Being an Artist is WORK!

I have certain pet peeves, I admit this freely, but one of my really big ones is when people think that being a "creative" person is "easy". So many (not so creative) people, who do "real" jobs (like accounting, manual labor, etc.), believe that doing something artistic or creative (like drawing, sculpting, writing, etc.) is just a relaxing pastime. It isn't difficult. It is relaxing. It is a dawdle one does between doing something worthwhile (like saying "would you like fries with that?").

One reason for this perception is that when one "creates" artistically, there can be long spaces of time when you're not "producing" anything tangible to a non-creative person. We (the creative) stare at the screen waiting for the Muse to hit us over the back of the head, or to help us past a creative obstacle (or so that's how it seems). Since creative endeavor is not something that works strictly by a time-clock, it isn't thought of as "real work". For some, especially hobby-artists, this is actually true. If the Muse doesn't inspire, then you're spending a lot of down time -- whether that down time is relaxing or frustrating depends upon one's personality.

When I see these T-shirts and memes running about the internet, demanding that we (the creatives) "Stop Pretending Art is Hard", I flare up like a drag queen whose mascara has just run! First of all, what are you actually trying to say? Creating Art isn't difficult? Understanding Art isn't difficult? Being Creative isn't difficult? All or None of these? The statement is so imprecise as to be incomprehensible. And to top it all off, why the f*ck does someone believe they have the right to judge how challenging a task is for another person, whether that be math, art, language, etc.?

If you have EVER been required to produce ANYTHING on a deadline, repeatedly, dependably, at a high level of competence and skill, then you know that it is a stressful, difficult task. Those of us who must "be creative" on demand, regularly, do manage to devise techniques by which we can draw upon the Muse at will. It is like digging a deep well so that you have a reliable source of water you can use on demand. That works fine until there is a drought... then, just like water tables, your resource of creative juices drop... if the drought lasts long enough, or if you are required to utilize those reserves on schedule with no regard to availability, your well of creativity can run dry. Yes, then you can try to "dig a deeper well", but that is not a long term solution. You have to have the opportunity to let your resources replenish.

Where the disconnect for most people happen is that in today's world, most people do NOT perform creative tasks as part of their jobs or every day lives. They drudge through their careers and daily lives, burning non-creative reserves, and USE their stores of unutilized creative resources to replenish their spirits. For them, being creative isn't "hard" but is the way they recover and recharge for the next round of creativeless existence. However, what happens when you work/daily life depletes that very creative reserve? An artist can't go there to rejuvenate or recover, because that's where they just exhausted themselves. So creatives have to find other sources of regeneration.

Just because what you do as a hobby is what someone else does as a job, don't equate the two. There is a significant difference between the amateaur and the professional in any field. I have been a very huggy/touchy-feely person my whole life. I have a natural aptitude to healing others with my hands, and used to give great shoulder and food rubs. It was fun, relaxing, enjoyable. Then I became a massage therapist, and though I still loved doing massage, and I could find solace and strength in my work, it was WORK. When you don't HAVE to do something, the aches from the activity are just "part of the experience", but when you have to work through/past/around the pain in order to fulfill your job-requirements (do 3 deep tissue massages in a day and see just how good your hands are feeling b*tches) there is nothing enjoyable-stress free about it.

I have the greatest respect for my co-creator and Lineage artist Chris. He has doggedly stuck with the task of illustrating, coloring, revising, recreating, lettering, etc. the comic for over a decade! Now he's committed to doing it fast enough that we won't run out of new pages, regardless of posting schedule, until the project is done (which for the first GN will be between 160-240 pages). That is after doing his "day job" in order to have food to eat and a roof over his head. I admire his fortitude, determination and drive to see his art become something others will want!

So, don't spend your time in my presence talking about how "art is easy" or isn't a "real job" or "is fun". Hiking is fun... a 50 mile march is not... but both are walking!