“I am interested in art as a means of living a life; not as a means of making a living.”
Robert Henri
I think at one time I thought I'd be 'an artist'. That when we moved to the mountain I would become a person who spent their days making and creating art and who made a living from it.
I can now recognise my own naiveté in those early thoughts, and my understanding of what it takes to be an artist who makes a living from it has definitely grown, and my admiration for those who do it has also grown.
As I have pondered this thought over the years, I have come to the understanding that what we have achieved by moving here and doing what we do, is that we live an artistic life. This means for me that I have art in my life in more ways and for larger chunks of time than was ever possible to even dream about let alone achieve when I worked in a big stressful job.
And I have come to the understanding and realisation that this is quite different from making my living as an artist. I now know I can't do that. I would starve. I just don't have it in me to try to hock and hawk and strategise completely about sales of my art, and on top of that, my work attracts such a small market. My art income is always supplementary to what I earn to live, and so in a way, the joy of creating remains.
I can't quantify how much living an artistic life adds to my life, my experience, my well-being, my pleasure and my joy. It means that we think about art, talk about art, visit galleries, contribute to exhibitions and have art-minded friends who we chat to over coffee. Living an artistic life is full of joy and happiness and pleasure, satisfaction and wonder. I think continuing to live a life like this will be the best thing I can do. I am also grateful that I have the opportunity - I don't take it for granted for a moment.
Robert Henri
I think at one time I thought I'd be 'an artist'. That when we moved to the mountain I would become a person who spent their days making and creating art and who made a living from it.
I can now recognise my own naiveté in those early thoughts, and my understanding of what it takes to be an artist who makes a living from it has definitely grown, and my admiration for those who do it has also grown.
As I have pondered this thought over the years, I have come to the understanding that what we have achieved by moving here and doing what we do, is that we live an artistic life. This means for me that I have art in my life in more ways and for larger chunks of time than was ever possible to even dream about let alone achieve when I worked in a big stressful job.
And I have come to the understanding and realisation that this is quite different from making my living as an artist. I now know I can't do that. I would starve. I just don't have it in me to try to hock and hawk and strategise completely about sales of my art, and on top of that, my work attracts such a small market. My art income is always supplementary to what I earn to live, and so in a way, the joy of creating remains.
I can't quantify how much living an artistic life adds to my life, my experience, my well-being, my pleasure and my joy. It means that we think about art, talk about art, visit galleries, contribute to exhibitions and have art-minded friends who we chat to over coffee. Living an artistic life is full of joy and happiness and pleasure, satisfaction and wonder. I think continuing to live a life like this will be the best thing I can do. I am also grateful that I have the opportunity - I don't take it for granted for a moment.
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| ©2011 Fiona Dempster - marks and traces... |
I can relate, I too wanted to make a living doing art, and I don't have a talent for the selling part of the job, so like you I live an artistic life and work a real job as little as possible. Lovely post.
ReplyDeleteThank you Annie - we seem to have a similar recipe for life! It's as much about learning what works for you as anything else I think. Go well.
DeleteGreat post, Fiona. I think its a different kind of stressful job to make a living from one's artwork. Just as you say - the hawking, and schmoozing, the constant self-promotion - its another kind of stress than a big, stressful job. But living an artistic life is rewarding in so many ways. One can go for self-promotion in small bursts and not be beholden to it for livelihood. I am grateful that my teaching job allows me to be in the field of art all the time and gives me a steady income (albeit sub-par) but I am not good at the business of art, I'm more interested in making it!
ReplyDeleteHi Valerianna - it's interesting how the balance seems to work for you as well - a bit of teaching, work-work and time for art and a bit of promotion. I am not sure if it's a case of I 'm not good at the promoting/marketing or that I just don't want to do it...A little bit here and there I can handle.
DeleteHi Fiona,
ReplyDeleteI've been following your blog for some time and just wanted to say how much I enjoy your Thursday Thoughts. This week's thought really resonated with me. I spent many years thinking that at some point I would be able to retire and 'make a living as an artist', even though the whole time I was working as a graphic designer...go figure. Anyway, now I spend the majority of my time on artistic pursuits with no thought of selling and I wouldn't have it any other way. : )
I also wanted to thank you for introducing me to Susan Bowers...her blog is wonderful as well and I'm so enjoying seeing your book collaborations!
