Thank you for the comment, Anita, and for the encouraging words! I don't know if I work that 'hard,' but I do try to remain (mostly) productive. I find it harder to grind it out as I get older and this is something I'll probably write about soon!
I keep screenshots and other messages in a folder and it's a helpful reminder that I'm not wasting my time or missing the mark with my art, my writing, etc. It's good to know people are responding to it in a positive way and glancing at it from time to time motivates me to continue making stuff.
Thanks, Kyle! You have been a great influence on me. I love using your brushes, and look forward to every video you do on Behance. I have learned a lot, and you have confirmed a lot of my own beliefs.
Kyle, I let haters get me down for decades. I never felt good enough. Thin enough. Pretty enough. I trusted people who turned on me. So I turned away from my early punk photos and kept to myself more than I usually do.
Took years for me to agree with pals told me haters were just jealous. I tell true tall tales and show my photos. Which I am turning into a membership site.
And that's a threat for some. I tell tales. I bring receipts. Gotta shut me up. Gotta steal my photos.
BUT ...
In the last two weeks, Shep Fairey released a gorgeous Joe Strummer poster based on my photo of Joe.
The Punk Rock Museum negotiating for about a dozen photos to sell as postcards. Most of those dozen and others are in their permanent exhibit.
I ran a sale.
I was flooded with REMINDERS that ppl really not only LOVE my photos ... THEY THANK ME.
No longer will I tolerate fools. Being online, and hearing and reading so much support for MY creations, I realized who is the LOSER. Not I! Not YOU!
Arrogant, ignorant, not talented or motivated to do what ONLY you and I can do, jealous, unhappy, insecure, etc ... choose any or combos or all of those adjectives ... and haters gotta hate.
THEY miss out on the FUN! The ACCLAIM! The wonderful warm support that surrounds creatives. ESP if generous like you! I have given away so much! Info and photos and more. Drove ppl all over to shows. Fed them. Housed them. Helped make some famous via my photos!!
When ppl DO get to know you, they ARE grateful. Grateful to BUY YOUR ART, your tools, your creations!! Love seeing behind the scenes. And that you reach out to ppl in so many ways.
AND HONORED they know the artist behind what they love. Tools. Inspiration. And so much more.
I dwell on some of the haters cos some were pals. I helped so many. But obviously they don't value my friendship more than dissing me. And sometimes passing MY photos off as theirs! That is rampant!! THAT tells you what kind of disgusting people they are!
Advice to all: stay focused on what makes YOU happy. Makes others happy . Hopefully makes money. Or not. Or make art just for yourself.
As Kyle stated: eff the trolls.
PS However, the hostility level is off the charts! So artists can't make a living? They can't sell tools to other others? Can't work with a company that has far bigger reach than any Pshop artist will ever have?
I guarantee these ppl complain about not making enough money. And they lack talent. Cos they are gonna make brushes like Kyle?? On what planet does this make sense?
THAT is vital!! Look at their outta touch craziness. The vitriol is astonishing. I don't expect everyone to agree with everyone. But wishing harm and being so nasty just cos you agree with someone? About ART tools??
People are scary. Thankfully, more people are decent. And some, like you, Kyle, are EXCELLENT.
Thank you!! Happy Holiday Season. Or as Mae West famously said: "Every day's a holiday."
Google her! Mae West was a very funny, very brilliant writer and actress. She single-handedly saved Paramount Studios from ruin during the Depression. Early 1930s. Cos her movies were full of sexual innuedos. Lots of fun!!
Kyle, Thanks — for everything. Your brushes, tutorials, and encouragement on Behance, etc. has been a huge blessing in my life. I can’t thank you enough!
How terrible that you had to endure all of these negative comments. You sold out??? So talented artists should… starve? Cowards hide behind the anonymity of their keyboards. Of course you have brought so many resources (brushes! Inspiration!) to so many artists. Thank you for all you contribute and for this brave post.
Michelle, that was my feeling, exactly: what do people want from artists? For them to never live comfortably and have what others have? Suffering for one's art is overrated.
Being called a "sellout" would be one of my "interesting problems to have". If it does happen in the future (crossing fingers) so what? Sure, I'll embrace the label AF... why I wouldn't want to make a decent, cozy living off what I love most doing? How many people in the world actually get to do that? Chances are all these comments are just jealousy bile and little else.
