{"id":9619,"date":"2014-10-01T06:56:23","date_gmt":"2014-10-01T13:56:23","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.nexusnewspaper.com\/?p=9619"},"modified":"2014-10-03T10:45:48","modified_gmt":"2014-10-03T17:45:48","slug":"the-artists-dilemma-creating-a-living-as-an-artist-or-living-to-create-art","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.nexusnewspaper.com\/newsite\/2014\/10\/01\/the-artists-dilemma-creating-a-living-as-an-artist-or-living-to-create-art\/","title":{"rendered":"The artist’s dilemma: creating a living as an artist or living to create art"},"content":{"rendered":"

What do professional artists do, exactly? Do they spend their days sitting cross-legged in a loft-style brick apartment in the city, wearing smocks and throwing paint on their canvases? And can they really<\/i> make thousands of dollars for each painting?<\/p>\n

As a designer and photographer unfamiliar with the scene in Victoria, I found myself intrigued by questions that are so often asked, but seldom examined.<\/p>\n

Tracking down Camosun alumni and profs, as well as others working as artists, I tried to get to the bottom of what exactly it means to be a working artist, as well as what it\u2019s like balancing art with commerce, and theory with reality.<\/p>\n

Making it in Victoria<\/strong><\/p>\n

Caleb Speller studied in the Visual Arts program at Camosun and has been working as an artist for close to a decade. After speaking with him and his professors, it\u2019s clear that Speller\u2019s wisdom and innovative personality inspires the untiring originality in his work. His art has been displayed from Victoria to Toronto, and he recently had a book of artwork published by Decoupage Publishing.<\/p>\n

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(Photo by Jill Westby\/Nexus<\/em>.)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Whether it\u2019s creating works of clay, drawing, painting, or even reconstructing bicycles from recycled material for his bike business, Dingus Bikes, Speller is an artist in its fullest sense.<\/p>\n

But the art scene in Victoria is fierce and unrelenting. Being a professional artist in Vic City, one needs to \u201cbe able to cobble together many different approaches, or many different avenues of income generation,\u201d says Camosun instructor Joseph Hoh, who was an instructor of Speller\u2019s.<\/p>\n

Yet, despite the pressure of financial worries that most would associate with being an artist, Speller says he never has a \u201cdepression of creativity\u201d or a moment where he wants to give up. When asked if he ever has any doubts about his work, Speller portrays true tenacity. \u201cI don\u2019t have any doubts about what I\u2019m doing; sometimes I have doubts about how I\u2019m doing it,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n

Hoh agrees that when it comes to creating art, it\u2019s all about the process.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen I do design work, I always try not to be bound by that [style], bound by the outcome,\u201d explains Hoh, \u201cbut really let the process<\/i> guide me towards the outcome.\u201d<\/p>\n

Art versus money?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Once an artist has found a process that works for them and they decide to sell their work, another challenge is finding harmonized relationships with clients.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere\u2019s a fine line between making enough money and having too much work,\u201d says local artist Luna Milly.<\/p>\n

The struggle of having too many projects on the go at once is all too familiar; surely, many students can relate to it.<\/p>\n

On the contrary, if an artist can escape society\u2019s primary perspective of thinking financially, it can open them up to a \u201ctotally different perspective of what life is,\u201d says Speller.<\/p>\n

Speller recognizes that there are always bills to be paid, but he allows little room for distraction when it comes to money.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou aren\u2019t thinking of those kinds of things,\u201d he says. \u201cWell, I\u2019m not, as an artist.\u201d<\/p>\n

But Speller also isn\u2019t relying solely on his art for financial stability; he also sells refurbished bicycles (which is an art form of its own).<\/p>\n

Although Speller has valuable insight when it comes to finances, the truth is that artists (or anyone who is self-employed, for that matter) face challenges in the workforce. For example, there is no unemployment insurance, no paid sick days, and certainly no pension plan.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s something people need to think about, as they get older, when they\u2019re making art for themselves,\u201d says another former teacher of Speller\u2019s, Camosun instructor Brenda Petays.<\/p>\n

Is a little bit of financial concern enough to sway someone away from the dream of becoming a successful artist, designer, or photographer?<\/p>\n

\u201cSome people can be very successful,\u201d assures Petays. \u201cThe work that they make can purposely have an appeal for the public, and it\u2019s very popular and easy to make sales. