Batar Dan

Hello.

It's been 2 years. Now that's a record. But hey, I felt the urge again to write on this blog again because it has my artist's essence ( it currently stinks now). As in, I started off my journey as an artist focusing on what I really want for me in this artistic life. A lot happened these 2 years. According to my last entry, I was telling you that I entered on a studio and my work seemed to blossom... Or so I thought. In fact, that's the time when I got tested. On how my entire career and goals can really get fucked up if you are not careful enough. How people can influence your entire career if you are not careful enough. How people can ruin almost your entire life and destroy your very essence that I tried to preserve since I was able to draw. How you can easily be detached from your art and yourself.

(Edit) well, I was about to write another entry but I noticed I left this one on the drafts. And the feeling still stands strong. As I was saying, yeah, you could really get detached of your artist self. Not because I wanted to. Because it just happened. Mostly because I let that happen . Not sure if I should tell the story on how I got fucked these entire years, all because if I start to talk I would put spotlight on people who don’t deserve it in the first place. But oh well. I can give you some advice, maybe save a life from despair. I wish someone did.

1- Don’t you EVER give your art for free. Carelessly.

I learned the hard way. And this is the first and golden rule. You need to have a big fucking good reason for you to give something that requires a lot of you to someone. Yeah, you read that right. In my case, my art is really a part of me basically. Before I started to gain notoriety and money, I pretty much used my art for comfort, for fun and it was my escapism for oh so long. It’s very very intimate. So don’t go out there giving away part of who you are. Unless it’s for money. Profit from it at least. If not, that’s half way on you getting detached to yourself. And if you get detached, you can still create but you won’t ever be able to relate to your own art. Or even connected to your creativity’s core. Believe me, you dont want that. Unless you are using only your craft for money. A marketeer, for example. 

But... if you still entitled to give your art away to someone... you should really need to ask yourself why you’re  doing that:
 - Exposure? You can do that all by yourself. 

- Interesting projects? Maybe, but again, you can do that by yourself and there will be a lot more folks who will be willing to PAY YOU,and come on, you are an artist, you'd think you wouldn't come with interesting projects as well? 

- Feelings? Is it? It has to be.

2 -Don’t you ever sell yourself less that you are really worth.

3- if you want to pursue an art career, prepare to defend it fiercely like your life depends on. Actually it really does depend on. Most people won’t understand, but hey in the end it’s on you and people will start to disrespect, because you don’t respect yourself.

4- don’t lose focus on what you really want, whatever life throws a you.

There's a lot more though. But I'm tired already. Not just because I'm lazy, but I'm tired to relive the past and my mistakes.

I did art for survival back then by putting low prices in order to barely survive but those prices doesn't and never defined me.

My art doesn't cost less than my self worth and respect. 

My art is not supposed to give it freely and for people who didn't deserve.

My art is not supposed to leave it unaccredited by reckless people who doesn't have any consideration whatsoever.

My art suffered. I suffered. And now I have to amend by putting my art rightfully on its place again.

And I'm going to proove why it deserves a lot more consideration and respect.