I have been buying your brushes since the beginning. Trust me you did not sell out. You just had to do the next level in your career. These trolls are just jealous of your success. If you think about it, it’s better to signup with Adobe and get all your brushes (past and future updates) for free, instead of buying them individually. Just keep getting bigger and better, there are more of us on your side! Once again, a million thanks to your brushes that helped us a lot in our work!
I find that the bitterest venom comes from those with a gutfull of steaming jealousy. And it's manifested as cowardly keyboard assassination. Your success will always be the kick in teeth they deserve! I'm glad you're here doing what you're doing! ✊🏾👍🏾
Negative comments suck & the people who make them tend to be nimrods with zero reading comprehension, BUT trolls can become great grist for the marketing mill if a person is willing to have a little fun. VERBAL JUDO!
P.S. you are now & forever the Brush King and no other head is fit to wear the crown.
May I ask a question? Fresco… I love it! However, do you think Adobe will continue adding features? I’ve been hoping for a symmetrical drawing feature. But there has been SO much emphasis on the Firefly stuff… And Fresco hardly got a mention at the conference. I always want to see more Fresco videos. Anyway, Happy Holidays!
This is something I've come to learn. Even though I used to be a very opinionated person on social media thus risking the troll hate flames (no longer; I've picked up more interesting battles for myself) I did come relatively unscathed as whatever I tried to express I did so with proof at hand. Still, the occasional troll who was more than ready to tell me even what I'm going to die of did show up and could certainly ruin the rest of my day. And even when you think you're doing everything right, even that will draw in haters, so it's down to how much you care about them. And yes it takes time to grow a thick skin and value comments according to where do they come from. Love the idea of the gratitude folder — handy when you feel down and out on the ground.
Kyle, I bought almost all of your brushes before the sale to Adobe. My reaction to the deal was not to think I had wasted my money. Instead I was genuinely happy for you and pleased that I had in any way paved the road for these tools to be widely shared and to let your expertise help make Photoshop a better tool for artists.
People like you and the many others who purchased the brushes when I was running the business really helped to change my life and my career and I'll forever be grateful. Thank you, Jeff!
Thank you for the comment, Anita, and for the encouraging words! I don't know if I work that 'hard,' but I do try to remain (mostly) productive. I find it harder to grind it out as I get older and this is something I'll probably write about soon!
Keeping a "gratitude file" is a great idea!
I keep screenshots and other messages in a folder and it's a helpful reminder that I'm not wasting my time or missing the mark with my art, my writing, etc. It's good to know people are responding to it in a positive way and glancing at it from time to time motivates me to continue making stuff.
Thanks, Kyle! You have been a great influence on me. I love using your brushes, and look forward to every video you do on Behance. I have learned a lot, and you have confirmed a lot of my own beliefs.
Many thanks, Gary- I wish I was still livestreaming with the same frequency as before. I miss it!
Kyle, I let haters get me down for decades. I never felt good enough. Thin enough. Pretty enough. I trusted people who turned on me. So I turned away from my early punk photos and kept to myself more than I usually do.
Took years for me to agree with pals told me haters were just jealous. I tell true tall tales and show my photos. Which I am turning into a membership site.
And that's a threat for some. I tell tales. I bring receipts. Gotta shut me up. Gotta steal my photos.
BUT ...
In the last two weeks, Shep Fairey released a gorgeous Joe Strummer poster based on my photo of Joe.
The Punk Rock Museum negotiating for about a dozen photos to sell as postcards. Most of those dozen and others are in their permanent exhibit.
I ran a sale.
I was flooded with REMINDERS that ppl really not only LOVE my photos ... THEY THANK ME.
No longer will I tolerate fools. Being online, and hearing and reading so much support for MY creations, I realized who is the LOSER. Not I! Not YOU!
Arrogant, ignorant, not talented or motivated to do what ONLY you and I can do, jealous, unhappy, insecure, etc ... choose any or combos or all of those adjectives ... and haters gotta hate.
THEY miss out on the FUN! The ACCLAIM! The wonderful warm support that surrounds creatives. ESP if generous like you! I have given away so much! Info and photos and more. Drove ppl all over to shows. Fed them. Housed them. Helped make some famous via my photos!!
When ppl DO get to know you, they ARE grateful. Grateful to BUY YOUR ART, your tools, your creations!! Love seeing behind the scenes. And that you reach out to ppl in so many ways.
AND HONORED they know the artist behind what they love. Tools. Inspiration. And so much more.
I dwell on some of the haters cos some were pals. I helped so many. But obviously they don't value my friendship more than dissing me. And sometimes passing MY photos off as theirs! That is rampant!! THAT tells you what kind of disgusting people they are!
