“Oh after you mop the floor and clean the barn, can you finish the Sistine chapel in your spare time?” Contributed by my Facebook Friend Ross Fletcher
I woke up feeling quite feisty this morning. Nothing makes me spit nails more than the idea that some people under-value the work of artists.
Last night I was at a Blog World Expo party in Las Vegas. I met a pretty boy from a social media company who asked about my blog. I told him that I help artists make a living doing what they love with art.
Pretty boy replied, “Artists shouldn’t be paid for their art. Getting paid prevents them from creating really good stuff.”
I thought back to the artsy photographers I hired for my wedding day. They were more expensive than your average wedding photographer, but they gave me something wonderful: stunning photos of the most important day of my life!
I can’t even entertain the thought that being paid makes your work less good. That’s the biggest load of crap I’ve ever heard.
I asked him, “If they don’t get paid, who feeds their families and pays for their supplies?”
“They should work another job,” he said, rather smugly.
I want to make three points about Art, Contribution and Money with this article:
- Your art is a CONTRIBUTION to society. It brings joy, it solves problems, and it makes this world a better place.
- Being paid ALLOWS you to make that contribution to society.
- Your contribution expands in relation to the amount of time you put into it. More hours = expanded contribution to this world with your God-given talent.
We live in a money-based society. That won’t change anytime soon – so those of you who say “money isn’t important” get over it!
I almost punched pretty boy in the face when he said to me, “Artists are better off working a job they hate and then painting in their spare time.”
This is the problem I have with that:
a.) No one should work a job they hate. You were put on this earth with talents and you are meant to do that which you are good at and what you love!
b.) The world is missing out on your contribution. The less an artist creates, the less they grow. It requires hours upon hours to hone your craft.
If you are at a “real job” for 40-50 hours a week, doing what you hate, and then you have to come home and be a parent, and mow the lawn, and feed your kids, when will you create art?
I have friends who regret living most of their lives working in an office job and only creating a few paintings a year because that’s all there was time for. Think of how much their talent would have improved, how much they could have shared, had they created all day instead!
“Soooooo”, I asked the pretty boy, my blood getting hot with frustration, “do you get paid for YOUR work?”
Of course, the answer was yes. “Does getting paid make your work less good?” I asked. “Well, no” he said. “That’s different.”
Yeah, I thought so.
This topic drives me insane. Why should one small segment of the population have their work devalued so much that they are forced to struggle? Should interior designers also not be paid, and should musicians play for free and should the guy who artistically installs my decorative bathroom tile do it for nothing?
And an even better question is this: why should my plumber be paid more than an artist?!
Drew Brophy has been a working artist since he was a teenager. He’s always “Lived by the Paintbrush.”
When he was in his twenties, he painted surfboards for a living. A lot of them. So many that he’s become known in the surf industry as the artist who changed the way that surfboards were painted.
He says that painting 10-15 surfboards a day helped him to get really good and to develop a very strong style of his own. His style is now well recognized and many people try to emulate it and attribute their artwork to being inspired by Drew.
If Drew had been working in another field and only painting in his spare time, he would have been wasting his talent.
Drew paints what he wants, and he loves doing it. When someone commissions a painting, it’s because they love his style. It’s a beautiful way to put art into the world and be able to live a good life.
Charging for his artwork allows him to make people happy with his art. Without payment, he wouldn’t have the time, because he’d have to pay the bills by working on something else. And there’s only so much time in the day.
Though he hardly paints surfboards anymore, occasionally he will. These paintings BRING GREAT JOY TO PEOPLE. When they see their very own Drew Brophy surfboard painting for the first time, their eyes light up!
(The picture to the left is from a thank you card that ten year old Spencer wrote, thanking Drew for his painted surfboard – he is proud to be seen with it!)
Charging for your artwork enables you to make a contribution to the world with your art. It allows you to develop your style and to get better and better at what you do.
Most of my friends are creative people. The rare few that don’t care about being paid are either supported by a family member or have another career that they really enjoy.
