Tbh, I got a weird compliment on my patchwork jacket at a Portland coffee shop

A barista said it looked like 'a quilt that got into a fight with a lawnmower', which honestly gave me the idea to start using more raw, frayed edges on purpose. Anyone else ever get a weird comment that actually improved a design?

3 comments

3 Comments

the_olivia2mo agoMost Upvoted

Weird comments can be a goldmine. A friend once said my clay mug looked like it was "melting off the table." I started making a whole line with slumped, drooping shapes on purpose. It's like getting a fresh set of eyes on your work without asking for it. Sometimes the best feedback is the stuff people just blurt out without thinking.

ross.angela2mo ago

My cousin's three year old once pointed at my painting and said it looked like a sad elephant wearing socks. I had no idea what she meant but it stuck with me. Now I see this gentle, wrinkled shape in the blue brushstrokes every time I look at it. It's funny how those offhand remarks, like what @the_olivia's friend said, can unlock a whole new way of seeing your own stuff. That painting is still my favorite because of that weird little comment.

mia_lee2mo ago

Ever have someone call your work "cozy but chaotic"? That's basically my whole brand now.