The Misconception of Starving Artists

 (I wrote this for this site, particularly, but because of some technical difficulties, I wasn't able to post it until now. I had it posted on MySpace, and it is still on there as of now... so there's my vague little explanation. ;P)

When I was in the second grade, I think it was, my uncle asked me what I wanted to become when I grew up. I responded with enthusiasm, "I want to be an artist!," and expected some words of encouragement. It was a blow to me, at that time, for him to respond that artists can't live off of their art. Assuming that this happened when I THINK it was, ten years have passed since then, and I still haven't changed my career goal.

Starving artists were common in Romanticism, but those figures seem to have become the stereotype of modern day artists. I love my uncle, but he, for instance, automatically assumed that if I followed my dream of becoming an artist, that I would live on the streets or a cold apartment, making little more than what I begged from people. Or something like that- use your imagination! ^_^

The truth is, though, that it shouldn't be difficult to make art for money. Art is incorporated in almost everything., wouldn't you think? Someone had to design the clothes you're wearing. Someone designed the advertisements you see. Someone designed the site that you are reading this from! It's obvious that as long as there are things people want or need, artists will be wanted and needed as well. Let's say I want to illustrate children's books (I honestly do!). As long as younger children want to read- hopefully I'll be available to give them pictures to go along with words!

Now, the only real problem is that competition arises. It's expected that not all industrial designers will be equally successful. It's just the same with any other form of art or any work outside of the art field. I think the sort of artists that people most relate to the starving artist stereotype are gallery artists. That is, people who present paintings, sculptures, etc. in galleries. If I decided to live off of my paintings alone, I would be wise to have a back up plan unless I was extremely and unrealistically confident in my capabilities.

I'm not saying that it's impossible to live as a gallery artist- but that it's more difficult. As time passes, originality becomes a rarer thing to find, hence competition for the individual artist to rise above the rest and prove himself as something out of the mainstream.

If you have the incredible urge to make a living by creating, then have at it! It's easy to be discouraged but keep in mind that it's important to use what talents you have and to do what you enjoy. The world needs art, after all, and artists should be creative without fear!