We live in a money based society. That isn’t going to change right now. It costs money to eat, put your kid in sports, to have a home. We most likely won’t see that change in our lifetime.
As long as we are stuck in a money based system, I find it an outright insult to all hardworking artists to say they shouldn’t be paid for what they do.
It’s just a crazy notion that this one, single profession should work for free! (While everyone else gets paid…)
What do you think?
394 Responses
forgive the typos i type lousy tc
I was wondering how many artist out there don’t bat an eye at the thought of Illegal downloading or sharing a song created by an artist. Song writers don’t get paid for there song in one lump sum like say a painter. There songs are paid in little bits and pieces. As Maria says we derive pleasure from those two minute moments we here them and sometimes all day. Is a dollar a song too much to ask for those moments. Just a thought.
Hi Mark,
No – a buck a song is not too much to ask. But based on the current statistics and historical trend with regards to music sales, I would get used to touring and making a living via live concerts and merchandise sales and look to expand your opportunities in music licensing for soundtracks, commercials, etc. Some might call this selling out, but….nah! It’s making an honest living sharing your canvas with the planet through diverse channels.
Think of live concerts, point of presence merchandise and licensed “jingles” as your medium to reach a larger audience. Putting a CD on a shelf or website will not simply sell itself. Consumers will only make a purchse if they connect the value proposition to the product, and they’ll only make this connection through the experience. A slight catch-22 between Giving and Selling, but based on every study and research I’ve done, if the question is – Which should come first, the Chicken or the Egg; and the Chicken is a free download, concet for charity, or a copy of Tab/Sheet music, then the answer is simple – The Chicken. The audience response will dictate whether or not there will be any Eggs.
Those artists embracing this methodolgy and approach to touching as many humans as possible through combined promotional efforts and engaging marketing are enjoying the best Scrambled Eggs on earth!
Enjoy your breakfast,
M. Story
PS – to all artists, I’m not saying give your stuff away; just put yourself out there with diligence and purpose, and use every available opportunity to you to make valuable long term connections with your audience. They will support you long term and breakfast will be catered every day.
Additional Tidbit Reading
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apple_Corps_v._Apple_Computer
As to this statement …PS – to all artists, I’m not saying give your stuff away; just put yourself out there with diligence and purpose, and use every available opportunity to you to make valuable long term connections with your audience. They will support you long term and breakfast will be catered every day.
Additional Tidbit Reading
The problem and is selling your work for less then what it is worth just to get your name out there to the world might also give the impression that you think your work is not worth it’s full value. You know the old saying it is a lot easier to drop the price on something but trying to raise that price well (GOOD LUCK) as you will run into a hard uphill climb.
Kenneth c Young
I’m reading a great article on this topic written on ArtBusiness.com, and I found it so well explained that I had share a little bit with you:
“…art schools dismiss the art business by intimating that making art is pure while making money is not, making art is a “calling” while other professions are not (oh really?), that selling art is not only irrelevant, but it debases the experience of being an artist.
One fact the schools rarely seem to mention, however, is that if you can’t make money making art, you have to STOP making art. (That’s not something the art schools have to worry about, though. They already have your money.”
Read the rest of the article here: http://www.artbusiness.com/wannafame.html
Classic Maria!
Support the “Starving Artist” while accepting his excessive tuition fee, right? Hey, wait – maybe we should start our own school for artists by artists. Now there’s a concept. Derrr.
My viewpoint remains the same: Do what you love and the money will follow. Success, financially and otherwise, is a bi-product of doing what you’re most passionate about. Emmerse, get you hands dirty, ask questions, make mistakes, gather your humility and who, what and how you are. Never give up and never stop learning.
The person writing this article is being a bit of a brat, but with some fair points. There is a VERY useful book called ART/WORK (http://www.amazon.com/ART-WORK-Everything-Pursue-Career/dp/1416572333/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1342203360&sr=8-1&keywords=art%2Fwork) that walks you through how to do all these things (and how not to get screwed over). It’s written by a gallerist (preferred title of gallery owner) and an art lawyer and covers all the bases.
