As an artist, there comes a time when you start questioning the very reason for doing what you do. Being a professional artist is tough. It's a demanding career that often lacks financial rewards and can even take a toll on your health. But as I've reflected on topics such as our existence and purpose as human beings, I've come to some personal realizations that I would like to share.
We all desire to leave a legacy, to create something that will cement our place in history. For some, it's being listed in the credits of a blockbuster film or having their name on the cover of a best-selling book. For others, it's about being famous on social media or becoming a household name in the artistic community. It's natural to assume that by achieving these tangible goals, we've left an indelible mark.
However, what we leave behind is far more complex and outreaching than just tangible achievements. I live in Melbourne, Australia, which isn't exactly the hub of the artistic community and doesn't boast much of a film or games industry. Despite this, I've connected with artists from all over the world and have been able to teach on a global stage, produce massive artworks that have been appreciated by people from different nationalities, and freelance for massive clients overseas.
None of these actions have been particularly noteworthy, but each and every one has been performed with the best of intentions. Rather than seeing these as singular achievements, I see them as outreaches. With each interaction, I've potentially inspired, taught, discussed with, and helped countless individuals escape to a world of my own invention. Each of these interactions is like a ripple that spreads outwards and inspires others to create.
The quality of our lives is owed to the lives of nameless others who came before us. If all we have is the life we're living today, it's formed by the ingenuity and selflessness of the billions who dedicated their lives to informing, inventing, and pursuing the human cause. As small parts of the human race's whole, we reach out like roots into the world, experience new things, and overcome obstacles armed with the knowledge of our predecessors. We then bring that knowledge back to the center for everyone to benefit from.
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Every person you communicate with, every artwork you post, and every interaction you have is an offering to the pool of human knowledge and resilience that we all share. The life you live now is built on the good intentions of generations before you, and the generations beyond us will be built upon what you offer. You can ensure this by putting all of yourself out there without holding back in fear of judgment or embarrassment.
Being the "good guy" can be tough. Being honest and candid, creating work that may not be rewarded, and offering your knowledge to others with little reimbursement can feel like a thankless task. However, the justification for this lies in helping or inspiring those around you in the same way you were helped or inspired throughout your life. You are leaving an intangible impression that can't be traced through pure achievements or writing, but it has irrevocably changed at least one other person in some way.
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Even if you never achieve anything of historical note, you can live content knowing that your challenges weren't in vain. Your discoveries are out there, within others, and will help them deal with their own challenges and achieve their own dreams. Every action you take as a creator, with the best of intentions and with brutal honesty to yourself, is the real mark that you leave. So, don't depend on a mark written in ink; it will only fade. Instead, focus on how you can affect others and leave an indelible impression.
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