Starving artists

The stereotype of the “starving artist” deserves some contemporary context. We live in a culture driven by media and marketing, with much greater emphasis on money and popularity than excellence. And this works, as evidenced by the ever snowballing media bombardment that brings us to a permanent state of numbness, not a moment to even think. Exposure to sports and popular entertainment is inescapable. It’s in the air.

Enter the visual artist, lacking a public educated in the arts, lacking the support and money for extensive marketing, lacking an aura of professionalism. To be honest, professionals like nurses, firemen and financial advisers will make decent incomes because they work under professional standards that the public understands. And they do work that the public knows they need. Professional artists have no code that the public would understand, and the public are uncertain of the value of the artist.

Visual artists rarely go viral and are rarely touted in the broad media for their work. Some visual artists make what the public wants. Some visual artists support themselves by another career. Some artists make the art they want in the way they want. Some artists have strong advocates. Some artists are lucky.

All this said, the highest achievement is still for an artist to make the art they are compelled to make, and to make it with perseverance,