They liken going gallery to gallery with your portfolio asking to be represented to walking into a bar and saying to each person there “will you marry me?”. Since artists often stay with galleries longer than with spouses this isn’t such a bad analogy.
I stand completely behind doing what you love, as well as not underselling oneself.
As an emerging artist, it has been very difficult for me to not sell my art for a lower price just to move it. I feel like the value of art overall is brought down by too many artists under-pricing their work. The ‘starving artist’ image can become a stigma for some.
What do I think? I think it’d be nice if the guy saw this blog entry and there were lots of people calling him for what he is – a flaming douchebag.
Hi Mr. Taylor,
We see you’ve decided to excercise your free speech rights. How intelligent of you. I looked at your blog, read your in-depth profile (Booze, Art, Music..and Booze) and even wasted a few minutes deciding which of your pieces I could appreciate.
The “Fembot” painting was pretty cool, although I wouldn’t buy it.
..What do I think? I think everyone should take a look at your art and tell you what they think. I mean, it’s not terrible stuff, but it’s not for me.
Eye of the beholder man.. eye of the beholder.
I’m not asking you to like or appreciate my art, and I’m not sure where you got the idea that I was. I’ve never heard of you before in my life, so I have no idea if your opinions on art mean anything. I’m just saying that the remarks discussed in the original post were offensive, self-serving, simple-minded and arrogant.
No idea why that got your back up, unless they’re your remarks.
Oop Bret – my bad man. I jumped the gun and thought you were referring to me when it appears you weren’t. Sorry man. Damn ego gets in da way of everything aye?
Carry on..nothing to see here.
Cheers
No worries.
Mr. Brett, Just to be clear, who are you insulting?
Mark, assuming you’re talking to me (my last name is Taylor, not Brett), maybe this will help: I’ve seen 70-odd posts bashing the guy who sparked the whole “Why Artists Should (Not) Be Paid for Their Artwork” post by saying that artists shouldn’t be paid for their work, but should get a real job to pay their bills. The same guy who’s been called an “unevolved neanderthal”, “particularly stupid”, a “doofus”, an “ass”, an “idiot”, “juvenile”, “ignorant”, “young Adolf”, a “spoiled, whiny brat”, and threatened with a kick to the face.
That’s who I’m talking about. I kind of assumed when I first posted that it would be obvious who I was referring to, since he was the one I thought everybody was talking about. Is that not the case?
yep, that’s the case. You are correct and I was out of line in thinking your were referring to my post that was initially just a couple above yours. I concur with your sentiment on the “Original” EEEEEEdiot.
Hope all is going well with you and your art endeavors to the fullest. I hope we now have a mutually respectful accord at a minimum. Again, my apologies for my oversight in responding to your intial post Bret.
Let me know if there is anything I can ever do for you regarding marketing and web design.
No harm done, Mike. A simple misunderstanding. Sorry ’bout all the confusion, and all the best to you.
Bret, sorry for the extra “T”. I also thought you were referring to one of the follow up posts and not the original blog. My mistake, no need for a reply post.
Who cares what all the “pretty boys” like this one says anyway? It’s just his dopey opinion and I do not care about it, or any body else who thinks like this.
This misguided thinking is rapidly changing anyway now that we artists can promote ourselves more effectively.
..Wow!….I can not believe what the pretty guy said…..Maria this post really helps to understand how important is to get pay in order to stay motivated and do better our daly work. xoxo
Hey Folks, For more info on the business of art, GYST Ink has an Artist Manual for artists on everything related to the business of art and professional practices. We also have over 500 pages of FREE information for artists on the website.
We also have software for artists to keep track of everything in their art lives, but the resources on the web are free.
I also write articles for the Huffington Post on business issues for artists, so if there is something that you can’t find, let me know.
Maria, feel free to add it to your blog list.
Thankyou .. i loved those points they are sooo good and for me to remember for myself also .. Thankyou for another great post.
Thanks, Belinda! So glad to have you here on my blog!
I think it is also important to realize that you don’t have to make a living at art to create great art. Some people produce better work if they are not worried about making an income from it. The stress of having enough to raise a family can be too much for some and inhibit their creativity.
