" There's always talk about newbies vs. experienced artists in any field, here's my opinion on the good and bad side of it..."
Just thought I'd write a little bit about this certain topic of Newbies vs. Pros that I've always ran into throughout my experience as an artist. In any field, there will always be competition. No matter if that field is in jobs or in life itself, there will always be levels of knowledge and skill, and how much you know and how much you can do, determines your position in all of it.
I always read about people expressing hate towards one another, a newbie against a pro, a pro against a newbie. The reasons are pretty clear, but sometimes these arguments lead into too much hate and becomes something very negative. There's a huge obvious difference between constructive and destructive criticism. There's also a huge difference between being confident and being cocky. These differences are usually the fuel to these arguments and I believe that there's a way to keep things civil.
Personally, I feel that, to be a successful artist is to be successful in positive expression. If we can take our negative energy and create amazing things, why not do the same when it comes to communicating.
The Reason Why There's So Much Competition & Conflict Between A Newbie & A Pro
I personally tried feeling threaten by another artist, I also tried feeling really annoyed by a new upcoming artist. The simple reason is, they're going to end up my competition one day, and in the world of creatives, competition is fierce. To keep a straight head on though, you have to learn to separate the real threats from those who are simply just wanting to learn and then those who are just in it for the fame.
I've seen a lot of these;
The Wannabe So Called Artist:
Someone who starts off expressing in the same or similar field you're in (be it traditional art, photography, digital art etc.) and acts like they're a seasoned pro, when in reality, they just started a month ago snapping pictures, tracing work, copy and pasting photos in Photoshop together without even knowing how to actually understand lighting and how to set up their camera, how to follow a drawing grid and how to use layers and the pen tool. These people would start up a Facebook Page, a blog or an online gallery, then promote themselves as if they know what they're doing and expect to grab clients and gets paid for it. They also tend to talk down on people who have actually been in the field for years or people who are also just starting.
The Upcoming Willing To Learn Artist:
Are usually those who were so inspired by another artist and gained so much interest in their field of art that they want to try it out and hopefully explore a new skill or master in a hidden talent that they've always had. They are usually pretty positive, sometimes easily affected by negative criticism. They spend a lot of time researching the field and invests in equipment. They don't promote themselves till they reach a certain goal, and even though they've succeeded in a certain level, they don't tend to be completely enthusiastic until they officially become a true artist.
The Seasoned Pro:
Someone who has gained the knowledge and skill of whatever art field they chose to master in. They continue to build on their progress, continue to practice their mastered skills and has successfully promoted themselves to be known to a certain audience. They're usually hired in the field they specialize in already or decided to be a freelancer. Many will offer to help upcoming artists or go against them. They may either be completely happy at the level they're in or is still striving to meet their ultimate goal.
The Expert:
The successful artist who may have gained a house hold name. They work in huge industries or own well known design firms. They're hired by top companies and they pretty much had many many years to gain and completely master their field of art. We hardly hear from them, though a few are those who becomes our teachers and hosts workshops. They usually share the best constructive criticism if their ego hasn't taken over them. Many may be against those below them only to be threatened by new competition.
Everyone of these types of Artists all contribute to the comparison and conversations of a newbie vs. an experienced artist. As someone being experienced in the field of art, it is our job to continue looking into reality and of course not give into negativity when it comes to opinions. I say, forget those who acts as if they know how it is to be in our field. They are really no competition, and they only contribute negativity into your workspace. If it's some artist completely higher then you, don't let them put you down. It goes 2 ways when they critic your work and that's either to put you down or bring you up higher. Also, for an upcoming artist, you shouldn't bother sharing ideas with those who only puts you down. If they criticize your work, you should be able to tell the difference on who is actually being helpful and who is just jealous of your skill.
Remember, that you'll end up being someone's competition one day, and those who feels threaten are just those people who are not confident about they're skill and the work they produce. But if you are a real hella newbie in the field, I advice not to jump into any higher levels without going through each one of them successfully. No one can build a skyscraper without understanding the basics of architecture. For everyone though, don't let the ego bubble grow in your head, it's what lowers you as a person and can greatly affect the skill you've been working on.
As an artist, you should look into yourself and grow as an individual.
Express what cannot be taught in art school, share what others may be seeking to help them feel accepted or create an outlet that you can share with others to help them be able to express what they hide in themselves. That's what an artist is, and it is not defined by the equipment you use, the school you went to, or how you learned and practiced to get to where you are now. You cannot teach another to imagine, but only be able to inspire them.
I personally enjoy more of the creative groups who comes together and helps each other succeed without completely turning a friendly competition into an all-out war. Remember, no matter what audience count you have, they're still your fans. Those who has been there from the start are the people who should continue to fuel your drive and motivate you to continue being the best in what you do.
So pretty much, what makes a newbie different from an experienced artist? What causes so much debate and how does it turn into pure hate? Simple, it depends on the type of person each artist is. Everyone has their own opinions, but remember, there is no such thing as being completely original from anybody else. The only thing the differs us from each other is the level of maturity and knowledge in skill that we've successfully accomplished.
-Nix