Keep up the great work and great thoughts... : )
Thank you Jill - I'm pleased that you enjoy the Thursday Thoughts - I like the ritual of stopping and pondering I must say. I learn so much! Sometimes for each of us reality makes itself known to us and we work out that the dream isn't all that we thought it might be...so it's nice when we can work out what works for us and be happy doing it. Thanks for chatting here, go well.
DeleteThe 'artistic life' you live Fiona sounds as if it brings you great joy and contentment. Lucky lady.
ReplyDeleteHi Lesley - sometimes I pinch myself and wonder at it all. We are in a good place and I am enjoying what we are doing...life is good.
DeleteThat phrase - live an artistic life - must make a fair few readers of your blog swoon. The thought of it! What so many of us have always wanted. And how great to be living it!!
ReplyDeleteHi Annie - it took me a while to work out what I thought had happened - and the richness of being involved with the arts and sharing art, and making it the centre of many things has been wonderful, and the best way I could describe it was like that. It doesn't mean that I am being totally artistic all the time; rather than art features in my days and shapes what I do and where I go. I think.
DeleteWe are fortunate indeed to live in a time and in places where we have so much control over our time. It was only a couple of generations or so ago when only the rich had so much leisure time.
ReplyDeleteWe are also lucky enough to be able to appreciate so much of the creative delights of folks all over the planet through the magic of the technological advances of engineers. Although like you I love the artistic life I lead, I think that my creativity would have been of more use if I had been a scientist or an engineer. So often I believe that I am vicariously surfing on the achievements of others.
Thank you Olga, I agree we are fortunate that we have different opportunities, both for time and for discovering folk! I think creativity can often times come into all the things we do and how we approach things, and I think that some scientists and engineers are completely creative. Maybe there is still time to pursue something there??
DeleteA wonderful quote Fiona and one that really resonates. I often ponder that question, as you know, 'making a living with art' ...... and have counted myself privileged to be able to enjoy my art practise without making a living from it. These days though, I no longer count it as a privilege but as necessary to me as breathing. And yes - what joy it brings!
ReplyDeleteThanks Susan - it is a nice place to be to not have to make a living from art, but the drive to make it is still strong isn't it? As you say - almost necessary - and yes, great joy indeed!
Deletewhat a lovely image of the artistic life you're intentionally pursuing! and here i am still one of those who are working towards making a living off art. the promoting and business side are indeed a lot of work, perhaps even half of the effort. but i do not find this fact diminishing of my enjoyment for creating. there is no way i could have created so much had i not focused my entire time and energy on my art. the income is not yet where i need it to be, but the progress is steady. it is an adventurous artful life for me. here's to different paths for different artists! cheers!
ReplyDeleteThanks Anca, as I said my admiration for those who do seek to make a living from their art and who pursue it to great heights has grown enormously over the past few years. There is true dedication and commitment in that, and as you say without that focus you may not have created as much or gone so far in your work. I am always thrilled to know that there are artists pursuing that dream and achieving it - it makes me so happy to know of their successes and to know our world has (financially) successful artists in it...and yes, here's to different paths. Go well.
DeleteI think a lot also depends on what you constitute as living and a living. If you wish to continue a corporate lifestyle with the pay packet to run it then you have a problem, but if you think of living as a simple life and your wants are much more modest then it becomes a lot more possible. To me being an artist is a whole of life experience and being in my vegetable garden is as much a part of it as being in the studio or teaching, it is all part of the whole of me being and artist and I am living. x te
ReplyDeleteVery true Trace - making a living or living. I still think of making a living as being able to pay the bills and do stuff I have to do and/or enjoy doing, but I think of making a life as being filled with all those things I also do that create little or no money at all - growing vegies, reading books, working with our community groups and so on. I think Churchill said "we make a living by what we get, we make a life by what give" and that has somehow stuck in my brain and obviously influenced my thinking!
DeleteOh, thank you Fiona! You have stated this so well. I have friends who make their living as artists, and I watch them work very hard. I realize how much I have because of my day job... Its some of each world, plus. I always say "I am rich in art!"