Just saying… that it is okay to make money other ways as well.. that you are no less of an artist if you do so.
I love your blog Maria! 🙂
Thats exactly right Nicole. Its taken me along time to get my head around one of the points you brought up of telling myself its ok to get paid its allows me to continue in my work and create more!
I dont know where i got it in my head that i didnt deserve that .. but for me that one has been a biggy … 🙂
Great article and I think we definitely have to educate society…so that the starving artist scenario is not something people just accept. I don’t know why the “artist” which comes from “artisan”…is not considered a job just like any other…if not more special in many ways…bizarre!
Pretty boy needs to walk a mile in a working artists’ shoes. (visual artist). He sounds like a freshmen giving his first essay on art history, where in the same essay the topic of “selling out” also appears. Pretty boy not only sounds ignorant, but also cliché.
There are few rules about how you must be paid for your art. Some seem to give it away in trade for building a brand and marketing then selling in another medium. For example, painting murals for little or nothing to gain name recognition then selling prints or multiples to make a living.
It can and does often inhibit creativity if an artists is paid for a technique he/she must repeat over and over to continue making a living. It can be very difficult to move away from the income and style and grow in another direction and still be paid. It takes an incredible strength to reinvent yourself without the income, “doing what you love.” If you are successful for a time then go for an American dream (buy a home) then have your income halted because you are exploring a in new direction. The money and income may not come for some time. Will you loose your home before the new style is accepted and the money comes? It’s never easy.
I am always annoyed and angered by the low value placed on art. I believe it’s ignorance and part of our misguided culture and education.
Great topic! Thanks for sharing. I was just having a conversation today with someone about how I think colleges should offer courses for artists to learn how to market their art. It should be a requirement. I’m totally left in the dark about knowing how to market my artwork after paying for tuition and art supplies, etc. I have learned more about it from your blog and other art licensing related sites. Also, I resent those people that I heard back in college about “selling out” if you try to license your artwork/get paid for your artwork.
Christine, thanks for the comment!
RE: Marketing your work: There are a lot of resources out there that can show you how, and most are free. I’m glad you’re reading blogs, etc. That’s where you’ll get your best ideas.
Re: SELLING OUT: Most people don’t know what that means.
It means to do something that goes against your personal values. SO, for an artist, selling out could mean not selling art to companies/people who do things they don’t believe in.
In our case with Drew’s art, he believes in making people happy with his art, so he loves to see it on kid’s boogie boards and men’s t-shirts.
For some, that is not a good use for their art. They would only want it to be in the hands of the wealthy – people who can afford original art.
It’s all a personal choice. Selling out is doing what you don’t believe in, just for money.
I need to write a blog post on this!
Yeah, while in college, certain students and certain art instructors would refer to selling out as betraying your art and the art community. I can think of a few instructors who resented some well-known artists who made a career from either art instruction materials and/or licensing their artwork. They basically thought that those artists were the worst artists in the world. I think they might have been jealous of those artists. It’s like you are no longer viewed as an artist by those types of people who would say things like that in college. I do a lot of storybook themed artwork and in college one of my instructors asked me if I experienced any problems in my art classes for doing storybook themed work. It often is not regarded as being serious enough for the art world. And one of my instructors hated the word, “cute” as a way to describe artwork. That was like an insult to her.
Christine and other readers,
I have a series of article on marketing your work as well as over 500 pages of professional practices information on the GYST/Getting Your Sh*t Together website. http://www.gyst-ink.com (scroll down to the resources link)
I have been teaching a professional practices class at CalArts for ten years, as well as workshops in the city of LA, and across the country. Wrote my own materials as nothing was out there then. Sharing it all on our site. (We also have software and publications)
Also, check out GYST Radio and other projects we do.
