the dilemma of being an artist in the social media age 

Please understand that the actual fine art market is just a money laundering operation. This video is 1000x more culturally relevant that any gallery exhibit I have seen in the last 10 years.

I just want to say that causality is so much more powerful and refreshing than seriousness. I’m not talking about subject matter, I’m talking about tone. The way that this channel can show serious topics with a casual tone, and without oversimplifying an argument is really remarkable.

this is literally so relatable like it's so frustrating that social media helps to extend our reach and make connections but also serves to confine our creativity 😭✋I love your combination of paintings and video essays, hearing the thoughts behind every piece only adds to their beauty. I wish you all the best on your art journey Jackie :)

3:46 This hits hard. It sucks that everything is "commercialized" content, from ideation, sketching, painting, and final piece. Every single thing about art became a commodity because traditional means for connections are not possible for every person. Not everyone gets an opportunity to be heard and seen but thanks (and no thanks) to social media, we get to share our art. The parasocial relationship gets stronger (ironic for me also commenting here lol). We are participants of our own demise

Omg you hit me in the feels!!! Filming while painting UGH and the set up is so fckn annoying hahaha. And also that real 'Art' is just to make the rich richer. You are the most inspiring artist I know!!!!!!!!

This was a fascinating meditation on the artist's self portrait, and the statement made by depicting oneself at the easel. We think every artist should do at least one self-portrait in action with palette and brush in hand! We thought it was interesting (and extremely sad) that two artists shown at the beginning- Judith Leyster and Artemisia Gentileschi- took centuries to be recognized as historically important, great painters. The entirety of Leyster's work was previously misattributed to her husband or Frans Hals, which seems absurd considering the authenticity and pride that shines through in this painting of the artist holding her palette.

thank you so much for representing how i feel so beautifully and (seemingly) effortlessly :,)

i really like how the painting gets less detailed and more impressionistic towards the edges, like in the trousers I feel like so often people see art and are only wowed by detail and how realistic it looks and so to me that looser painting is also a kickback to online art culture idk? very cool anyway, just the opinions of a lapsed artist

I often wonder if there's any way I can build a platform without having to post on social media

Couldn't agree more, the way I make art requires a kind of solitude and focus. I share it online but at what cost sometimes? It's such a frustrating dilemma. Stunning painting!

Thank you so much for sharing your thoughts and feelings through your art. ❤ You share meaningful creations. Hope you'll never lose your passion and love for painting. :) So glad i found your channel.

YOU DONT have to make the process look good I swear. its honestly annoying to see people posting the perfect art processes like no one relates to that. when I'm in an art block ( 😭) or smthg, messy and realistic process is whats going to comfort me. so don't feel the pressure to make it look good.

you are so creative omg

You are a visionary and really creative with many of your painting concepts!!!!

such a relevant video and piece, I think your videos stand for themselves as a piece of art in a way. I'm so glad that you push through the discomfort of having to film yourself (I hate it too lmao) to share these with us (and ofc to make yourself a living off of it :P). ♥

I agree with your ideas. For some, though, their art practice is happily relegated to their private studios and function as a form of creativity and self care. Not everything a person does or does well requires public validation for meaning, purpose and satisfaction to exist. Or even... a customer? You were raised in a world where public/online validation almost superseded reality. As if the online version of a person informed the in person person, not the other way around. You are reaching many more people in a short time than most of the great artists ever could have imagined in their lifetime. In this way... it's all relative. For example, what if the more popular you get, the more money you make, the more you actually hate what you're doing? Is it worth it, then? I think you are staying true to your personal taste and creative impulses, but only you can know that for sure. You are a sweet person, and you've been through a lot... No one could argue how hard you've worked to overcome the odds - I just hope art will always remain for you a special gift. And if the internet ceased to exist tomorrow, it would still be worth it and exactly what you'd want to be doing.

This video is weirdly relevant for me right now. I recently posted my first ever video on youtube: a sketchbook tour. I loved seeing other peoples tours and thought I could join in. I had no intention of actually starting a RU-vid channel but I started getting comments of people asking me to continue sharing my art. I tried doing a speedpaint video, but with the camera there I couldn´t focus. Once I turned the camera off, I made a piece I am really proud of. I want to make it as an artist and I know the best way to actually do that is trough social media, so I guess I just have to learn to do both. Art and Content

Everyone yearns for that stamp of “approval.” You’re normal (whatever normal is). Unfortunately, we all live in the “matrix of capitalism” and the only way of getting the stamp of invitation - is through the gatekeepers: those with money/power. Just do you … ‘cause that’s looking damn good! Sidebar: Sometimes, especially when you don’t give a shite - they will come looking for you.