ReplyDeleteThanks Leslie - I too appreciate what my work-work offers me and the freedom I feel it gives me to pursue my art. I don't always get to do as much art as I like because I am doing other things, but I accept the balance. And yes, we are indeed "rich in art"! Go well.
Deleteahhh yes - the eternal question.... do you make a living or a life from art? I really have enjoyed the comments that others have left here too --- I've done an about-face on this question (which perhaps means I'm in the middle of turning full circle? time will tell!) -- I started out making money from my art, and then I just couldn't do it any more - and I had it pretty easy - I had a big studio/gallery/shop open to the public (folk found our place almost by accident!) and I didn't have to offer my first-born to the gallery system! Nowdays 'hawking, schmoozing and constant self promotion' seems par for the course (shudder) no thanks! I have seen what that has done to some people - both to their work and to their soul...... its not pretty.
ReplyDeleteBUT I'm with trace - if you live simply, you don't have great wants and needs - and if you have a (w)holistic practice that slides easily in and around garden and studio and teaching and the rest of 'life' - then its possible to make a life and a living from art.
Thanks Ronnie - you've seen it from all sides and I guess we all have to find where we fit in that system, and at different times in our lives. I look forward to seeing if you do turn a full circle!
DeleteSome of what is required via the internet demands, the gallery schmoozes etc can be draining and there's no way that working for your art isn't demanding, but I am sure as well that as the effort is in promotion and pursuit of your dream, it can also feel incredibly worthwhile. Always lots to ponder on this one...
Wonderful post, Fiona, as always. I've never thought I could earn a living from art but I am trying to live the artistic life. Seeing how you and B live yours is a great inspiration. Thank you.
ReplyDeleteHi Carol - thank you! I thought I might be able to, then realised I couldn't unless I changed what I do an awful lot. We enjoy the combinations and variations in our life (never get bored!) and when I look a the stashes and collections from your last trip I think art guides a lot of what you do as well! Continue to enjoy and pursue I say...
DeleteGreat post...Amen! ...and then, interesting to read the range of responses...
ReplyDeleteThanks Penny! I think we all find our own ways and that they can change over time. It's good to see and try to understand that there are so many ways of being in the world. Go well.
DeleteYour wisdom continues to inspire. This is a conundrum I am facing right now and I find that it is distracting the development of my 'real' work. I think of what will sell, what class to teach, etc. vs. taking the time to explore that which inspires me. Thanks for helping me to think about a broader picture and for your fantastic blog.
ReplyDeleteHollis - thank you for your kind and thoughtful words. I think at different points in our life and our artistic journey we are faced with different pressures and demands, and it's not always easy to see the impact they will have, or how best to change direction, or hold onto the things that matter yet still be able to adapt. I hope your ponderings help you find your way, go well.
DeleteFiona, I've read this post twice it interested me so much! I agree with what you say, but I never give up hope that one day my art will sustain me financially :)
ReplyDeleteHi Suzie - I think that's great! Positivity and optimism will surely help you take up opportunities if they arise; help you notice things you could do differently and drive you on. I think it helps to have dreams and goals - and know you have to work to make them come true. I'm sure you're up for it!
DeleteBeing a remarkably unsuccessful artist all my life (& I guess you would call 57 mid career) I can relate to this post a lot but there is no choice about making the art or not... I get very sick if I don't. But what is a "successful" artist? is making a living as an artist deemed only in monetary value? selling a drawing or a handmade book or a piece of jewelry for $20, $200, $2000? each of these is a rewarding experience & then there's the level of success... are we talking fame? being shown in the local library can be as rewarding, as having the same piece in an art gallery or winning an art competition. It's about making that dream of an idea that needs to come out right now... as a wise artist once said to me, "The fun is in the process the outcome is just debris"
ReplyDeletethinking a bit more about all this for the past few hours... I love this 21stC world where we can all share our art and music and poetry and passions so freely! This is the whole earth community I dreamed of as a young wild thing back in the 70's (do you remember reading "Divine Right's Trip" in The Whole Earth Catalogue?) where we would all have plenty of free time to make our dreams come alive and inspire each other & we are!
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