I really love this! I have a daughter,lives and breaths art. She is trying to start to sell some of her work. She is asked by friends and people she knows to draw for them all the time. I find it amazing that they obj and ahh over her work and ask to have it. She use to give it away but finally relized how much time she puts in so she started charging. The ohh and ahh changed to “are you kidding, I can find better and cheaper art on e bay.”. Initially she was stunned but quickly decided she would smile and say”. Go ahead but does my time have any value.”. That usual gets no response just a funny look. She proudly informs people she does not work for free as anything else in life takes hard work and is not free. She is twelve.
Your daughter is learning important life lessons right now – how to deal with people, how to value her work, how to keep creating. You must be very proud!
I am amazed at how she has put things into perspective. She has watched many adults close to her and thrives on reading the bios of artists. Her strength and vision is surpassed her age and surprises me everyday. I am lucky to have such a gift in my life and find I learn from her. She has gotten me back into my art.
Joyce,
I want to meet your daughter!!! She is an impressive role model for artists!
Just to comment on the whole pricing issue. I am a painter and talk to many artists that finally got fed up with the whole devalued art thing with their work in galleries. So they just put up prices across the board with the result of an increase in sales not long after.This is something I have heard numerous times having worked in picture framing and gallery world 40+ years. Interesting isn’t it?
While I don’t believe it’s as simple as that. I do believe too many of us will listen to the guy telling you to give it away and undervalue ourselves. Who will tell you to raise your prices? What have you got to lose?
I absolutely love this article. Now that I have read it I understand now I definitely am selling myself short! 🙂
Yes, I can (and do) charge for my work. The question is are there enough people who are going to pay for me to make a decent living? So far, the answer is no.
It sucks to have a talent that’s basically worth nothing in this world. Often I want to say I’m not doing it anymore; the world doesn’t deserve to have art. I’ve often wondered what would happen if artists of all categories world-wide decided to go ‘on strike’ for a couple of months. Perhaps it would become a lot clearer what our contributions, including economic, truly are.
Dear Karen,
Thanks for your comment, and yes, wow, what would happen if:
ARTISTS WENT ON STRIKE!!!!!
So much would not get done. Clothing lines wouldn’t be made, graphic arts would be undone, walls would be bare, everything would become bland, boring, pathetic.
I’m sorry you’re having trouble getting paid what you’re worth. Maybe you should try another route…not sure what, but try a new method of marketing your art that you haven’t tried yet.
It is my vision that all artists are given the means to create, that they are paid well for their contributions, and that they keep on doing that which they are meant to do – make art.
Well said, but I would have been awful tempted to dot his eye for him anyway.
Drew inspired all of my drawing growing up.. and is till my favorite artist out there. Talked with him once at Surf Expo 2000-01 somewhere in there, was a super nice fellow.
For a strike there is usually a Union and dues, etc. Anybody up for joining or creating a visual arts union?
I’m guessing pretty boy can’t draw a crooked line. %-)
Fuming with you Maria… are the best engineered & built cars free ? Are the most beautifully designed homes free ?
Let’s change “Pretty Boy”‘s name to ignorant dumbass boy.
Wow, you really started a fire storm with this post! That’s awesome.
I’d like to comment on the point you, and others, make about art in the educational field. It has been my experience, (7 years of schooling resulting in a MFA in Computer Arts & 11+ years teaching as a Professor of Digital Arts) that yes, there is a lack of business and real world application in the fine arts educational fields. However, I have to wonder if this is not due to the division of the arts into very obvious and distict fields and the mission statements associated with the schools which offer these degrees.
For example, schools that offer Graphic Design typically focus on creating a strong portfolio centered around the advertisement and marketing industry. Schools that offer more traditional educations in the fine arts often focus on gallery display and recognition as a venue to finical success. Photography schools focus their students on a field of photography and fashion schools focus on fashion shows. I think it is very important fro potential students to research and understand the art school and the art field that they are entering before making a commitment. (I know I sure wish I had done a little more research and understood what I was getting/paying for in a college education.)
What I’m saying is that I think many of the educational programs in the arts are based on traditional models and need updated with cross curriculum study and marketing techniques. It is not entirely their fault as the educational industry as a whole is slow to change.The opportunity for marketing your work is quickly becoming a Internet based field where art can be marketed in so many outlets its more then a bit overwhelming.