Advice to all: stay focused on what makes YOU happy. Makes others happy . Hopefully makes money. Or not. Or make art just for yourself.
As Kyle stated: eff the trolls.
PS However, the hostility level is off the charts! So artists can't make a living? They can't sell tools to other others? Can't work with a company that has far bigger reach than any Pshop artist will ever have?
I guarantee these ppl complain about not making enough money. And they lack talent. Cos they are gonna make brushes like Kyle?? On what planet does this make sense?
THAT is vital!! Look at their outta touch craziness. The vitriol is astonishing. I don't expect everyone to agree with everyone. But wishing harm and being so nasty just cos you agree with someone? About ART tools??
People are scary. Thankfully, more people are decent. And some, like you, Kyle, are EXCELLENT.
Thank you!! Happy Holiday Season. Or as Mae West famously said: "Every day's a holiday."
Google her! Mae West was a very funny, very brilliant writer and actress. She single-handedly saved Paramount Studios from ruin during the Depression. Early 1930s. Cos her movies were full of sexual innuedos. Lots of fun!!
Haters are THE WORST. Jenny, you have obviously seen it all and have the wisdom to come through with good perspective - I appreciate that!
Kyle, Thanks — for everything. Your brushes, tutorials, and encouragement on Behance, etc. has been a huge blessing in my life. I can’t thank you enough!
How terrible that you had to endure all of these negative comments. You sold out??? So talented artists should… starve? Cowards hide behind the anonymity of their keyboards. Of course you have brought so many resources (brushes! Inspiration!) to so many artists. Thank you for all you contribute and for this brave post.
Michelle, that was my feeling, exactly: what do people want from artists? For them to never live comfortably and have what others have? Suffering for one's art is overrated.
Being called a "sellout" would be one of my "interesting problems to have". If it does happen in the future (crossing fingers) so what? Sure, I'll embrace the label AF... why I wouldn't want to make a decent, cozy living off what I love most doing? How many people in the world actually get to do that? Chances are all these comments are just jealousy bile and little else.
I have been buying your brushes since the beginning. Trust me you did not sell out. You just had to do the next level in your career. These trolls are just jealous of your success. If you think about it, it’s better to signup with Adobe and get all your brushes (past and future updates) for free, instead of buying them individually. Just keep getting bigger and better, there are more of us on your side! Once again, a million thanks to your brushes that helped us a lot in our work!
Thanks, Marco - couldn't agree more. Selling out? Not at all - selling 'up' - yes!
I find that the bitterest venom comes from those with a gutfull of steaming jealousy. And it's manifested as cowardly keyboard assassination. Your success will always be the kick in teeth they deserve! I'm glad you're here doing what you're doing! ✊🏾👍🏾
I like that phrase: "cowardly keyboard assassination." Thanks for the kind words, Eric.
No problemo! 👍🏾✊🏾
Negative comments suck & the people who make them tend to be nimrods with zero reading comprehension, BUT trolls can become great grist for the marketing mill if a person is willing to have a little fun. VERBAL JUDO!
P.S. you are now & forever the Brush King and no other head is fit to wear the crown.
I will proudly wear the Brush King crown, Vincent! Thank you.
May I ask a question? Fresco… I love it! However, do you think Adobe will continue adding features? I’ve been hoping for a symmetrical drawing feature. But there has been SO much emphasis on the Firefly stuff… And Fresco hardly got a mention at the conference. I always want to see more Fresco videos. Anyway, Happy Holidays!
This is something I've come to learn. Even though I used to be a very opinionated person on social media thus risking the troll hate flames (no longer; I've picked up more interesting battles for myself) I did come relatively unscathed as whatever I tried to express I did so with proof at hand. Still, the occasional troll who was more than ready to tell me even what I'm going to die of did show up and could certainly ruin the rest of my day. And even when you think you're doing everything right, even that will draw in haters, so it's down to how much you care about them. And yes it takes time to grow a thick skin and value comments according to where do they come from. Love the idea of the gratitude folder — handy when you feel down and out on the ground.
Kyle, I bought almost all of your brushes before the sale to Adobe. My reaction to the deal was not to think I had wasted my money. Instead I was genuinely happy for you and pleased that I had in any way paved the road for these tools to be widely shared and to let your expertise help make Photoshop a better tool for artists.
People like you and the many others who purchased the brushes when I was running the business really helped to change my life and my career and I'll forever be grateful. Thank you, Jeff!