Comparison - do you measure up?

 
I have been thinking a lot about how I compare myself and my work with the work of other people. In my case, I specifically compare my photography with that of others. This is an on-going process, but the parameters have changed over the years. Many younger people start out with the attitude “I’m going to be the next best (insert profession or activity here) and I will be applauded and noticed for my (art, athletic ability, scientific achievement, photography).”

Usually after that train of thought, there is a period of adjustment when a person finds out how much work is actually involved in this adventure they chose, and there is some decision whether to continue and perhaps narrow down the focus of this endeavor. For example, a track and field athlete may find their strongest area and specialize in long-distance running instead of sprinting.

A visual artist may love to work in watercolor and not really enjoy painting in acrylics or oil. As a photographer, perhaps someone becomes a talented portrait photographer or a wedding photographer (and being a photographer myself, I’m aware of the parameters and talent involved in both of those categories and I will leave that type of work to others.)

Once a commitment has been made, most people, knowing the work necessary to succeed or improve, will put in the work as best they can. Sometimes, later in life, when the achievements, accolades or level of expertise seem to stall or not garner any satisfaction in the form of approval from others, most people go through a phase of wanting to just chuck it all and quit.


Of course, in the field of athletic endeavor, anyone going into a sport requiring very high conditioning - soccer, track and field, swimming, etc. - is well aware they will need a fall-back career after a certain age or a serious injury, but the rest of us have to make a decision. Do we keep comparing our work to others? Are we sick of doing something we initially loved doing? Are we secure in our abilities? Are we constantly craving approval?

 
What do you do? Do you go back and forth between “my work is great, I’m happy with it” and “my work is crap. I need to just stop”?

Personally, I have finally settled on the mindset “My work is not the best, but SOME of it is, and it’s all at least better than ‘crap’, so I’m going to keep doing it.” I may get ideas from others for directions to go with subject matter, but I don’t live and die for approval of the work, nor do I shy away from criticism, and will sometimes edit a photo based on someone else’s suggestion if I think it will improve the image.

My advice to anyone, especially in the arts - stop constantly comparing your work to others except to learn how to improve and stop living for the approval of others. If you love what you’re doing, why should you care? Unless this is how you make your living, in which case you certainly need to do good work but the most important ingredient there is marketing. That’s a whole other subject of which other people surely know more than I do.

 
I do wish you happy creating and achievement in any activity you have chosen to pursue.
 
For more of my work, please visit 
mary-bedy.pixels.com

Comments

  1. Dorothy Berry-LoundSeptember 19, 2021 at 1:30 PM

    Great advice, I wonder how much artwork is spoiled by people thinking they are not good enough because they constantly compare themselves to others and try to emulate what they do? It is a bit like handwriting, our art has its own signature, whether that is a subject we specialise in or a particular technique or style we adopt.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Mary BedySeptember 19, 2021 at 2:52 PM

      Thanks, Dorothy - yeah I think as we age, we start to wonder what all the fuss is about and just go do stuff....at least that's how I'm seeing it presently :-). Thanks for stopping by!

      Delete
  2. KeppenArtSeptember 23, 2021 at 10:05 AM

    At some point I have accepted that even though my art may be better than some others', there will always be artists (photographers, painters, writers, musicians) whose art is better than mine. For me that pretty much sums up life in general. Even in athletics, no one is "the best" forever as there will always be someone at some time who will break your record.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Mary BedySeptember 23, 2021 at 10:38 AM

      My thoughts exactly! If you don't enjoy the journey because you are not the "best" at something, life is going to be rough for sure.

      Delete

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