You be speaking my thoughts, girly 👏🏼🔥

fantastic video as always! i can't bring myself to do the social media thing i tried and even got myself a course to have better marketing strategies. But i could not handle the dilemma you described. Now im trying to get attetion in real life to my art. Is gonna be though and probably entagled with some form of marketing yourself. I listened to an interview by Liu Xiadong and he metioned the book painted words and how it changed his perception what modern art "culture" is about. I have to give it a read for sure. Anyway happy to have seen your take on this topic and great painting you did for it!

Impressive as always. Hi, from an Artist In UGANDA!

we dont have to do any social media, there are still artists out there that dont use any social media, its rare but im sure they are a few. it def does make things harder tho if you dont use any type of social media. is it a bad thing? yeah because its so stressful trying to do it all and still create something

Wow it looks absolutely amazing great work ❤

I felt this one to the core

LETS GOOOO JACKIEEEEE

You're incredible- thank you for sharing~

Omggg the people being upset at influencers going at the MET. Why does it offend you SO MUCH as a peasant yourself?? I thought I was the only one who found it annoying lol. Btw when you speak it always seems like you're smiling. It's so cute!

Yooooo so happy to see you post!!

I am a younger teen, wanting to start posting my art in the online world making money off of it, but am scared to. I am afraid I will loose interest in art and become less creative. I am scared one video will go viral and I will end up making similar things to that one viral video, and i end up creating the same thing to get more views rather than artwork I want to create which might get less views and likes. (love the painting btw)

This is the highlight of my day 😄

interesting video and thoughts, thaks for sharing it, you should make a video about AI image generation, its afecting soo many artist right now, myself included, its been such a hard times this last months since this start to blow up

It’s the difference between a political candidate getting money from a PAC group, and another from individual donations.

OMG i'M SO EARLY. ITS LITERALLY SO LATE WHERE I AM

🖤🖤👏

😍😍😍

Yes im kinda early!! Anyway, your art is SO good.

How was your drawing of a potato AT 10 so amazing!!!

Chow Samy

Few admire because few can admire. Don’t waste time on mass taste, there’s a vulgar phrase about flies and excrement that says it all.

Your intelligence and eloquence constantly blow me away.

Thank you for honestly sharing your thoughts and your art with us. I’m South African and I honestly don’t believe that art would have been as approachable and something I felt I was allowed to be apart of if it weren’t for artists who double as content creators like you. Keep doing you and I hope you can find the time to also create for yourself without the discomfort of documentation sometimes ♥️

hello ! U are such an inspiration to me and everything I do!! It’s really hard to balance creating what you want to create and what will do well online. I relate to this so much

Not only is the painting, but this video and your essay - the most contemporary piece of art I have ever seen !!! You are beyond inspirational! You are an icon!!!

Fantastic job, Jackie!

Really loved this video Jackie - your social commentary is what really makes these videos shine, although your art is insanely beautiful. Thank you!

How weird was it to paint a canvas on a canvas?

i think this proble m is a reflection of how the system refuses to change. we've had so much progress in production and yet our wages remain the same while the 1 percent only pursue more and more profit. AI for example should be amazing- it can automate menial tasks, assist us with difficult ones, and free up time for us to pursue our passions while we flourish and have the weight of wages lifted off our backs. we have the potential, we have the resources for exactly this and yet we see miniscule progress in a climate ruled by corporate greed while the people supposed to bring about change in the government are stripping rights away from minorities instead. AI and LLMS are going in a direction that will take livings away from creatives-- who needs you when it can do it faster and cheaper? we shouldn't have to follow a system that believes that a constant surplus of working and production is the only way to live. we should be able to share our work without bending to the will of an algorithm only designed to bring it's creators more money.

Seeing this on Instagram first

Let's be honest, though... that potato was really good! I love that you share your process, so thank you. Your videos aren't just aesthetically pleasing, but also thoughtful and provoking.

ADMIRE YOUR WORK

I can't tell you how much you have inspired me to paint! I try to mimic how you paint, so that I can hopefully improve...💀 Nevertheless, I love how you're open about your art process. I can confidently say you are my favorite artist, because you have such an amazing gift to take something meaningful to you, and transform it into a literal piece ✨️ART✨️. I can only hope to paint like you one day with such an open mind.🩵

She's back. Yay