The Business Of The Well-fed Artist
If I could chime in on what I’m over and done with as an artist, I’m through with the term “starving artist” and am ready to replace that with “well-fed artist.” A couple of days ago I spoke with a prospective client of mine who was a painter, and within 30 seconds I had heard all the stereotypes of the starving artist.
“I have no money.”
“I can’t start anything right now.”
“I have to go through some turmoil first.”
After hearing this, I have to admit I wanted to slap him but I also knew to respect his wishes as to how he wants to live his life. Still that last statement bothered me the most. And I don’t know about you, but the last time I checked there were two sides to life—good and bad. And if art imitates it, then why must the “turmoil” always come first? Couldn’t it be the other way around? Furthermore while some individuals are fortunate enough to have just too much abundance and blessings in their lives, why can’t that befall upon the artist?
What I’m seeing is that a majority of artists continue to buy into their own self-fulfilling prophecy—that they need to suffer in order to produce good works. But what we fail to recognize is that this so-called suffering doesn’t have to be the kind where you live out of your car and hustle for auditions to get that big break. Sure it makes for a great biography but what about the “good works” that we seem to be so tunnel-visioned on but can’t create and share? Let me divulge on a little secret.
Suffering is no other than life itself. It’s simply being able to live your life and to appreciate the up’s, down’s, and everything in between. Do you think the corporate executive even at a highly reputable company doesn’t feel defeat and disorder from time-to-time? Think again. That executive possibly goes through just as much if not even more turmoil than starving artists, but just doesn’t express it through a medium like oil and canvas. Instead they may take it out on the golf ball or jot it down in their personal diaries.
However it’s expressed there’s still a difference between you and them I must address. They’re well-fed and you’re not. But you know what? You can be well-fed too. You can get a good-paying job to keep yourself well-nourished while you express your art, except you’re not doing it to the golf ball. You can also learn slowly how to invest your earnings to build up a good wealth account to supplement costs associated to improving your craft. Falling back on the cliché that either life imitates art or art imitates life (In my book
Want to know how to make a full-time income on the Internet? Click here for more details. Author Jay Wang has been working from home as a musician and a Coastal Vacations member. He can be contacted via his own Coastal Vacations website and can be reached at 877-478-4431. Contact Jay and he will provide you with more information on how to receive a complimentary 3days/2nights FREE vacation.
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