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Maybe you can help answer this question for me because I come at it from a very different place: why is it expected that you can make a living from art? I am no

Maybe you can help answer this question for me because I come at it from a very different place: why is it expected that you can make a living from art? I am not trying to disparage it, but it seems to me that most art, while having artistic value, carries little monetary value. When art was relatively rare, you might want to decorate your home or business with a specific piece. But today nothing is stopping most people from printing out photos they took or buying mass produced decorations in the form of paintings or photos from places like Target or IKEA. Moreover, most artists I’ve seen usually push the envelope in terms of form and factor. Some of the coolest art I’ve seen has been non-traditional: a 30’ birds nest made of 10,000 old T-shirts. A kettle made of soldered metal buttons. A huge outdoor concrete ring. These things are amazing, but as a consumer I would pay a small sum to see them once and never a large sum to take them home. I also struggle a bit to understand the percentage of artists who make a living off art vs total numbers. I am a hobbyist photographer and have been hanging around photo subreddits a bunch. One thing I see is that every year more and more people pick up a camera and try to make art (street photography are landscapes are big it seems). But not many can make a living off it and those that do mostly do things like event, corporate, real estate, or wedding photography (so more service than creative). In other words when everyone is a photographer/artist, only a few will be able to make money, but in absolute numbers there still seems to be a steady demand for high quality art. I guess this is a bit like everyone can cook but only a few Michelin Star chefs exist and not every cook can expect to be a high profile chef. Curious about your thoughts on this.

acomjean 6y ago
Art requires an investment by the artist of time and space and supplies. Many artist here rent art space, and it’s nice if they’re able to sell enough to keep it going, even if they’re not making a living at it. And I think having “local” is also a useful perspective. I stumbled upon the “gates” by Cristo in Central Park. I don’t know if it people I was with but all those gates around the park were inspiring. I’m not sure someone would be able to put that together as a part time hobby venture. It’s kinda like philosophers, as a society I feel it useful to have people thinking about big picture things, but these people still need to eat. Its useful to have art. (All the electric boxes in this city are painted. Its a little thing but it make it nicer)[1] We don’t want only independently wealthy people with spare time participating. That being said not everyone is going to be able to make a living at this (philosophy or art). In this area at least because of gentrification the days of people painting and selling and making enough are over. We also had the museum of bad art here, and I’ll agree not all art is fantastic and inspiring. Everyone who wants to should make art. It’s fun and very satisfying. highly recommend. I will say, I have bought a few pieces of original art (fairly affordable) and they bring me joy. I can create my own art (and do) which I enjoy (Photography). I have no expectations of making money from this. I had the chance to buy an art/service and turned it down: I was a wedding photography assistant last century (often I did a flash on a stick for double lighting). When my boss retired I was offered to buy the business from her. With a newly paid for engineering degree, and her always complaining about client demands, I decided against it. [1]https://somervilleartscouncil.org/switchbox https://somervilleartscouncil.org/switchbox

acomjean 6y ago

Art requires an investment by the artist of time and space and supplies. Many artist here rent art space, and it’s nice if they’re able to sell enough to keep it going, even if they’re not making a living at it. And I think having “local” is also a useful perspective. I stumbled upon the “gates” by Cristo in Central Park. I don’t know if it people I was with but all those gates around the park were inspiring. I’m not sure someone would be able to put that together as a part time hobby venture. It’s kinda like philosophers, as a society I feel it useful to have people thinking about big picture things, but these people still need to eat. Its useful to have art. (All the electric boxes in this city are painted. Its a little thing but it make it nicer)[1] We don’t want only independently wealthy people with spare time participating. That being said not everyone is going to be able to make a living at this (philosophy or art). In this area at least because of gentrification the days of people painting and selling and making enough are over. We also had the museum of bad art here, and I’ll agree not all art is fantastic and inspiring. Everyone who wants to should make art. It’s fun and very satisfying. highly recommend. I will say, I have bought a few pieces of original art (fairly affordable) and they bring me joy. I can create my own art (and do) which I enjoy (Photography). I have no expectations of making money from this. I had the chance to buy an art/service and turned it down: I was a wedding photography assistant last century (often I did a flash on a stick for double lighting). When my boss retired I was offered to buy the business from her. With a newly paid for engineering degree, and her always complaining about client demands, I decided against it. [1]https://somervilleartscouncil.org/switchbox https://somervilleartscouncil.org/switchbox