This is something I’m constantly grappling with. I think part of the problem has been the formalization of art as a career, with people deciding they want to make a living from their art the same way other people pursue careers in medicine or engineering. But art doesn’t have a defined career path and art doesn’t fit in the goods and services box. Social media has exacerbated the problem by generalizing the concept of making money from your art as a content creator. Artists are caught in an impossible bind between making the art they want to make / expressing themselves freely and trying to cultivate an audience and turn what they do into a product / service. It’s a can of worms not many people are willing to open.
you’re right on about Art (with and without a capital A)
as an agency creative I’ve worked in successful shops that knew how to sell work and one that was utter trainwreck. the latter was the result of selling creative as PRODUCT—like order-takers. successful agencies sell experience and skilled labor (and make a lot more money with that approach). top level for me was that the approach of selling skilled labor is far more respectful of creatives. clients aren’t invited to stand behind me at the computer and guide the mouse as if they’re building their sandwich at Subway.
moreover tho, the objective of embarking on life in art wasn’t to be an agency creative (that’s just how to make $ with my skillset). the point of being a practicing artist, for me, is “Art with a capital A,” which is a conversation i have with myself (and my muses) about the world. nothing more.
the thing about IP is a diff kettle of fish b/c when i think of IP i think of American blues artists who died homeless or died early b/c no healthcare (alex chilton).
artists need protection and deserve basic security too, or else we won’t have artists anymore (which…i think we’re mostly there).
This is something I’m constantly grappling with. I think part of the problem has been the formalization of art as a career, with people deciding they want to make a living from their art the same way other people pursue careers in medicine or engineering. But art doesn’t have a defined career path and art doesn’t fit in the goods and services box. Social media has exacerbated the problem by generalizing the concept of making money from your art as a content creator. Artists are caught in an impossible bind between making the art they want to make / expressing themselves freely and trying to cultivate an audience and turn what they do into a product / service. It’s a can of worms not many people are willing to open.
you’re right on about Art (with and without a capital A)
as an agency creative I’ve worked in successful shops that knew how to sell work and one that was utter trainwreck. the latter was the result of selling creative as PRODUCT—like order-takers. successful agencies sell experience and skilled labor (and make a lot more money with that approach). top level for me was that the approach of selling skilled labor is far more respectful of creatives. clients aren’t invited to stand behind me at the computer and guide the mouse as if they’re building their sandwich at Subway.
moreover tho, the objective of embarking on life in art wasn’t to be an agency creative (that’s just how to make $ with my skillset). the point of being a practicing artist, for me, is “Art with a capital A,” which is a conversation i have with myself (and my muses) about the world. nothing more.
the thing about IP is a diff kettle of fish b/c when i think of IP i think of American blues artists who died homeless or died early b/c no healthcare (alex chilton).
artists need protection and deserve basic security too, or else we won’t have artists anymore (which…i think we’re mostly there).