Art Vs. Money

For this post, I'm going to introduce something new. There are two categories of posts that I will be making. The first is for the general reader. I want to write about some topics that anybody can relate to while educating people on some things about art. The other category is for the artist. I want to go in depth with some things that only people who have an understanding of art may enjoy. Granted, anybody can read them and get more educated, but the jargan will be a bit difficult to follow if you're unfamiliar. So, let me explain this post. This one is for the reader and I've done a corresponding one for the artist. The other post is satirical and I laughed a lot while writing it, and I hope that some of my art friends will while reading.

Now, let's get into what I want to talk about. I want to explain my other post in such a way that everyone may understand. I've been thinking a lot lately about how difficult it is to get a client for art, and it feels like sheer insanity. Everybody wants art, but they don't know why they want it or what they want and how much they should actually have to pay for it. I don't want to get preachy about it, because I genuinely understand how hard it is for an average person to comprehend the art world. It's madness. Here's the principle you need to really understand:

An artist is not an artist because of money. An artist is an artist because of art.

The world is a bit messed up in the fact that people can't have certain lifestyles without suffering financially. There's a drive to create in every artist that sets them apart from the average person. That's all there really is to say about it. It sounds like some crazy mythical concept that could be laughed at, but it's true. Without that drive to make something, a child will never pick up those crayons and sketchpad. Without that drive to make something, a child who picked up crayons and a sketchpad won't fill it with little drawings. Without that drive to make something, a child who filled a sketchpad with little crayon drawings won't explore their talents and move on to bigger things.

There's an inevitable set of events that every artist goes through whether they start later in life or from childhood that sends them on a path to adulthood as an artist. What happens when you get to a mature point is what can kill an artist's mindset. You get to an age and level of experience where you have some gallery shows under your belt and you've won some things and you've sold a few pieces. Sometimes, it all feels like it comes to a stop. You're on social media marketing yourself, you're contacting local galleries, you're on the internet with a portfolio, but it just feels hopeless sometimes. What are you even doing? Are you trying to sell things to people? Are you trying to make a statement? A community? You're just fishing for whatever you can get; an offer for a piece, a possible gallery exhibit, a local event with friends. This is the life of a young artist. I see it daily between myself, my peers, even some of my professors. Why is it so hard?

The other day my right hand man, Justyn, was telling me about something that made him think of me. He was playing Fallout and there was a part in which he had to have a conversation with an artist of some sort. I may get the story a little off, but the point is still there. This artist showed him pictures of art and one that was a painting of dogs or some kind of animal. Out of all of the works of art, this artist told him that the painting of the animals was the most popular and successful. The artist asked him why that painting was successful. Justyn's response made me proud because it means he's been noticing things too. He responded with something along the lines of "Because it's bullshit." The artist in the game was giddy at the response and replied with something like "Yes! The average person knows nothing of art." (Props to Fallout designers because I love this bit)

Anyway, that's the most accurate way to describe the problem with society and art. People would rather have a painting of a couple dogs or puppies to hang on their walls than an intelligently thought out and passionately crafted work of art. Why? People want what's pretty. They want what's trendy and what would fill a spot on a living room wall without raising eyebrows. There's nothing more frustrating than pouring your heart out on a canvas or piece of paper and having somebody prefer the realistic painting/drawing of a furry pet. It just feels wrong.

So, here's what I want to get across. I see people everyday on the internet selling things to other people. They're absolute hits with their primitive signs, pieces of wood with catchy phrases on them, monogrammed canvases, the works. These things will sell for quite a bit of money and the people making them get mass orders. You may be wondering what's wrong with that. Here's what's wrong with it:

This type of overpriced, cheaply-made, minimally skilled craft is absolutely killing the market for fine art.

There is a huge difference in fine art and craft. In its own right, craft is necessary because a lot of great things come from it and it allows people who aren't artists to be creative. Everybody has become obsessed with it, though. To me, there's nothing more evil and threatening than a pinterest board loaded down with pictures of monograms and DIY projects. I often have to fight the urge to market simple DIY things, because I know it would be easy money. I know I could say "Hey, everybody! Look at these canvases with family last names painted on them that I could do for 25 bucks a piece," and I would undoubtedly make a few hundred dollars from suckers on Facebook. Honestly, I'm a bit tempted just after typing that sentence. My artistic integrity prevents me from doing that, though. If I did that, I would be a sellout. I would be giving up. I would be cashing in before I saw where my legitimate artistic skill could take me. Here I am, though, trying to turn these struggles into fuel for work (as an artist should).

If there's anything I want you to take from this post it's this: If you are crazy about all things DIY and supporting trends that are found on the internet, remember that there are people out there suffering to find work because of this obsession. It's not just you, and by all means, monogram your t-shirts, but do something to give back to the art community. Stop by a gallery exhibit. There are tons of local shows that nobody cares to even talk about. Go to a locally produced movie festival. Go to a concert of a band who's yet to be discovered. Go watch a play. There are so many hard working, passionate, and talented people standing in front of their work looking out into an empty space where a crowd should be. Stop pinning and monogramming for a day, and get some culture, kids.