pose or concept, but as an individual that loves are for its beauty alone, screw that. To that underdeveloped quote I have my own quote to replace you, "No art is complete until it influences someone else."
Countless artist have creatively composed their works on this earth from caveman to couch potato. The only incomplete works or the ones that never saw the light of day, buried in a cemetery, or currently running circles in the minds of the unmotivated. However, for those that have tried to make some laugh, cry, think, stop, or act, they are complete.
Does South Park look great? No, but it is complete. Was the first Mickey Mouse the best looking one. No, but he is complete. Was the Mona Lisa finished? No, but it is complete. Each of these have at least one thing in common, they influenced someone. That is what makes them complete in my opinion.
I say this because I don't want someone to get down on their work because it does not look the best. I do not want some rap artist to feel his song is incomplete because he cannot finish the last line or some storyteller to not try and have a friend read their story because there is no conclusion. Those are all boxes and boxes restrict freedom. Think outside of the box. Leave your story "incomplete" and see how it changes the reader. Don't finish a song and wait for people to want more.
Sure I could design some better South Park characters, but is that what fans want to see? No. They want to see what they are accustomed to and in love with. Coca~Cola (I like the ~ sign). Anyway, Coca~Cola once thought of a new way to improve their drink when it seemed they were losing sales to Pepsi. After hundreds of test proving the new test was better than classic Coke and Pepsi, they released it only to have thousands of Coke fans saying "What the hell did you do that for." They lost so many sales that Pepsi gave every employee a day off from the pure joy of knowing they beat Coke. Quickly, Coke brought back their Classic Coke and they're sales went back up.
What I'm saying is, people may criticize your work, but know the difference between it being crap and unique. Know that when you're great you don't fit in a box, but you think outside of the box. You may be able to improve your art, but sometimes you have to let out of its cage with the hope that others may love it. Then, your fans will overpower the words of the critics. You're work is great. It is finished. I wouldn't change a thing about it.
Art is like life. For the spiritual people out there I say this, you're complete when you believe. You're made whole when you have faith in something. The same goes for your art, what completes your work is when you believe in it. I believe in throwing your all into every piece, word, sentence, photo, picture, shading, animation, character, etc. Love what you do.
Remembering Center of Gravity
10 years ago