Both the educational field and the students need to become more aware of the importance of learning and treating art as a business.
So, thanks for the post Maria. Keep getting people stirred up and talking because that is exactly what this field needs!
(PS. Did you know art used to be considered one of the sciences? And that artist’s were often paid by the amount of gold and precious materials they used in their work, not necessarily by their skill?)
Can I pls. have pretty boys name & address so I can send him all my bills and request a monthly check to put food on the table?? Pls!
I worked many, many years in banking only creating a handful of paintings per year. I resigned last year and have created 80+ paintings since and I feel that I’m only warming up! I have seen my work improve drastically and my vision clearer of what I want paint. However, due to financial obligations I will be forced to go back the a FT job outside of art, the thought alone is depressing. So, if he wants to pay my bills, make my day! I don’t work for free!! I work for passion!
I just found your website and read several of your articles. You’re amazing! Keep up the good work, I cannot thank you enough.
Thanks, Peter, I’m so glad you found my site! Appreciate the kind words! 🙂
I agree artists should be paid, of course. Unfortunately, what I dislike is how it’s become a business. Art shouldn’t be a business first, and too many people do it for money these days. The reason, I believe, is that you can get into art with almost no education (which is why these kinds of people shy away from being doctors – education and time is required) and just jump into copying and pasting photos that you took with a camera you just bought and calling it art. I realize this is their own right, but it’s annoying to me when these people do it just to make money, not because they love what they’re doing. If you’re going to make art, it should be an emotional expression of something other than greed.
Zachary,
Thanks for your comment!
Some artists do it for just the love. Some want to do it full time, which requires that they get paid. (You can’t pay the rent on love alone!)
In my husband’s case, his art supports our family. If he didn’t get paid, our son would be sleeping in the back seat of our car!
I don’t ‘think it’s greedy to want to be paid for your work. I’m not sure what you do for a living, but I’ll bet you get a paycheck. Otherwise you wouldn’t be doing it.
Just a thought!
There are different kinds of what we generally call art and different reasons for making it. Some are purely product without any more intrinsic thought behind it. As long as it’s well made, the maker deserves to be paid like any other skilled tradesman. I agree that people who find ways to churn out a mediocre and soulless product by cannibalizing others’ efforts are detrimental to everyone else.
It’s also sadly true that we are a rather backwards society that doesn’t know anymore how to value or what to do with anything that isn’t simply a product. .
Artists, as perceived by our society, do nothing but make the equivalent of assembly-line factory products because we are a materialistic society totally devoid of any significant inner life. Money is its only value and objective. Unlike, say, the Balinese, where art of all sorts is embedded in their life and culture, beyond mere product. Traditional artists there get paid for their work and are respected for it and many people make commercial art that is very fine and worthy, too. It is possible to have both, we’re just not that advanced yet. We still look at art in the service of the soul as either a luxury or as silly and pointless.
.
Have we progressed? NO. We are wasting time with the same old arguments trying to validate ourselves in a society that considers the amount in a paycheque or the bank sufficient enough to garner respect no matter what one does even to the destruction of the landscape or our water.We were all meant to work with our hands, create beauty and at the same time put food on the table from our labours. Live the joy of life , do no harm and share that beauty with others. Simple. Don’t expect this society to appreciate art, as they were not taught it at an early age, only that money is king.
Sometimes I need to evaluate and remind myself why I do it. It’s just too easy to get stuck in validation mode for too long.
I do believe these attitudes will change, especially now that more people are waking up to all the other things that need to change, too. Meanwhile, indeed, just do what you do and never mind the rest.
I’m older now. I remember a dic uttering “sellout” to me once when trying
to run a creative business. Later, he did the same thing ( yup, right out
of Hollywood Shuffle). If an artist hits a consumer market and they buy
and like his stuff- fine and dandy. As mentioned, I might loathe it, but I’m
the one who who is irrelevant to that artist’s life. It’s like playing the
penny slot machines or the Million buck payoff, it’s all a gamble.
