Fill the Void
My senior F.I.T. students are subjected to a lot of stuff like this:
"As you cross the threshold from the cloistered world of academia into the less safe space of the professional realm, your greatest asset is your “You-ness”
Paradoxically, the more individual the expression of your creative voice, the more universal its appeal. Try and please everyone and you will most likely wind up appealing to No one.
A world increasingly informed and deformed by fake news, deep-fakes, misinformation and disinformation is starved for the truth. I’m not a Luddite, but tech should be our tool, not our god.
Create something that reveals a personal truth that is excruciating and in that honest communication of your unique human experience, a shared and sacred truth will be recognized by others.
It is incumbent upon us as creatives to do so.
The deeper you dive into your authentic self as the well for your creative endeavors, the stronger your work will be. When we suppress our true thoughts because we fear being ostracized from the herd or being unpopular or cancelled, we destroy a part of our souls.
Fear is a negation of the life force.
Create honest work that YOU like, and it will resonate with others. You don’t need to bring everyone into your community. Be bold and a few like-minded souls will come to your aid.
Your community will grow organically, and opportunities and connections will emerge.
Try and identify the moment in your childhood that you made the decision to live as a creative person. Deeply connect with that feeling of joy and possibility. Let that emotion guide every project moving forward.
Every creative act is a microcosmic version of the original act of creation. Every act of imagination is an act of hope.
I view everything I work on as devotions to God. I feel a sacred obligation to honor the gift I have been given.
Put love and the truth into every stroke of your pen and every tap on your keyboard.
God knows there is a dearth of love and truth in this world.
Fill the void."
I’ve had the honor of teaching illustration at Fashion Institute of Technology for ten years. I love working with seniors. There is simply more at stake.
I ask my students to create a simple self-portrait on index cards.
Here are a few of them:
“The deeper you dive into your authentic self as the well for your creative endeavors, the stronger your work will be.” — To the point in fact, that I don't believe truly “creative endeavors” are even possible without one's “ authentic self” being their source. The rest is but mimicry, cheap commerce and craven conformity.
“When we suppress our true thoughts because we fear being ostracized from the herd or being unpopular or cancelled, we destroy a part of our souls.” — Ain't that the truth!
They’re lucky to have you for a teacher, Anthony. Authenticity is everything (in my humble opinion.) I’d rather be authentic and have just a few people show up than be inauthentic and attract many. Thx for sharing about your teaching!