should I throw out my old art?

Question

I have a portfolio, but I have a lot of art that I've done over the past couple years, which seems really bad now... Is there any point in keeping it?? Will I ever need it? ♥

Answer 1

don't throw it out...you'll regret it

when you are 140 years old, a rapidly fading successful artist on your death-bed, looking at it might fill your last moments with a few chuckles!

Answer 2

You don't know where you're going unless you know where you've been. That's the best reason to hold on to old work. It gives you a timeline as well as actually being able to see progress. Also there may be time when you bust out the old stuff and find something you forgot about that's still a cool idea but can be done much better now. You'll find that if you just pitch things there may come a time that you wish you kept it.

Will you ever need it? Maybe not, but it's just cool to keep around. Hey, everyone needs a good laugh now and then. (I've laughed at plenty of things I thought were so bitchin' at the time but when you see then later, Oh man!)

You don't have to keep everything but keep as much as you can. Every so often you can go through it and clean house.

Answer 3

I always give away, sell, or pitch old art. If I don't get rid of it, I continue to work in the same way as I did before. Starting "fresh" with only a mental memory of what I did before gives me a chance to build on it...improve it...I figure I am MILES away from my personal masterpiece, so why horde my art? Share it. Lose it. JUST KEEP MAKING MORE/BETTER ART!!!

Answer 4

Don't throw it away. Sell, or give to someone. I have some of my daughter's artwork framed and hanging around the house. Nothing important to her but I LOVE it. She recently had an art show and I was amazed at how many pieces she sold and the number of commissions she got. Hang on to it.

Answer 5

Nooooo~! Don't throw it away!! Art is a piece of who u are even if it doesn't look like the best right now it shows how u have grown. U should see some of my art...it REALLY is bad. lmao! : )
Could u try posting what HIM song u liked again for me...I still can't remember which it was and I don't ever remember talking about the Sacrament...I feel kinda dumb I don't remember...sorry.

Answer 6

NO!!!! Never throw anything away. Box it up and label it. Be sure that each piece is signed and dated. Before his death Picasso donated much of his work including his early sketch books to the museum in Barcelona. They display it all proudly and have had it studied over by experts and the public alike. It's a great source that helps people to understand his talent and motivation. You never know. Find somewhere to keep it together.

Answer 7

Throw them away. Literally you should destroy them. As you progress, you will always make better art. You really dont want them to see how bad you were...right?
There were and are a lot of mature artists who would never let anyone to see their earliest works.

Answer 8

The old stuff may well be worth more than anything you have done recently ....... since most "Art Lovers" are actually taste free, there is no telling what you might get for your early work....... Just be sure all the numbers are covered .........

Answer 9

This advice goes beyond art. If there's any object in your home that you haven't admired or used in the last year get rid of it. Give it to the Salvation Army or the Goodwill. Your heirs won't want it either.

Answer 10

I once built a bonfire in my garden and burnt all my writings/poetry, it was so stupid, never ever destroy your work, if you think it is meaningless now, what if, you became famous, how meaningless would all that early work be, ? it would be priceless!! believe me, if you are an artist, retain every single piece of art you do, whether its writing, painting, whatever, keep it. Hide it, protect it, it is your life, your love, and could become your saviour in your struggle to survive, never destroy your work.

Answer 11

all art has value. Just scan it and sell it forever as digital art! Think stock photography - then you don't have to keep a pile of works around AND you get to keep your images around for prosperity and posterity.

best of both worlds.