Thoughts On Being a Quiet & Calm Artist in a Loud & Aggressive World

Bun with Dandelion
Pen and watercolor pencils

It is an age-old tale - the people who shout and stomp the loudest get the attention, while the quiet, reserved people often go unnoticed and underappreciated. In the age of social media, this is more evident than ever, with nearly everyone hustling and jockeying for likes, views, and followers. Some people are selling themselves, wanting to be famous for its own sake, while others use social media as a way to promote their business, cause, or point of view. It is a popularity contest on a toxic scale, with all of us pitched back into junior high. 

As a culture, we are constantly being bombarded with “content,” and aggressive, yet stealthy marketing, both online and off. There is always an angle, and we are constantly put into the position of having to discern if something is legit, or a scam. It is exhausting, stressful, and defeating, especially if you are someone who is aware they are being manipulated. While I found studying this topic as a Sociology and Social Science major in college interesting, living it day-to-day is soul-sucking.

I am a low-key, introverted person and enjoy solitary activities, as opposed to anything that necessitates being competitive. I’d rather have close bonds with my loved ones than be an affiliate in a web of tangential acquaintances. I shun brashness, arrogance, cruelty, cockiness, and swagger, and am inclined towards, and impressed by, sensitive, cerebral, and quietly confident people. It has been my experience that, the louder the personality, the shallower the person, and that quietness and calmness does not equal passive and weak. 

I know there are others out there who feel the same way I do, and my hope and desire is to connect with those people, in a way that is comfortable and natural, rather than over-stimulating and fast-paced. When I am looking for inspiration for my art, new artists to discover, or something engaging to read, I tend to gravitate towards calm, quiet, clear, and honest in both content (for lack of a better term), as well as in delivery. I seek depth and authenticity, and if I get a whiff of someone trying to manipulate me, I’m off.  

So taking all of the above into account, where does a calm, quiet artist fit into this world of aggression, hype, and phoneyness?

They don’t. 

They offer an alternative. 

Compromise only leads to being co-opted by, and enfolded into, the very thing you are trying to stand apart from. Getting out of your comfort zone is one thing. Compromising your integrity and being inauthentic to yourself is something else. My art is an offering, and it reflects my personality, and nothing brings me greater joy than having someone tell me that it resonates with them, or evokes calmness, or brings back a fond childhood memory. There is a connection made that is priceless.    

There are many artists who break from the norm and manage to be successful, and do it in a way that is in keeping with who they honestly are. They are an inspiration, and I admire and applaud their confidence, and their determination to stick to their convictions. It lends authenticity to their work, even if they do not reach as wide an audience as they might if they hustled and shouted and sold their souls. In my opinion, their work is much more meaningful because it is not just another thing being hawked on a street corner (virtual or otherwise), but a true expression of the artist behind it.

We are already subjected to plenty of manipulation strategies and aggressive sales tactics, and the last thing we need is more of the same. In this century, more than ever before, we need more humanity and sincerity, as a counter to all the phoneyness, loudness, and aggression that is so pervasive in all areas of our lives. Rather than attempting to be a part of what I regard as unhealthy and appalling, I attempt to offer an alternative, with the hope that my work and style resonates with the people who, like me, prefer a calmer, quieter mode and pace. 

I put my work and myself out into the public realm, which is necessary if you are a creative person trying to make a go of it, but I do not believe in debasing myself, or any audience I may acquire, by screaming, shoving, or slinking my way into view.  

In common with all artists, I have hopes and dreams for my art and illustration work, which I am making every effort to realize. If I am honest, I can see the steep uphill battle before me, as someone whose artistic style and personality are antithetical to the current trends. That is when I remember the verse in the Bhagavad Gita that I have quoted at the top of my blog. And I keep going. Calmly and quietly.