Art for me is exploration of the world and the self ( what I aspire to anyway). Every time I’m on the precipice of being High fallutin’ snobbish,
I’d meet an unassuming artist who astounds me ( keeps me humble).
I’m (like everyone else) passing through this world. I thank all the
struggling artists ( and they do struggle) that enriched my life on this
planet with the fruits of the artistic language.
My favorite whacked out people.
Omg wow,I don’t know why people r like that,they act like they are entitled to free work like if its a privilege to work for them for free,I am an artist I draw paint do graphic design I also make things like costumes,and book up shoes,I’m also a licensed cosmetology and makeup artist but people still think that not paying me is ok,I’m so tired of that to the point where I try not to tell people or share what I can do cause I’m scared of being taken advantage of
Well as for the pretty boy he has to crawl out from under that rock as we are artist and people and dam well deserve to be paid what we and our art are worth or even more because we have a talent that most do not have.
So pretty boy either come out and see the light or crawl back under your rock..
Kenneth C Young
I agree, Maria.
I work a full-time job which I don’t necessarily hate, but it certainly takes most of my energy. Coming home to kids and other responsibilities and *then* trying to do my art is difficult when I already feel spent.
If I may reinterpret what Pretty Boy is saying it goes something like this: “Let’s have only one percent of our artists producing something, and let them achieve only one percent of their full potential.” In other words, if we as a society collectively appreciate the arts, then we need to embrace and support the arts. Given a capitalistic society where money is central, how else can we really substantively support the arts?
Back to my situation. I come up with ideas all the time, but never have the time to experiment or try to achieve them. I went to an art crawl the other day full of inspiration, mixed with frustration – because I know I will not be able to follow through on much of that inspiration. Now, I’m not looking for others to advise me on how I should be making changes in my life, I’m fully aware of the changes I need to make. This is just my present situation and I profoundly feel it. And I don’t even have to hate my job to feel it. That is my point.
But some “artists” make such awful “art” no one wants it. Then what? Pay them for wishing they were good artists?
What about great artisist who are horrible at marketing?
Maybe this is a nonissue.
What Is Good Art! That is a question that is very hard to answer as what may be considered as good art to one person may be awful to someone else. As they say ” It’s in the eye of the beholder”
Kenneth
What is good art – that’s a great question, and I have the simple answer: It’s anything that someone wants, finds joy from, wants to buy, or gaze at. No one can determine what is “good” or not, unless they are speaking from a technical standpoint. From a creative standpoint, any piece of art is going to be loved by some, hated by others. It doesn’t really matter what “good” means – all that matters is if someone loves it enough to want it.
One person previously mentioned that some artists work is awful and should we pay for them wishing there are is good. But I guess that person was using her own assumption to what good art is. That same art piece may give all that you have mentioned.
To tell you the truth I do not know how a technical standpoint could even enter the picture when it comes to art.
Kenneth
Well said! If you get down to the basics, you can thank an artist or craftsman for every man made item on this planet. From me ”the weekend warrior” that hopes to be able to support the family from sales of my art all the way up to the the person that designed pretty boy’s favorite car. Even his iPod, TV, furniture and kitchen appliances. Someone was paid very well for it’s design. Even large corporations know that the look and feel of a product has a direct impact on it’s success or failure. Someone had to be artistically inclined enough to accomplish the desired look.
However, this isn’t the reason for my reply. I can blow off people like him without thought. The people that piss me off are the artist that become to good to associate with their peers. The ones that see upcoming artist and/or long time artists that aren’t in the same income bracket, aren’t galleried or didn’t spend 6 years in college learning their craft as not worthy. These are the people I wish to share a few choice words with at any time.
Yes, I’d like to be well recognized and know I will. Yes, I’d like to make a great income from my art. No, I don’t care if my art never sees a gallery. I’d prefer it not!
Even worse… You get a bit of success and recognition then these people come speak to you as if you’ve been friends for years. To these people my reply is always the same…. Come talk to me when you have fallen off your high horse and remember where you came from.
