A lot of artists have the wrong attitude about themselves and the ansi medium. Everyone complains about the behavior of the #ansi, but lately I've started thinking that it's more than just the typical verbal vomit that is to blame. Recent events lead me to believe that artists are just as much to blame for the retardation of the IRC artscene community as the whiners and ban-happy slackers who give #ansi a bad reputation.

Artists need to remember who looks at their art. As much as I'm sure that many artists draw "for the love of art", most would not keep going if nobody else paid attention to the results of their hard work. There is a growing rift between artists and the non-artist #ansi crowd, and I think it comes down to the old eliteness factor that used to thrive on artboards not so long ago. Seeing group vs. group flamewars and name-calling in the name of competition is getting old. We've already had Acid vs. Ice, Twilight vs. Ice, Dieznyik vs. Ellisdee, and so on. Now we have Legion vs. Avenge, Legion vs. Ice, Maestro vs. Mixelplik, etc. The thing is, nothing is going to come out of it that does anyone any good.

Some of my words will undoubtedly go to waste. Groups form and die without releasing, releasing only once, or merging off into another group. It's happened before and it will happen again. But little differences of opinion and "who owns who" mudslinging can speed up the deterioration. Sure, the latest crowd of IRC losers will join in the stupidity, but I think they're getting prompted by the very artists who have been around for years and just can't shut up and draw. Some of these new "lamers" end up being pretty decent artists, despite the current enviroment that most newbies have in their way. It would be a pity to lose any more good artists who quit drawing just because they can't see beyond the bullshit.

One last thing. It's time for all the veteran artists to get off their pedestals and get back in the trenches. A lot of the newer artists are doing a great job because they have to in order to make a name for themselves. The oldschool crowd can't cling to past achievements, resting on their laurels and saying "this new shit sucks" just because some John Doe who has never seen a Nation or Tribe pack is coming up with some new style that the #ansi cheerleaders actually like. You might think they're lifeless losers, but they do represent those people who still download artpacks.

It's OK to draw for the sake of drawing. Just don't let your age, experience or status go to your head. It takes new vision and talent to keep anything underground from being lost to apathy. Let the new people try their hand at ansi. Or hirez. Or whatever medium it may be. It's a great thing to see new artists come out of nowhere to join groups like Acid and Ice, but for those that take the longer road, give them a chance too.

inazone@ice.org