Artists: 5 things you can learn from Ylvis

So I’ve just been let on about Ylvis two weeks ago– two brothers, Bård and Vegard Ylvisaker from Bergen, Norway who has their own comedy talk show and has now garnered millions of new fans because of their viral videos (thanks VIvian & Shemei!). And if you have not heard of “The Fox” (shown above) and the lesser known video “Stonehenge” – you have got to check it out. Just hit play, and I’ll wait for you to be done – because if you didn’t, you’ll have no clue as to what the rest of this article is about.

Now, I’m not sure what your first reaction would be, but for me, when I heard their songs I thanked my lucky stars that I wasn’t drinking water or chewing anything because I could have spewed it out all over the screen. Like it or love it – there are many divisive thoughts about the brothers and the videos that got them worldwide attention since September 2013.

But clearly they must be doing something right – they’re on fully booked tours, contemplating signing record deals from the biggest companies, as well as interviews and guest appearances lined up to go. While the first viewing made me go WTF several times throughout; when I replayed their videos to Mr. T, I found myself enjoying (and yes, even appreciating) their weird sense of humor even more. The howling, the weird body spasms, the sheer randomness of it all, and how they’ve managed to create not just one, but a few tracks at that. It was pure silliness and they’re embarrassingly ingenious.

It reminded me of a time when my sister and I were young, I think I was about 12 – and we made recordings of ourselves on our mini compo (do people even call it that these days?). We sang the weirdest songs which we made up on the spot, and pretended we were hosts on a radio show – making up characters that were being interviewed as we went along. And we were so serious about it too (laughing out loud was only allowed during replays!) One time, we even interviewed our parents to find out what it felt like to be our parents. And suffice to say their response was hilarious (and no this little gem won’t find its way onto the internet.)

And so, listening to Ylvis brought back a lot of memories. While we did a lot of silly things when we were young – I realized that we as adults would hardly think to do the stuff that these brothers did; and that goes for the stuff that we used to do as kids. So in honor of the comedic duo, I’d like to list down 5 things that you can learn from them in your effort of growing your art (and business).

Lesson #1: Not taking yourself too seriously

Ylvis made a deal with one of the hottest producers in New York – a company called Stargate who has produced videos for Beyonce and Rihanna, and wanted to see how they would come up with something in response to their challenging material. They wanted to see how far they could push the producers (who were used to doing classy, normal, regular productions) and in their words, thought it was “more fun to abuse them somehow“.

I think that with all the seriousness of finding your way as an artist, and in an effort to reach certain financial goals; you’ll find that the element of fun goes away really fast, especially if you’ve been working hard without having much results to show for it. Not taking yourself seriously helps to remove the pressure from dealing with the necessary (although mundane) and to just allow yourself room to laugh and play.

Lesson #2: Don’t be afraid of being laughed at. Or criticized.

They are comedians, so they were obviously looking to get laughs out of their material – but beyond that, there were also the people who don’t get it. The people who would not hesitate to yell out “that’s stupid!”, or close the YouTube video that they’ve been watching, 2 minutes into one of their songs.  Bård and Vegard don’t really care what you think because clearly they’re enjoying themselves.

If you’ve ever shied away from putting up your work because you don’t believe you’re good enough, or because you are afraid of what other people think of you, it’s time to stop. People are going to have an opinion on what you do, no matter if you like it or not. The trick is to not let their thoughts and actions affect you – and you can do this by proactively not seeking them out in the first place. If you allow others to project their fears onto you, you’ve lost before you ever begin.

Lesson #3: Being true to yourself

While their videos were hilarious, I’m pretty sure it was also also because what they’ve put out was relatable. I’m sure there was more than one person who wondered what Stonehenge was about (hands up if you’re one of them). While being able to put those sort of questions (and their hilarious subsequent answers) makes for an interesting video, it was their offbeat charm of being true to what they do that makes them shine.

With artists, there’s a constant internal struggle between doing what you want and doing what others want of you. And while finding a balance is important (no one will ever pay you to sit on a couch for 12 hours to watch MadMen) there is a lesser-known path that might just hit the sweet spot and it’s about creating what others can relate to. This way, you’re able to tell your personal story, and you get to build an emotional connection with your audience. Give it a go.

