I make art for the attention

Why I love to support creatives who want an audience

Disclaimer: I love making art for art’s sake. It is revolutionary. It is transformative. It makes the world a better place. It has MANY scientifically proven benefits to our physical and mental health. It can cure pain, it can reduce inflammation, it can change your life. Fucking around and making random shit just for ourselves, is very ON BRAND FOR AMIE. But it isn’t what drives me.

I make art for the attention.

And I love attention seeking artists.

Throughout my writing journey, but especially at the beggining, I was inundated with the advice to write only for yourself! Be happy just writing this book just for you! Be okay with no one ever reading this!

Just typing that pisses me off.

I write to connect. I write to be witnessed. Art is a vehicle for me to connect. I create to be seen. I wanted to tell stories, and I wanted those stories to be read.

When I tell my stories, when I share my words, I am doing it because I want your attention. I want to connect with you. I want you to see yourself in me. I want our relationship to evolve. I want intimacy and closeness and understanding. I. Want. Attention.

But all of the advice I was getting was leading me to believe that I was at best: deluded for writing to connect with others, and at worst: immoral, gross, narcissistic ? Women have been culturally bought up knowing that one of the worst things you can be is an attention seeker. Telling people that I wrote and I wanted them to be READ and ADORED felt like turning up to a party at thirteen years old with my boobs pushed up and way too much eyeliner on. (Something I did, because I was and continue to be: a vibe.)

Wanting attention is HOLY. It is normal. It is… fuck I’m trying to find the words to reverse a very ingrained cultural narrative. Basically, I love that you want attention for your creations. I fucking love it. I want you to have attention. You deserve attention.

Of course, the “create for yourself” narrative is here partly for good reason. Many people love this advice because if you create to please others, you end up creating something watered down, you self-censor and minimise your magic. “Create for yourself, or create like no one else will consume your art” alleviates the pressure to please for some creatives. If it serves you to think about it in this way, I am so so glad.

But the fact I want attention from my art, personally doesn’t impact my creation process negatively. I want to be witnessed for who I am! I want attention because pf who I am! I want attention for being Amie, not morphing into something easily consumable, not morphing into something YOU want me to be. The fact that I want attention for my creations actually sinks me deeper into my own unique brand of magic.

I’m often asked to write about and talk about art for art’s sake, and I will joyfully do so, forever and ever. But what fucking light’s a fire under me, is when I hear an artist say: I want an audience. I want to be seen. I want my art to be out there making waves. Fuck yes you do. You deserve it too. Making cool shit, and then vulnerably sharing it - hell yes. Let’s go.

I have such a huge heart for the creator who wants to make money with their art, who wants attention, who wants an audience. We’ve been shamed for these desires, made to feel like we are tarnishing the sacred practice of art. We’ve been talked down from these aspirations, being constantly reminded that it probably won’t happen. We’ve been looked down upon because we want to connect, the most human of all desires. Fuck that. Fuck these narratives. I love us. I want us to win.

In two weeks, I have a masterclass called Sell Your Art Without Selling Out, and we are going to dive deep into this conversation. How do we get attention? How do we get attention without feeling like a dick? How do I get attention when the algorithm wants me to disappear? How do I get attention and feel aligned and excited? Spaces are filling up fast.

I want you there. I want your art connecting. I want you to capture attention.

Thank you for reading, thank you for being with me, thank you for your attention.

Amie x