Dear Non-Artists,
So, you find a person drawing in their sketchbook and think, “Hey! That’s pretty neat!” Then your eyes wander over to the drawings they’ve made, and you’re like, “Shoot, they’re super good.” Naturally, you want to approach them, strike up a conversation, and compliment them. Maybe you even want to be friends with them. I want to stop right there.
The number of awkward situations I, and many other artists, have experienced from this exact scenario is too high to count. I know you don’t mean any harm and only want to be civil. It’s just that… for every hobby community or a career or whatever niche, there’s always some nitty gritty detail that the general public doesn’t know about. So, if you want to converse with a sketchbook artist without making them uncomfortable, try avoiding these three things.
Don’t put yourself down when you compliment us. Look, we get it. The best you can draw is a stick figure. Aside from the fact that we’ve heard these “humble” compliments more than enough times, they don’t make us feel better about our art… at all. What do you even mean when you put yourself down like that? Do you wish you could draw better? Are you jealous? Do you think I’m naturally talented and that you aren’t? Because I’m not. Art is a skill, and it probably took years for us to draw like we do now. We all started with stick figures in the beginning. If we could go beyond that, you can, too, if you truly want to. So don’t beat yourself up in front of us.
Don’t ask, “Can you draw me?” The answer is most likely no. Why? Well, the subject matter drives our motivation to draw. Don’t take it too harshly that you’re not a motivating subject; it’s not your fault. Sometimes, artists specialize in drawing animals, scenes, or objects and don’t feel comfortable drawing people. If they do like drawing people, maybe they prefer drawing fictional people. If you desperately want us to do your portrait, ask for our PayPal. The art market is a cruel, unforgiving place. We’d appreciate any business, and I mean that sincerely.
Finally, never EVER look through our sketchbook. PLEASE ask first. Even so, don’t judge us if we say no or only show you a few pages. It’s not always because there’s some raunchy tucked away in there! Many artists hate looking at their older art, so maybe they want to curate your “Sketchbook viewing experience™” to their newest, best of the best works. Or maybe we don’t want you to judge us for drawing the same thing over and over and over again. Or maybe we drew ourselves kissing a video game character we had a crush on when we were 13 and would die of embarrassment if someone saw that. Who knows? But what is in our sketchbooks we take to our graves, and if you dare try to pry it from our cold, dead hands, you have ruined any chances of gaining trust or respect in our eyes.
And that, my friend, is how you should talk to an artist.
Sincerely,
A Fellow Sketchbook Owner