A Little Artist Talk: Popularity, what is it?

Jan 19, 201512 min read

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Published: Jan 19, 2015

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Lately these days,(what am I saying everyday and every year) there's always a new person that comes about here or any place in the world trying to get noticed or "popular". Then whenever a person becomes popular, those people are either talked about in a shameful manner or get inspired. And that will happen everyday to a person who is out there.

I also see many people trying to become popular always asking:

"Why can't I do anything right?!"

"How do I become Popular?" "Why can't I be popular?" "How did he/she become popular? What did they do?"

emoticons that also represent people wondering about popularity

I can possibly answers those questions for you, but first ask yourself.

Why do you want to be popular?

What do you hope to get out of being popular?

Will being popular be benificial for you?

Will you be able to handle the hate/jealousy that is out there?

Are you going to brag about being popular?

Why do people become classified as "popular"?

Do you consider yourself popular already?

Will you continue your talent regardless if you become popular or not?

Those are some question I think you need to consider before wanting to become popular. Nod

I remember back then when I first joined dA deviantART

back in 2010. I wanted to be popular just like a lot of artist out there. For here specifically, I would post my art into a LOT of groups, ask people to help me get noticed and make polls showing my art so my watchers could see. But then I realized, I wasn't getting anywhere with my art, I admit, I had hissy-fits all the time. Then when a new artist came that became popular so quickly, I would get jealous very easily. But then I ask myself, what did they do to become popular so fast? The answer, was be themselves, and they practically did the same things I would do. Get themselves out there. But still what made them so different from me? That question can vary a lot. Maybe they have a nicer attitude towards their fans. Maybe they post art everyday. Maybe they have a style that everyone can be influenced by everyone. Who knows?

Now for the questions I mentioned at the top.

1. Why do you want to be popular?

Do you want to be popular just to be an influence, or do you want to be popular just for the attention? When I wanted to be popular back then, I wanted to be an influence to people. Some people thought I want it for the attention. In truth, no matter if you're here to be an influence here, you'll always be getting attention. Now the attention they mentioned about me however was the negative attention. Be aware of the negative comments that people perceive you as.

2. What do you hope to get out of being popular?

Do you hope to get fans that are inspired by you, or to just follow you constantly for the wrong reasons? What are those wrong reasons?

1. To stalk you as a troll: They just want to get info out of you
2. To try to make you look bad
3. To not be inspired but just to watch you for no reason

Do you also hope to get feedback? At my school, we are a community of artist who wants feedback on their art and how to become a better artist, writer, culinary artist, etc. In person, it's easier to get feedback, but out there it's not. Especially on the internet. As what spyed told me, "You can get lost among st the million of users out there."

3. Will being popular be beneficial to you?

Do you think being popular will get you more beneficial things for you? Exactly what do you consider the benefits of being popular?

Maybe getting more feedback?
Being hired for a quality job?
Being on T.V.?
Making people commission you more?
Getting more privileges in life basically?

There are those positive benefits to being "popular", however there also negative benefits as well which is the next question

4. Will you be able to handle the hate/jealousy that is out there?

You come around people who are just haters. Here are some terms you constantly hear/see from those haters.

"How the hell did he/she become popular?"
"How is she popular with horrible art?"
"Their art isn't all that! Makes no sense they're popular"
"She/He's this...she/he's that!"
"XC"
"Their art could be better, IMO(in my opinion)."
"I've been here longer than she/he has been and yet they're ALREADY popular!"

You'll see that quite often. Now I've seen great artist out there who become well know for their art who then leave these sites because of the hate comments. I find that piteous of an artist to just give up because of a butthurt comment. I had those times I would almost give up because of those comments, but I realized, drawing is my talent. Some people wish they had my talent! I'm sure people tell you that, too.

5. Are you going to brag about being popular?

Will you constantly tell your watchers that you're popular now? Do you expect people to congratulate you for those efforts to become popular? People will know if you're popular or not. You don't need to tell people that you're considered popular, because with the amount of people living on Earth, not everyone will consider you popular. Heck, there's some artist who were considered popular I never even knew about until mentioned. I'm sure they don't consider themselves popular artist. They consider themselves an artist. Now of course, there are people who think popular is all that and who do it for the money and attention. That's a bad influence on people.

6. How do people become classified as "popular"?

This question reminds me of this moment of Spongebob

This question VARIES A LOT! But I'll specifically talk about deviantArt. What do those "popular" artist do to become popular? Some artist do tell you, be inspired and keep inspiring people.

Draw all the time.
Do something that people haven't done before.
Submit to a lot of groups constantly so they'll know you're there.
If popular are doing features, ask them quickly to be featured.
Commission artist who are popular
For community purposes here,
Suggest DDs
Get involved in projects
Do raffles
ETC.

However, there is another way to get popular which YOU SHOULD NOT DO! Don't ask for attention. Don't do things that'll get you in trouble. Don't trace another artist. The term TRACING can be VERY deceiving. I constantly see people talk bad about popular cute artist who are tracers or copy styles from another artist. First of all, do you have the proof they are tracers or copying? Just overlaying a picture doesn't mean they copied/traced it. There is another term that people often use as well. That term is REFERENCING. What is it first? It means a lot of things but for the purpose of art the term you should really use is "allusion" which means an expression designed to call something to mind without mentioning it explicitly; an indirect or passing reference. Referencing happens constantly. I'm sure you do it. I did it before in the past. I wanted to be like other artist I admired but I then learn to make my own style. I see too many "kawaii" artist who do almost the same time as the previous "kawaii" artist.
I'm not saying this for you to copy possible tracers or stealers, but this is what you should to if you want to be like the POPULAR,
INSTEAD OF TALKING BAD ABOUT THEM, LEARN FROM THEM. That doesn't mean you should copy exactly what they do just to get noticed.

7. Do you consider yourself popular already?

Do you consider yourself popular? I never consider myself popular. However, I am considered popular to many others. What inspires you to consider yourself popular already? Is it because you have so many watchers or what? I think personally when you get at least or if you have about 100 views in your art, you're already popular. You're noticed out there. Be happy that people notice you regardless of how many watchers you have.

8. Will you continue your talent regardless if you become popular or not?

Will you quit what you do just because you're not noticed out there? I wouldn't do that if I were you. Do your realize there are MANY other ways to get out there BESIDE deviantART. Sure deviantART is a great place to start and so as tumblr, Facebook, Twitter, and other socila media, but you gotta remember there are many resources such as family, jobs, college/school, where you can get noticed. Don't just stick with one place to become popular.
Why do I keep showing clips from the "Big Pink Loser" from Spongebob? This episode specifically taught you that you have a talent no matter what you do or how popular you are. You'd be surprise what you can do to get noticed

I couldn't find many gifs for this episode.

One thing you should be aware of, once you become popular, YOU'LL NEVER BE LEFT ALONE.

OK NOT REALLY LIKE THAT, BUT YOU'LL BE TALKED ABOUT CONSTANTLY EVERY MORNING AND EVERY EVENING.

Just know that you're talented no matter how much people think of you

as long as you're not a tracer! And if your art is considered poor, keep practicing so you can get to that quality. Nobody starts a professional.
Be happy what you're are.

I hope this guide helped you out in a way. And do share this with other people so they can get input, too on popularity. If you have any other comments on popularity issues do comment this journal.

have a free donut from me
Donut

iingo/frosty

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Comments3

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melobuniiP

Jan 29, 2015

Bravo
I'm a prone to favorites
Anytips on getting comments? I get them just not as much. I love comments♥ I feel favorites doesn't mean to me. Just a click of a button. I also would like critiques on my works. ^^