Leonardo da Vinci didn't just pick up a paint brush, knock out the Mona Lisa, and call it a career. He built his skills as an apprentice in workshops doing back

Leonardo da Vinci didn't just pick up a paint brush, knock out the Mona Lisa, and call it a career. He built his skills as an apprentice in workshops doing background figures and lesser commissions. Later artists (to the present day) have created prints and works for clients. It's this work that creates the opportunity for masterpieces to happen. If that market goes away, the top end will be affected. I'm not sure things like fellowships and residency programs can recreate this by just throwing money at the problem. There is something unique about the pressures of having to be bold enough to stand out from the crowd but accessible enough for broad appeal. I'm not sure there's anything to be done, but I think we should recognize something is going to be lost here.