Lesson #4: Don’t do it for the money

Did Ylvis hope to gain lots of money or eyeballs for their video? They weren’t looking to do so. In fact, they didn’t expect much from it at all (prior to The Fox video, their highest grossing views ever was 2.2 million, against The Fox’s 73 million.)

While there isn’t anything wrong with creating for the sake of getting lots of money in return, you’ll soon find out that if you don’t enjoy the process then it gets a lot harder as you go along. You’ll feel torn up inside, and very soon, you’ll look for a way out no matter how much the ends justify the means.

Which brings us to:

Lesson #5: Do your best work, and the rewards will come.

Ylvis didn’t do any of this for anyone – they were just being themselves, and they’ve worked hard to get to where they want to be. The videos that went viral was only the icing on top of the cake, built on a foundation that they’ve put in place for a long time.

For artists who have been putting themselves out there, and who have continuously put in the hard but necessary work to get to where they want to be, give yourself a pat in the back. But if you’ve found that you haven’t gotten to where you want to be, or can’t quite see what the future lies for you, I think that going through lessons #1 to #4 might be able to help shed some light to help you along your way.

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I’d love to hear from you – is there someone who has inspired you in your creative journey? Whether it’s a celebrity, a personality, or perhaps it’s just your high school teacher – no one is off limits. Was it what they did, or what they said? Share your insights with us!

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Hannah Waldron

Hannah Waldron

Hannah Waldron

I’m a little smitten by the works of Hannah Waldron, an illustrator from the UK who is currently experimenting with weaving, where she often explores the textures, patterns, forms and structures of her surroundings, and has an interest in the development of landscape over time.

I find that she has a personal pattern that peeks through in all her work – namely her love of lines and how she uses them to create visuals; and how natural it was for her to take her strengths and turn it into an art form through weaving as well.

I discovered her work through the latest issue of Wrap (one of my favorite magazines out there on illustration and creative culture), and I’d like to share a quote with you from her feature in the magazine:

[quote] People aren’t making their own objects so much these days, but creating is an inherent part of being human, so I think that in time where the dominant mode of making things is mass production, there will be a collective search for pieces that expresses different values. ~ Hannah Waldron [/quote]

You can pick up a copy of Wrap 8 over here, and find out more on Hannah Waldron’s work by heading over to her online portfolio.

What does being an artist mean to you?

For the longest time I had trouble identifying with the label of an artist.

It was difficult for me. When I had a brush in my hand, I was one. But when I put on my other various caps – writer, project manager, teacher – was I still considered an artist? I felt like I was juggling too many things at once to be able to catch a ball long enough that truly defined me as one. But as I struggled internally with the question, I finally realized something: being an artist isn’t a label. It’s what you do that truly counts.

Being an artist means putting your best feet forward everyday and to create things that makes a difference; whether that difference is for you, or for others.  That’s what being an artist means to me. Being able to bare your soul for others to pick at, not knowing what brickbats will befall you as you put your work out there.  That’s what being an artist means to me. Being unsure if what you do will resonate with others, but you need to say something all the same. That’s what being an artist means to me. People who have a fear of the unknown, but who are willing to take a chance – to jump in to do the work anyway. That’s what being an artist means to me.

So while I may not fit in the conventional role of being a visual artist, I think of this website, this blog – as my own personal space where I am able to create; just like artists who need a studio, a long worktable and glorious paint – all I need is my laptop, a space and undivided time to call my own, and my trusty computer (an empty notepad will suffice too).

I’m still not sure if I can be called an artist. All I know is that I want my work to matter. My goal is to raise questions, and create an awareness about artists and illustrators and their amazing potential to create, and not just illustrate.

Art is not what you see, but what you make others see. ~ Edgar Degas

I have a long way to go (and I’m enjoying the ride so far), but here’s hoping I can make you see what I can see.

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I’d love to know – what does being an artist means to you? Do you believe what you do is art? What’s your definition of it all?

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