Many thanks to you and Drew for keeping it real! Outside of Drew’s talents, his approach on life and his willingness to give back is why I’m a huge fan. Maria, many thanks to you for supporting rising artists and sharing your marketing skills.
That,s why I feel we artist should not be playing around with our art as per giving discounts and the like. We artists are very important people who have a very important gift as art does involve just about every facet of life.
Kenneth
I juggled many random jobs (substitute teaching, tutoring, shiatsu massage, gymnastics coaching, weekend salesperson at Renaissance Fair (you know you’re in trouble when that actually supports you!), graphic design jobs, etc. for years and didn’t get very far with my art. I got the one piece I was able to really finish in a year sold to a collector, so I knew the quality was there, but I had no time. If I’d done a regular 9-5 I would have had even less time, and it would have been less flexible and I would have been miserable.
Then I ended up marrying a computer programmer so I suddenly didn’t have to worry about rent and food. Suddenly my art started to take off because I actually had time to do it. It still doesn’t approach paying for anyone to live on, but at least with just tutoring art it pays for itself.
I do installation art a fair bit. One interesting thing- if I do it for a non art event (like the Treasure Island Music Festival) I get paid for both materials and time. If I do it for an ART event, no way.
I think we have belabored this enough.
The issue is a non issue for those who refuse to allow it and demand a fair price for the work. I see it as ignorance nothing less. If the public is ignorant generally that is an issue for our culture and educational system to solve. To be an artist having survived the hammering of our society and educational system into adulthood proves there is an inner strength that will carry you very far.
The beauty of my paintings can convert only those willing and able to see. We can all complain and bemoan that so many don’t have a clue but it is what it is for now. Until recently the role and of creativity has been downplayed and given lip service only.
Run don’t walk from the negative people in your life.
“The beauty of my paintings can convert only those willing and able to see.”—David
WOW! That is straight out of ‘The Kings New Cloths’ fable isn’t it?
Anyway, I have had more than one buyer make a statement that if “you keep your prices low, I’ll keep coming back”. At the time your giddy that someone is actually buying your work, but later, months or years later, it eats at you.
This is a discipline, nothing less. It demands all your time and your FULL attention. Like the spokes on a wheel, each facet must be mastered and to make great art. The spokes need to converge at precisely the same time and in the exact same place which is not easy to do. People ask me what they should do to learn to paint, I tell the serious student, ” learn the tools to forget the tools”, “oh and by the way, it will take at least 10 years”. (jaws drop)
So, when I get someone who wants to buy a painting that gives me the comment “keep your prices low”, what do I do? Well I don’t haul-off and punch them, all though I would like to. I just smile and take the money because, I need supplies, I need to pay utilities, property tax…I buy all my clothes used so thats not a problem but it would really be great if I didn’t have to eat.
My point:
Art buyers have gotten used to paying high dollar for crap. Now that the art buy and sell carousel has ground to a halt, they are stuck looking at that $250,000.00 greasy-box-with-a-chicken-bone-at-the-bottom-of-it installation. That’s a hard lesson, one that we all are involved in one way or another.
The Fix?
Make the absolute best art you can. The public needs elevated beyond the mediocre. It will take time but they will again learn to appreciate the solid craft and imagination and sill each work of art possesses. The age of mediocrity that rained money down on the art poser is over. Do not continue to believe that rolling naked on a canvas while covered in paint is worth anything….it is not! We do not need more of, ‘The Kings New Cloths’. We need real, and tangible. We need craft and skill. Making great art defies the cadence of today’s instant everything. If you get out to try and push it faster you will blindly steering it over a cliff.
I am getting really tired of hearing, “Do what you love and the money will follow.” If it is following, it has definitely lost the lead draft and gone at least one lap down. (forgive the NASCAR analogy)
Don’t take this wrong…I have not seen your work,
But just because you love NASCAR that does not mean you should get behind the wheel and race. A bit of talent is prerequisite.
what kind of talent is involved in driving a car?
TDK – All the talent in the world will not help keep you from having to do the 10 years of work as I’m sure you know. Talent is just the beginning and surely helps but talent is pretty common.