"I Make Art, Not Product"

Today someone sent me an email after a marketing email I sent out stating "I make art, not product."
What about you?

Few of us have the luxury to be complete purists. Though art should stand on its own as art, most of us who want to do art full time, need it to also be a viable product. Fine line? You bet.

If you can afford to do art without selling it, I'm all for it. In fact some of the most purity comes in this way because you are not influenced by needing to fit into the mold of your gallery, your buyer, etc. and if you want to paint paperclips, you should to do it and do it well. But IF you have to make a living then your art does become a product, and the trick is to balance the art with the commerce.

Some galleries want to control your output. "Gimme me more of those windmills, they sell well." You can't blame them. They are in business to sell, and if it sells, it helps them. And you are in the business to sell too. BUT the second it becomes a job, an effort, or you're focusing entirely on what sells and not doing what you love... it will show in your work. I've been there.

To some extent... if you do great art it will resonate with a buyer.

The point of all of this is that there are lots of starving artists who make art, not product. On the flip side there are lots of financially successful artists, whose work sells but is perceived by some artists as garbage. But purity does not pay the bills.

An artist who must make her living selling art needs to understand that marketing your art, promoting your work is not evil. It's merely practical.

Comments

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[Maria Brophy]

I've never understood the thinking that artists shouldn't worry about selling their art. As an art licensing agent, I see the positive impact that putting your art out into the world can bring. First, you are bringing joy to others who can afford your greeting cards, but can't afford your originals. Second, you are making a contribution to the world through your art in many different ways. And third, if you are creating and selling art everyday, rather than working a "day job" that doesn't involve art, than you are an artist, not a hobbyist. (My accountant once said: "If you aren't making a profit with your art, then what you've got is a hobby.")