So I had to grow a thick skin when I published the daily news for all those years. It really got rough at times and I don’t think I ever really got a thick skin. My solution was to take my name and anything to do with me off Google Alerts. Seriously. Hide my head in the sand, that’s me.
But now that I am publishing comics daily, I see it has come back – people leaving comments I’m not crazy about. One guy thinks I stole a comic from elsewhere, another doesn’t understand one comic and another called my one comic, the one about Dan and the angry spicy food which ran a week or so ago, “Boomer humor!”
Rather than get offended, which I did at first, I told him, wait for the next comic, you’ll really see boomer humor. And that was the Columbo comic. Speaking of this Columbo comic, a guy, a boomer in fact, commented that he hates Columbo and turns it off every time it comes on. I got offended at that. I really do need get thicker skin. I’m not even Columbo and I get offended!
I’m guessing people know Columbo, even if they are 16-years-old, I mean everything is in reruns or available for instant streaming these days and if you don’t know Columbo you don’t know what you’re missing.
I am glad to get comments, it shows me that people are paying attention, you know, say what you will about me, just spell my name right – that sort of thing.
There is one cartoonist who on GoComics, has all comments turned off. I get it. I ran into him one time at a ComicCon and I didn’t really know what to say when we met, because I’m not really a reader of his comic so there was nothing to talk about, so I mentioned the “no comments” thing and we chatted about that for a bit. I guess it’s about putting your heart and soul into something and then having someone tear it apart, which I guess we are all guilty of on social media. It’s so easy to hide anonymously behind a keyboard.
Tomversation 
It’s that way with all things creative, subjective. I often see people walk around and observe things at Art Basel fairs and speak in terms of “I like” or “I don’t like.” Is that the measure?
As a painter, many people say they like my paintings. Some are effusive. None says he or she doesn’t like it (except one other ass artist – who, me, hold a grudge?) although a few say they like my older style more than my newer stuff. Mostly they just walk past without comment, no eye contact. I can almost predict from a crowd who will spend time with my paintings. I like it when they ask real substantive questions.
Your art evokes a more visceral response, maybe because there may be more obvious messaging in it. At least you get a response. People understand your art better and that’s good. Be thankful.
I get the most positive responses to my posts when I show my art displayed in situ, particularly in an expensive property. A nice view of the ocean in the background helps. Maybe it validates the art. Tells people it’s good, that others with money value it.
In the end, I have to sell the works. People buy art for different reasons. I try to make art that is interesting and that looks nice. Yet intentional and powerful. Some with messaging. I’ve thought of burning some paintings or shooting some. I’ve seen that help people appreciate the narrative.
Sometimes I’m tempted to think that I would like to get people to really “dislike” some works. Not just not like it, but really not like it. Maybe they would buy more. Not the messaging, the art itself. Hard to do with abstracts. Hard to go from “blah” to really negative comments. I guess they need to dislike the message mostly.
I have a couple small pieces that depict “gross” but I don’t want to post them online. I might include them in an exhibition. Maybe that will draw more attention to my really good stuff.
It I am grateful for the successes I’ve had and the satisfaction people have shown when they see a work hanging in their wall. Very satisfying.
So Tom, congrats on people responding to your work, one way or the other. They are reading you. I think if you keep the dislikes to 10%, that might be a good balance.
BTW, I like your cartoons. Some more than others. I’d say I like about 90% of them.
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