This is a great point, I was thinking of writing something about it too. I think the issue is that ‘being an artist’ is both similar to, and different from ‘being a _____’ (insert any other profession). Like, nobody needs a day job to support their medical practice, right? Few people will rely on a day job to help them expand their accountancy practice. The practice would be the job and it would be supporting itself, right?
But with the arts we have a large overlap of art as something every human being at some level craves to engage in in order to enrich their inner life (something few have said about accountancy), and art as an actual professional practice. Then on top of that we also have the fact that many people engaging with the arts in a very professional manner still have a hard time paying bills with that work alone (I’m one of those people). Because it’s a wonderful profession, but really not a great field to work in.
It’s a weird tangle for sure. But 100% if you are making art you are an artist. Even if you have three day jobs on top.
"If you are making art you are an artist." <-- Yes, this. I had a little chuckle imagining an aspiring accountant with a creative day job. What a world that would be!
I've wrestled with this question a lot over the years, and at the moment, due to disability, I
am focusing on my writing for the first time without also juggling a day job. It's providing the space I long needed to be able to really settle into my art and build community with other writers. At the same time, as I've started to earn significant income (on another writing platform) for the first time from writing what I want to write - not copywriting and editing, midwiving others' creative dreams - I feel the challenges to integrity and artistic autonomy that the monetisation route inevitably brings. If something is popular, the story is that I need to write more on that.... but meanwhile, I've moved on to another interesting avenue ... I appreciated the simplicity and freedom of the view you present here, and also know that my energy levels and health don't allow me to do both, so this is what I am fortunate to be able to choose for now.
Well said! That business trip to Chicago was pretty great trip! I managed to enjoy some amazing food and squeezed in visit to Willis Tower and the Art Institute, so I even got to nurture some creativity while I was there.
Oh my gosh, so glad I got caught up with the lithops saga! I adore succulents and cacti, though I'm not terribly good at keeping them alive. Lithops and baby toes both just captivate me.
I really like this new approach of how our day jobs can fund our creative pursuits. That feels right. There shouldn't need to be shame around the work we need (or even want) to do in order to support ourselves and our families, but there is this narrative amongst creative types that we are not successful without our creativity funding everything. That narrative needs to change.
I've accidentally killed lots of succulents, including two previous Lithops! 😳 I think I've mostly got the hang of it now, but each variety really is different. If I watered my echeveria the way I water my string of pearls, the echeveria would probably get root rot and die.
And I wholeheartedly agree that the narrative around creative monetization needs to change. When I started thinking of my day job as a support to my creative work rather than an obstacle, my whole perspective shifted.
This is a great point, I was thinking of writing something about it too. I think the issue is that ‘being an artist’ is both similar to, and different from ‘being a _____’ (insert any other profession). Like, nobody needs a day job to support their medical practice, right? Few people will rely on a day job to help them expand their accountancy practice. The practice would be the job and it would be supporting itself, right?
But with the arts we have a large overlap of art as something every human being at some level craves to engage in in order to enrich their inner life (something few have said about accountancy), and art as an actual professional practice. Then on top of that we also have the fact that many people engaging with the arts in a very professional manner still have a hard time paying bills with that work alone (I’m one of those people). Because it’s a wonderful profession, but really not a great field to work in.
It’s a weird tangle for sure. But 100% if you are making art you are an artist. Even if you have three day jobs on top.
"If you are making art you are an artist." <-- Yes, this. I had a little chuckle imagining an aspiring accountant with a creative day job. What a world that would be!
This is brilliant and validating; thank you!
Thanks Cate!
I've wrestled with this question a lot over the years, and at the moment, due to disability, I
am focusing on my writing for the first time without also juggling a day job. It's providing the space I long needed to be able to really settle into my art and build community with other writers. At the same time, as I've started to earn significant income (on another writing platform) for the first time from writing what I want to write - not copywriting and editing, midwiving others' creative dreams - I feel the challenges to integrity and artistic autonomy that the monetisation route inevitably brings. If something is popular, the story is that I need to write more on that.... but meanwhile, I've moved on to another interesting avenue ... I appreciated the simplicity and freedom of the view you present here, and also know that my energy levels and health don't allow me to do both, so this is what I am fortunate to be able to choose for now.
I'm so glad you get to take this time for yourself, Morgan. Every path has its rewards and challenges.
I need to remind myself of this from time to time. Thank you.
Glad it resonated, Elle! I need to remind myself of it, too.
Thanks for the Lithops update 🤓
I wrote about this from a different POV a few weeks ago in 'Passion won't pay the rent'
I wanted some people in my life to feel like they could go for corp trips to the Chicago Bean without guilt and still nurture other creative pursuits
Well said! That business trip to Chicago was pretty great trip! I managed to enjoy some amazing food and squeezed in visit to Willis Tower and the Art Institute, so I even got to nurture some creativity while I was there.
Oh my gosh, so glad I got caught up with the lithops saga! I adore succulents and cacti, though I'm not terribly good at keeping them alive. Lithops and baby toes both just captivate me.
I really like this new approach of how our day jobs can fund our creative pursuits. That feels right. There shouldn't need to be shame around the work we need (or even want) to do in order to support ourselves and our families, but there is this narrative amongst creative types that we are not successful without our creativity funding everything. That narrative needs to change.
I've accidentally killed lots of succulents, including two previous Lithops! 😳 I think I've mostly got the hang of it now, but each variety really is different. If I watered my echeveria the way I water my string of pearls, the echeveria would probably get root rot and die.
And I wholeheartedly agree that the narrative around creative monetization needs to change. When I started thinking of my day job as a support to my creative work rather than an obstacle, my whole perspective shifted.