My brother said my digital art looked 'too clean' to feel real
He told me, 'Your new portrait is perfect, but it has no soul,' after I spent 20 hours on it. Is polish and technical skill more important, or should we leave in some 'happy accidents' to give work character?
That's a gut punch after putting in that much work. Polish shows your skill, but sometimes perfect looks stiff. Leaving in a few of those happy accidents can make a piece feel alive, like someone made it. Your brother might be onto something, even if it stings to hear. Finding a balance between clean technique and a bit of raw feeling is the real trick.
My friend Mark spent six months on a ceramic vase, sanding every tiny flaw. His teacher pointed out one thumbprint he missed near the base, said it was the best part because it proved a human hand shaped it. Mark was annoyed at first, but now he leaves one small mark on purpose in every piece.