The absence of models, in literature as in life, to say nothing of painting, is an occupational hazard for the artist, simply because models in art, in behavior, in growth of spirit and intellect--even if rejected--enrich and enlarge one's view of existence. Deadlier still, to the artist who lacks models, is the curse of ridicule, the bringing to bear on an artist's best work, especially his or her most original, most strikingly deviant, only a fund of ignorance and the presumption that as an artist's critic one's judgement is free of the restrictions imposed by prejudice, and is well informed, indeed, about all the art in the world that really matters. Alice Walker
About This Quote

In the arts, this is a common problem. The artist who lacks models does not have a context for their work. In literature, paintings, or even in their own life, they do not have people who can understand what they are doing and how it impacts their lives. In short, they do not have a way to describe what they do and why they do it. To make matters worse, when an artist is mocked or called out for what they do, people often pretend that it is the only thing they do – as if there is no other work going on around them.

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