You could love your work, but maybe the majority of the public do not. If you’re looking to be a Working Artist, the idea is to create work that sells. I may not like every subject I paint, but I create for the customer. If they’re happy, they give me money. It makes the world go round.

When I went to college 20yrs ago, I was studying Graphic Design. Other art students that I met while there were studying Fine Art. Now, these individuals had the mentality of, “I paint for me, not for the money.” Hence the term, Starving Artist.

When you’re painting dark images and want to discuss how Satan has a strangle hold on us and society and probably have a pentagram hanging over your bed… blah blah blah,… I’d want to kill myself too.

Demons and other gothic imagery is not going to sell to the majority. Maybe if you step away from the canvas and painted a set of a Harley tank and fenders, it might keep you busy. Otherwise you might find yourself living in Mom’s basement for the rest of your life, just you and your art.

Look at it this way, though: for every critic that found your line objectionable, there is one admirer out there who likes that line too.

I used to listen to an old song by the Beatles, “Here Comes The Sun” in order to forget the freezing chills of the insipid winters, but I know of people who find rock and roll passe. And dislike the music of Lennon.

You can’t please everybody and you can’t be all things to all people.
I happen to be a fan of your work, but I am sure you also have had your fair share of critics too. That’s life and I guess we have to take it on the chin and learn how to roll with the punches. What can you do?

On the other hand, critics can also help you improve your craft if they are good, well-meaning, and point out flaws. You can learn from such experiences and improve the next time. It is a sad fact, however, that only too often we come across some people who give us a tongue-lashing without bothering to provide any constructive feedback.

Perhaps such cynical people are avoidable, since they have very little to contribute, and probably don’t have your best interests at heart?