Categorizing

I love it when I say I’m an artist, or I can fish, or I ride horses & I get the normal reaction: “You don’t look like it.” *stares blandly @ said person* Seriously? I have had broken ribs, been sat on, & thrown off horses all my childhood—in fact if there is ANYTHING I know I can do well it’s western horseback riding. Even now I can do it—though I would get insanely sore & probably thrown off as I haven’t ridden in ages. Even better—I’ve been fishing since I was able to hold a pole & yet people look @ me like I’m from another planet—especially men. *chuckles* But worst of all when I say I’m an Artist I get a blank stare & it gets worse when I say I draw pinups, comics, & paint abstracts among other random creative outlets. For this I can forgive the people who are not exposed to this art style all the time. They don’t know so why should I be disgruntled with them. No, I get frustrated by the people who are supposedly doing the same thing as I am & who look down their respective noses at me because what? I don’t dress like them? I’m not “cool” as far as how I look?

WTF?

I don’t have tons of tattoos or piercings (though I love body art) & used to have piercings but not anymore. I don’t have pink or blue hair—though I think it’s super cute. I don’t “fit into” the category of an artist who enjoys comic art. Why? I don’t know.. Maybe it’s because I don’t cosplay or try to fight the man by expressing how unique I am with a wardrobe or snarky t-shirts & a chip on my shoulder. Maybe it’s because I don’t fit into what many would classify as the norm look for this genre of art? I don’t—I know I don’t b/c I’ve been to conventions & I don’t blend in but I have fun none the less & I am a HUGE dork when I go. It came to my attention when I tried to approach other artists who were “reaching out” but apparently I didn’t fit into their idea of who they wanted to reach out to? Their attitudes were so SNOBBISH I was immediately thrown back into high school flashbacks of trying to fit in with cheerleaders. YES THAT BAD! It was really disheartening to experience this & at first I felt SO inadequate trying to speak to them—like I was on a lower level of scum. Then I got angry. Their art was not priceless; it was good but not better than mine. It was the same genre & they were trying to “reach out” not me so why the horrible click? My guess is that I was too happy for them & rubbed them the wrong way with smiling… Whoops.

Human Nature

Its human nature to categorize things & people because we automatically what to know how they fit in. Don’t lie—we ALL do it. For people who have been fighting the norm & trying to make others more open-minded some seem overly closed off to their own advice. What gives?

Enjoy some small thumbs of works I L.O.V.E.