You may read more here: http://www.it-career-coach.net/2009/09/24/how-the-starving-artist-achieves-career-success-using-social-media/

I suggest this post as a good sequel to your post.

Thanks

Marvin –

The instructor made it very clear to us, that if we had ambitions of fine art as a career we needed to understand the business of art. That’s not to say we had to sell out our artistic integrity. He emphasized the point that commercial success and artistic integrity were not mutually exclusive.

He sounds like a wise man.

When I was in Art school some years ago, all of us budding Rembrandt’s were given a reality check by one of our instructors. He quoted statistics on the average income of someone pursing a career in fine art. In 1969 that average was about $12,000 / year.

That figure took into account artists who pulled down 6 figure incomes as well as those making much much less – which is the majority. He said frankly that of those who pursued “fine art”, which I’ll define as simply painting, sculpting, print making or more broadly the “visual arts” – less than 5% could sustain themselves as an artist from the sale of their work alone.

The instructor made it very clear to us, that if we had ambitions of fine art as a career we needed to understand the business of art. That’s not to say we had to sell out our artistic integrity. He emphasized the point that commercial success and artistic integrity were not mutually exclusive.

He smiled when he said, “very few truck drivers collect original paintings” or, put another way. if you want to survive as an artist and work as an artist you must also know your market; concepts which are clearly more of a business nature.

Art is a cultural statement and as such can’t be simply or easily defined. That aspect of art goes well beyond it’s monetary value. But, the value of an individual piece of work to any given buyer can be measured and often is.

It is often the case, masterpieces are sometimes discarded as trash or castoffs by subsequent generations. Such pieces commonly turn up on the news or famous antique shows on TV.

The value of art is a transient thing and there is something to be said for the statement that “art is in the eye of the beholder”.

Everyone has an opinion and each one is right. I say if you are a commercially successful artist, bravo. If on the other hand you are pursuing art for arts sake, good on you too. Non one should be forced to chose one over the other.

I get so sick of the “sell out” topic. If an artist makes money, he’s accused of selling out. And typically, that money is made commercially, because, well, that’s where the money is.

Here’s my problem with the “sell out” topic:

If an artist does a deal with a large company, he’s accused of selling out.

If an artist has too many prints being sold all over the world, he’s accused of selling out.

If an artist uses his art to design useful products, he’s accused of selling out.

None of these things are sell outs. If they are, then waiting tables when you’re an artist is a sell out. Then being an art director when you want to be a fine artist is a sell out. Then selling insurance instead of selling your fine paintings is a sell out.

There are many definitions of “selling out” and the one I found that I like the best is something like this: You are selling out when you take an action that goes AGAINST YOUR PERSONAL BELIEF SYSTEM.

So, an artist who HATES Sharpie but does a deal with Sharpie for money, under that definition, is a sell out.

Also, an artist who LOVES Sharpie products and does a deal with Sharpie for money, under that definition, is NOT a sell out.

Personally, I think artists should do whatever feels good to them. If using their art commercially pays the bills and keeps them painting, go for it. You’re better off doing that than waiting tables. After all, waiting tables won’t sharpen your art skills.

Maria — I agree with you that there are many artists who could benefit from beefing up their business and marketing skills. That’s why we’ve recently featured interviews with several artists who are excellent at doing just that — John T Unger, Hugh MacLeod and Natasha Wescoat.

However, I don’t think business skills and artistic integrity are the same thing. To me, an artist is someone who makes good art, whether he’s waiting tables or being waited on himself, by the side of his own private swimming pool.

Of course, the artist/waiter may be so distracted by financial pressures and working late that he fails to reach his full potential. But then the artist/millionaire also has plenty of distractions on offer, which could undermine the art just as badly. In either case, it’s the distraction that’s the problem, not the money or lack of it.

Artists, regardless of their medium of expression often must struggle to become established. Success doesn’t always come tripping lightly nor on gilded wings. This is especially true for artists who are pushing against established norms or excepted tastes and styles. History is filled with such examples.

My son is an actor and a very good one. However as acting is one profession where work can be spotty and competition for parts fearsome, he’s often required to maintain himself by taking other jobs.

This is common in the profession especially among young actors. Very few work continuously in the profession in their early years.

It is disingenuous to suggest that if he must work as a waiter between gigs he is no longer an artist. He’s doing a production now but, that will end shortly and, the rent will still need to be paid.

Those in the fine arts also find getting established to be difficult. Becoming represented by a gallery or an agent is not as simple as simply turning up with bunch of work to sell. The ramp up to success can and generally is steep. Without generous support from others artists much pay their own way.

In my early years I was offered a menial job airbrushing customized T shirts in a shop window – a job I declined because I had a family to support. I took a job as a screen printed because the pay was better.

It is ridiculous to assume that the I should have let my family starve so I could maintain the integrity of my artistic talents. I was in fact still able to draw and paint as well as pursue an interest in photography.

Art is often held out as some kind of sacred thing that must be pursued with a kind of religious fervor. While I do believe that art has a special place in our culture I also understand that it’s importance is generally misunderstood by the vast majority of people.

Like so many things today, art is often simply a consumable commodity, something that has more to do with commercial branding than the creative force which makes artists take up brush or pencil.

I for one an not defined by some limitation or arbitrary definition of what an artist is and I reject any attempt to do so. Art is in the heart and can never be contained by the simple opinion of others.

When I see an artist sleeping out of the back of their van (and I know one like this), it tends to take away from their integrity as a talent, because it gives the impression that their art is not good enough to support them.

Most artists that are “starving” do so because they lack either business knowledge or the motivation and work ethic to do what it takes to market themselves.

An artist that has confidence in his talent enough to properly market and sell his work is an artist that elicits others confindence in their work as well.

An artist who is waiting tables isn’t an artist, he’s a waiter.

I think if one wants to be an artist, then they must be an artist. Nothing else.

Art is often seen as a commodity rather than an important even essential part of a community or a society. The value of such creations, such outstanding and unique vision is frequently misunderstood or overlooked for what it really is.

It is artistic vision which creates television programs, or films. It gives shape and form to virtually every object we use in daily life. It is the music we listen to and the paintings we hang on our walls. It is in fact the very essence of the creative process through which most anything moves from imagination to reality.

Why then is it so hard to comprehend that art and artist should be as valued as any other profession occupation or trade. Putting aside the skill required to create something from raw materials, there is behind that a drive to express the most human of all characteristic our consciousness.

It is the artist who gives voice and sight to all that we are.