Comments on: Why I Share

By: kathy weller

kathy weller — Sun, 31 Jan 2010 05:22:57 +0000

Right on, totally agree. Way to go, great post.

By: Dani

Dani — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 16:55:05 +0000

Thanks for all the comments and encouragement everyone. I’m glad you have found my “sharing” useful, and I enjoy learning from all of you!

By: ARTSHARKS

ARTSHARKS — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 17:51:23 +0000

I completely agree with your post as well. When we were in Art School, the tutors used to make us share all our ideas and processes with the class midway through our projects just to inspire each other.

Many times I’d start a project and then after our ‘sharing session’ decide to change course because I’d be inspired to do something much better.

Cheers!

Twitter: @artsharksnet

By: Deepti

Deepti — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 07:02:16 +0000

Your post makes a lot of sense and it is something I started realizing very late in my career. I always wanted to be an illustrator. I have just started thinking about it seriously and your blog has played an important role in it.

Thanks for the post.

By: George Coghill

George Coghill — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 18:20:30 +0000

I totally agree with everything you’ve said here, great post.

I know I like to share also because when I was first getting started in digital art years ago (pre-internet), it was next to impossible to find information on how to achieve certain styles or decipher certain techniques.

I’m stubborn, so I stuck with it and taught myself, but I vowed to become a resource myself. Nowadays there is plenty of information at the fingertips of anyone who wants to learn, but I still share because sometimes it’s in the way a certain person explains something that makes all the difference, and I could be that person.

I also know that even though I don’t need to copy my own “style”, it’s still no easy task so I am hardly worried about showing someone how I created something. If all goes well, they will find their own style when trying to mimic what I have done.

And one doesn’t realize how much is learned oneself by sharing. Everybody benefits.

By: royce

royce — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 13:05:55 +0000

I am a beginner in the world of Illustration. I’ve only done 2 books for a self published author. I need the oomph you give me to keep improving. You inspire me greatly. When I’m in a slump and need a kick in the pants I go look at your work. It helps me get over that stupid thinking of I don’t have what it takes to be an illustrator. It takes drive and I loose that sometimes in a cloud of doubt.
Thanks

Royce

By: Thomas James

Thomas James — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 05:17:29 +0000

Hey Dani,
Thanks for your continued contributions to the Illustration community. I completely agree that when artists share, everyone benefits. We are all just people trying to make our way, and we gain so much from our fellow creators that it seems so obvious that we should give back. I’m so glad that Illustrators are generally giving by nature. It seems that those who choose to guard their “secrets” are also shielding themselves from receiving anything in return.

Keep up the great work!
Thomas

By: Lynn Alpert

Lynn Alpert — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 00:59:06 +0000

I totally agree with you and am forever grateful for your generosity in sharing. The art community thrives on the sharing of ideas, right? Thanks for all you do, Dani!

By: Tye

Tye — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 19:54:29 +0000

I have been a fan for a long time! I totally agree, we are all made better by sharing and being shared with. It helps us strive to become even better at what we do!

Glad to see you’ll be continuing to share with us!

By: Kevin Cameron

Kevin Cameron — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 19:09:36 +0000

I feel very similar to your post here – a good artist is good through talent and skill that’s cultivated over a long process of applied practice. Those who try to imitate or rip off can clearly be called out on it.

Which makes another good point for sharing – not only does it foster good relations with fans, clients, and such, but it also puts passion in their hearts when/if you do get ripped off! I’ve seen this firsthand with artists who have work stolen, and their friends and fans go and illuminate the situation, tell others, and essentially help an artist’s cause.

(PS – I just found you through Chris Oatley’s artcast so I’m a new fan but a fan nonetheless ^^)