Don’t Explain Your Art (Good Work Speaks For Itself)

September 11, 2021 — Having to explain your art to people is a sign that it’s not quite “there” and needs more work.

In college, I had an advertising professor named Kevin O’Neill who was something of a real-world Don Draper.

I’d go up to his office with a stack of ads and sit there like a deer in the headlights, waiting to see whether I’d win a smile or get run over by a raised eyebrow.

In retrospect, my crippling level of anxiety over a piece of paper with some scribbles on it was hilarious — but (as any creative person will tell you), a few seconds of uncertainty can feel like an hour…

The longer the silence went on, the more desperate I was to commit the deadliest of sins: explain my work.

Hack: Never Explain

Truth be told, I think prof O’Neill liked to toy with me — delaying his reactions to hype the big reveal and make my triumphs or lessons that much more memorable.

But most people are not trying to fool you.

They’ll either “get” or “not get” your art within the first second of seeing it — and you’ll know by the look on their faces.

Which is why it’s so important NOT to explain.

In fact, don’t even ask people: “What do you think?” Just set your work down in front of them to sink or swim in silence.

Good work speaks for itself.

p.s. You can find this article on fthelines.com, along with other stories about #creativity, #minimalism, and #barefoot. Thanks for reading! (: 🖖
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