I've been thinking alot about cleaning up my gallery - My older pieces which I really don't like and that I think are too ancient to be on par with my current gallery quality. But then I sit down and really think about what that would do to others and to me.
Sure, I have all my pieces on either my computer in my drawing-folders in my shelf but hear me out~
Now some of you are all like "This is a boring subject to be talking about!", and you're right, it is! But it might also be important to some people. I see alot of people cleaning up their gallery for some reason or another, and I'm not one to judge why they do it. It's up to them.
But I'll tell you a basic thought process we have when we create art.
Lets start like this: Try to remember a drawing/painting/photo you made when you were a kid, a piece you were really proud of. Look that piece up and you will probably be thinking; "Wow, this looks horrible!". Now I know you're gonna question that by saying that you can't really judge it fairly since it was made by the hands of a kid and that you've improved so much since then. That's exactly my point! ALL pieces you 've made throughout your life are part of who you've become and what you can accomplish today. Just like any other events in your life have shaped who you are.
So, pieces you made like 3-4 years ago that you think look horrible.. Just think about it. You've improved by ALOT if you look back to only 4 year old pieces and get embarrased by its low quality.
What I'm trying to say here is that you shouldn't be embarrased by your past endevours such as poorly colored paintings, badly executed photos or laughable anatomy. It's all a part of your artist career.
What cleaning up your past work does is that it takes away hope from other artists seeking to be as good as you. If you delete all the work you deem not worthy that leaves only the awesome stuff in the gallery making others believe that they have no chance to be as good as you. Because if they can't see proof of your skill-progression it's difficult to imagine such an amazing artist being worse than that.
Take a look at this example I made here:
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I took my own gallery just for an example. Speaking of me - I can sometimes stumble upon an amazing artist who have only super amazing stuff in their gallery and I just think to myself; "Pfft. Yeah I'll never be as good as that cus I bet he's always been that awesome!". Even though I know that's not true it's difficult to see the facts if they're not there.
Now of course I can't be the judge to wether that awesome artist himself think that his entire gallery is awesome or not. He might think that his early work is far worse than his prior ones. But sometimes it's great to see that intense contrast between black and white - Or - The contrast between early amateur stuff to amazing new stuff.
In conclusion - Before you clean up your gallery for some reason - Sit down and think about what it'll accomplish~ Don't hide your art progress since the road to your goal is just as important as arriving at it. ALL artists never stop growing.
// MLETH OUT //
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`anmari has been spreading her infectious positivity throughout our community for over 6 years. Throughout this time Ana has been at the core of all things devious, passionately developing an eclectic gallery, helping organise devmeets, participating in chat events and also recently completed dedicating her time as a Community Volunteer. We are absolutely delighted to bestow the Deviousness Award for May 2013 to `anmari, congratulations! Read More
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I always think like this, but I sadly I haven't been able to post up some old art here to show how much I have improve because my scanner sucks apples and make everything too bright. :l
Thats why I prever year-folders. Means, you take all the art what you think is old in a Folder named for example "2001-2006". you can change it later or do new folders, for every new year, means when it is now 2011 you can make then the next folder "2007" and so on. I think thats the best way.
So, someone who looks at you're gallery the first time sees only the "New Art" and when he wants to see how you started, he can go to the year-folders. Or he use "Browse" in youre Gallery, to see all art what you have postet. (without the scraps).
PS: Sorry for the bad english... q_q'
I agree, a couple of months ago I considered cleaning out my old stuff, but then I looked back at my own comments and other people's comments, and I really hated to delete it, I also liked to be able to see how much I improved, like when I pulled out my ooooold sketch book from when I was like 10 or 11 and decided to redraw those [HIDEOUS] fairies that I had been oh so proud of at the time xD
Then the other point, when others see it that are aspiring artists, and see where you started out, its a heck of alot more encouraging to them. (heehee it is for me anyway... makes me want to see if I reach their level quickly >8D !!) heh *cough* ahemm .. back on subject~ I also enjoy watching the progression even if Im not looking for encouragement xD looking at the gradual or extreme changes they made along the way is interesting anyway : D
and i love seeing the "then/now" pictures , its always cool to see o/
Usualy I prefer the midway, so delete just SOME of your older works, but keep those youre MOST proud off. In my case, I still have all my old and realy realy suck-ish works up on an other website and I just deleted those where I thought:"thats just straight up bad."
But I agree, deleting older works would give the Idea that you were this awesome all the time and may crash the motivation in some other hobby artists. But in the end, its all up to you