Thursday, December 29, 2005

Thought for the Day

I recently shared my URLs with a new acquaintance of mine, and he sent me this email:
Peter:

Sitting in bed taking a quick look at peteykins.com.

You're very good. Amazing imagery.

And WAY too much time on your hands. [g]
You know what? Fuck. You. People don't say that to dancers. They don't say it to writers. They don't say it to people who are really, really into gardening. They don't say it to musicians. God forbid they say it to somebody on a softball team. But visual artists? We get that comment all the freaking time.

I'm so glad you enjoyed my worthless activity, asshole.

EDIT: I feel I should say that I meant this more as an overall comment about the respect, or lack thereof, accorded visual artists than a personal thing.

17 comments:

Anonymous said...

Way true a comment about visual artists, princess, especially about how electronic visual artists use their time. Moreso than quilters--can you imagine cutting up all that stuff just to sew it all back together?--or oil painters--polluting the environment with toxics--computer artists are viewed as wastrels. Says more about how much time yr acquaintence has on his hands than about how your invest your creative energies, honey.

Elayne said...

Oh, PSP, I'm so sorry you're hurt by his remarks, but honestly, I didn't read them as belittling at all! Especially with that wink at the end. I hope he's apologized that he offended you, but I don't think he meant to. I often joke about anyone who goes overboard for no monetary compensation as having too much time on their hands, particularly writers but also artists because (being married to an artist) I know how labor-intensive it is.

Peteykins said...

Actually, I added the wink. it was a "g" in brackets, which blogger filters out as an unrecognizable html tag. Probably a ":)" would have been more accurate.

But it's the kinda casual dismissal of art-making that really gets to me, and the idea that making art isn't... you know... work, so I stand by my reaction.

Lulu Maude said...

Don't you worry, your high-nie... you are absolutely indispensible to my day. Just write off the remarks of philistines like anonymous, who lacks even the creativity of a name, and return to the warm embrace of your loyal fans, of which I am truly over the top.

p.s. I was quite envious when you visited Pulp Friction, the blog of my long-time friend, but didn't visit my own, Take Your Medicine. I know that Karen's and my friendship will somehow survive, but still...

Such are the pressures of celebrity.

Peteykins said...

Lulu, darling, just because I haven't commented on your blog doesn't mean I haven't visited it!

Clearly you have too much time on your hands. KIDDING!

Gregkeywest said...

Oh Poor PSP - Your rage is frightmaking....

I have just this very day bought a copy of "Marcy Sings to $1.98 Children" and would LOVE to make it a gift to you.... To soothe your savage breast...

Peteykins said...

Ha ha! Greg, I already have a copy! How do you think I recorded those mp3s?

TexasYankee said...

what a prick. i am always very impressed when i saunter around your pages and the photoshopping of others on that fark.com forum. it's a real skill and also requires serious creativity, like all art forms. the "you have too much time on your hands" comment is both a compliment in that it means to acknowledge that what you're doing it a lot of work, as well as a put-down in that it indicates that such time could be spent on something [the commenter feels is] more productive. anyway, prick. FEH on him!

Karen Zipdrive said...

As a blogger for more than four years- not to mention a fine artist- I too hear that "time on your hands" shit all the time.
You let me know if I need to round up a mess o' flannel shirted dykes to go mess with that snippy queen.
As for LuLu being jealous that you graced my comments box with your presence- she needs to understand the pseudosexual nature of our new acquaintance. The boy in me is hot for the girl in you, quasi babygirl.
:)

Karen Zipdrive said...

...Besides, if that guy was sitting in bed reading your Blog, who has time on whose hands?
Maybe someone needs to get out of bed.
:P

Anonymous said...

I hope this new acquaintance wasn't being considered as a stud for Sparklepony Ranch, as his feeble-minded seed is clearly unworthy of you.

Anonymous said...

To Your Highness and her Court, especially Miss Lulu Maude, Miss Anonymous proffers her heartfelt apologies. A different reading of my initial response to this posting may indicate that I am agreeing with the outrage expressed by the princess at the blindsidedness of folks with regard to visual artists and electronic visual artists in particular. I am at the same time chiding the New Acquaintence. Sorry to have appeared to be adding fuel to the fire of the New Acquaintence. Thanks for rushing to the defence of the Princess, Miss Lulu Maude. An honorable action for a member of the court deserving a major citation.

Peteykins said...

Actually, anonymous, I totally understood what you meant.

Sarah Letnes said...

I know it isn't, but you make it look so easy.

z7q2 said...

Yanno, thank goodness PSP and the rest of us have too much time on our hands. Otherwise the internets would be full of corporate-filtered propagandacrap! IMHO, most art worth gazing upon is the result of loving obsession and copious amounts of time spent.

Fran / Blue Gal said...

You are an artist. Not to worry if some don't get it or think it's a waste.

Anonymous said...

darling, I adore Princess Sparkle Pony.

You're doing a fabulous job & bring lots of pleasure to yours truly.