First topic: Just the details
Last week at art walk, the gallery owner told me that someone who was looking at my art asked if I was obsessive-compulsive. My reaction, I burst out laughing. If they could only see the mess that is my studio or other parts of my life they would know that *no* I am definitely not either of those things. I am however a bit intense when it comes to my artwork and pay *a lot* of attention to detail.
“I was working on a proof of one of my poems all the morning, and took out a comma. In the afternoon I put it back in.” - Oscar Wilde
I’m no writer but I totally understand what Oscar is talking about. I’m not the kind of artist that throws everything at the wall to see what sticks. However I love abstract art and can see the thoughtfulness that goes into its creation. The same design principles of composition apply to all art whether realistic or abstract. But what I do is all about geometry and being a minimalist those details become even more important. The particular piece that the client was referring to contained bolts and bolts have characters on them that indicate the manufacturer. Well I felt it was important to line up the letters so they would all be in the same orientation. I also thought it was important to align the reveals with the bolts and the center of the mesh.
Okay next topic. Earning a living is not secondary to what I do.
Lately I’ve noticed quite a few on line classes by other artists. Topics range from jewelry making to journaling to collage to quilt making. All look like fun and informative and I think they are great ways to make money. Now I’m all about earning a living by doing something you love. I don’t care what your profession. It’s much easier to get up in the morning if you are looking forward to what you are going to do that day.
Wanting to know more about these instructors I of course visit their blogs and websites to see their work and read what they have to say. What do I find? I find someone who’s saying that being creative and making art should be about *more* than making money. And I would agree except they are charging a fee for what they are about to teach. If they truly feel that way then why not offer the class for free? After all if you are going to tell me that I should be creative for the sake of being creative and just produce art without giving any thought to its sale then how about your teaching just for the sake of teaching? So if you share all you know for free then I can be more creative without having to worry about making a living. Because goodness knows I wouldn't be able to afford to pay you otherwise.
Okay I have to jump in here with this… typically we pick a profession because we feel it will be something we enjoy and to which we have an affinity. Then after we get the proper training, usually some kind of education, we seek employment so that we can be compensated for the job we perform or for what we create. Sometimes we are even willing to work for free such as an internship to gain experience. Regardless of the line of work this is pretty much the path we all take. Please note that I said it started with a desire to do something, then education then experience then compensation. Any endeavor, art especially, that is strictly motivated by money typically does not produce a very good product and it shows, although there are exceptions to every rule.
I view being an artist (unless you do it as a hobby and that’s fabulous) as a profession much like being a chef. I think great chefs are very creative but do we tell them that preparing a delicious meal should be about more than making money? Typically cooking is their passion but they still expect to get paid. They don’t see earning a living as secondary to what they do. Whether it’s by serving great food or writing a cook book filled with wonderful recipes, they earn money for their creativity. So why is making art any different? If making art should be about more than selling then so should playing music or writing or fashion design or any other creative enterprise. If making money selling art is an advantageous byproduct shouldn’t it be considered the same for everything else?
I guess if I did have a New Year’s resolution it would be to ignore these things and typically I do or at least try but today I just had to put it out there. Just my opinion….
I find the subject painful. Art is absolutely about more than money, who would possibly do it for the money? The fact that some people can make a living from it is wonderful. I wish I could.
ReplyDeleteI have spent over 20 years getting the skills I have. Will I teach for free? No. Will I give away my artwork? No.
Where it gets tricky for me is my insecurity that it says something about me that I fall down on the business side. I don't seem able to turn it into a reasonably paid profession. I envy those who can.
You create amazing and very professional art. You certainly deserve to be paid well for it. It is also obvious it is about more than the money for you.
Again, who would possibly do art (just) for the money? You would have to be mad.
Zom, thank you for your reply and for sharing how you feel. I know this is a painful subject for some. People are driven to many activities for the passion of what it is they do. Making art is just one of them. However, it is still considered a profession and earning an incoming should not be considered secondary to the process. By doing so diminishes the value of the art. So I am happy to hear that you would not give away your art or teach for free. I don’t think it’s madness at all to make art for money. In fact I think it’s brilliant, you would be doing what you love and getting paid for it. What could be better than that? Sadly most people go to their jobs just for the money. Isn’t it really madness to earn a living at a job you hate?
ReplyDeleteWell put. I was being cynical and stand corrected. :)
ReplyDeleteJeanie you've said everything I often want to say about selling art. Of course if we only did it for the money the work would lack soul. I thanks my lucky stars everyday that i am able to make a living from what I love to do.
ReplyDeleteRobyn, I totally agree. Making art should never be done only for the money but if *we* don't believe there's value in what we do then how can we expect anyone else to?
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