h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

I don't have exceedingly lofty artistic ambitions. I don't care about distinctions between high and low art. I just want to give people nice things to look at, share some beauty, use my art to inform people about the wonders of nature, and also give their own creativity and imagination a prod or two. But I AM serious about this. I do want to become successful and at least make a bit of money to cover my day-to-day expenses. You need money in life.

But I refuse to become a hack that just spews out works pandering to popular tastes for money! And that is a tough stance to take. The hacks over here ... I won't name any names ... string out look-alike works by the hundreds. They've found a formula that naive people will buy so they stick to that and just that, the same thing over and over again. Also this work is typically very simple and can be completed rapidly and with little thought. But people will buy it if it's according to the right 'formula' for the spirit of the times.

Even though I am not an artist of the caliber of Leonardo or Michelangelo or Vincent van Gogh I still do my best. I don't rush anything off. I don't repeat paintings ... even if the subject is the same kind of thing, I'll make the next painting look very different. I give this stuff thought. I'll get my reference materials and see how I could make the thing look right and also place it in a context so that the whole picture is aesthetically pleasing. I try different compositions; I am still learning and finding out what works best, and I will try to keep learning my whole life long. I work realistically and in detail, and I want the people who buy and look at my work to have lots of things that they can look at in a single painting. This means lots of work, many hours a day for many days to complete a single painting.

I really enjoy what I do. I choose my subjects by what motivates me, and I go looking for inspiration in books and on the 'net, and I choose my subjects also with growth as an artist in mind, choosing things that will make me try things I haven't tried before. I am a perfectionist but not totally; then I would never finish things. But in a reasonable time frame I want to get the painting as close to 'perfect' as I can envisage it. I feel working like this will allow me to get a good deal of work done and keep improving my talents.

But this is not a way to make money. The more an artist actualy *works* at his/her work, the less money s/he makes. An artist who churns out formula paintings can produce several a day. An artist who meticulously put in the details and try to make everything correct may finish a painting in a week to a month. The formula artist and the artist who goes to a lot of trouble both produce a 'painting' that is sold for roughly the same price. No matter how good you are, in the current market people will only pay so much money for a painting. So economically the dilligent artist loses out. And also because s/he experiments a lot more, s/he will take more risks and end up with many paintings that cannot be sold.

But this *is* the way to develop as an artist. If you don't starve before you become really as good as you can be.

You are so right Willem.

The only way is to do better is to do as much as you can!
The fact you enjoy it, is a gift for you.
The fact others enjoy it, is a gift for us.
what a great win , win

Your writing always shows you are grateful for your gift. You are dedicated and your compassion surely helps to nurture your art as well as all living things around you.

It all shows!You are a fabulous example.

Hi abbi and thanks for the message! I just wish I can keep on doing this for a bit longer.

Here, here Willem.

I too, became an Artist. Art as you describe it seems a rather philosophical exercise. Having the philosophical bend that I seem to have; may I share my take on the subject?

The age old question is, “What is Art?” As you ask, is it the mass produced pabulum for the weak minded or does have to fulfill some higher purpose? I struggled with the same questions you ask. What I settled on for my world was the following:

When an Artist perceives something special in the world and is able to communicate that specialness to a chosen audience in a chosen medium, that is Art.

So if an artist wants to paint yet another rainbow for an audience that perceives what is special about that rainbow, okay, that is that Artist’s Art. When you capture the greatness of wild beasts of your land, you offer what is your Art to an audience that is much more deserving of your effort, that is your Art. With this definition in mind, I might also warn of the classic conundrum of most Artist’s. It is very hard to know when to stop “improving” on a given piece.

In closing, the business of Art rarely is comfortable in the same person as creates that Art. Often partnering with a trusted friend of opposing temperament is required for financial success.

AE

Hi there AE Hill, thanks for that message. But what do I do when I don't have any trusted friends who can help me with the 'business' side of things?

Well, I see Art as an exercise in higher value systems; it seems you do as well. I see business [especially business today] as quite the opposite. Let me quickly add that I do not want to give impression that I don’t appreciate business people, I do. To each his or her own. It is also hard for a business person to appreciate Artists, but some do.

I also would not want to be a farmer. It all seems like drudgery to me. But that is just me. I admire and very much appreciate that some people are good farmers, otherwise I might starve [smiles]. Still, it would be a hard sell to sell much Art to farmers. On a related note, I have lived in farming communities and I believe they are cheated out of their fair share of the profits from the food they produce. The “middle man” gets way too much.

To find a business friend, be prepared to let them make more than you do. If you are willing to sell some specific piece of Art for 200 coins, then be prepared for the gallery to ask 1000 [five times your price] for the same piece. They may only get 500, but the “sticker price” will be higher. On average they will get 800. That might work out to 300 for the gallery, 300 for the business friend and 200 for you. When you think about it, they have to earn the added money they get.

It is to be expected that when you first consider the idea of a business friend no one will come to mind. Only in rare cases will there be a group from which to select from. So the first step is to keep an open mind to the idea and wait to see what shows up. Although that may seem like you are doing nothing, in reality, your mind will be unable to do nothing. Your “open mind” will re-evaluate the situation over and over. At some point you may find that someone you discounted is actually a possible “opposing temperament” that you can learn to trust. Or time may bring you a different solution.

The second step is to learn to trust. With higher values you might trust too much. Start small and when that succeeds or fails you will know what to do next. If it works try more, if it fails, look for someone different.

In your case, your sister sticks out in my mind, but that may be just some misunderstanding on my part. At every step, be happy.


AE