Cap It Or Cope It!

The pandemic has forced creatives to find ways to navigate creating and sharing art in a virtual space, without the intimacy of physical contact and the energy that can only be felt when in the same proximity or space. This year I was incredibly happy to share as part of the esteemed panel of emerging artists for a discussion entitled ‘Cap It Or Cope It’ in celebration of World Health Day 2021, hosted by the World Forum for Art & Culture. This focus on mental health was particularly important given the increased stresses attributable to the pandemic and the damaging effects that it has had on the entertainment sector. I was also especially amused by being asked whether I ever received negative criticism online for my art and creative work, and how I have dealt with it. Now that art is being made more accessible in the virtual world, the feedback to artists is immediate and we all know that artists can be angsty. I don’t consider myself an exception to this rule though I can otherwise be quite logical in my approach to life. When it comes to art, I sincerely doubt that anyone enjoys being told that their baby is ugly! For me, it helps to return to my creative journal where I recall the fulfilment derived just from the process of creating, and then, I choose to focus on the many positive reviews instead of the negative ones in the minority. We have to guard our minds and where we place our focus. I choose to focus on the positive!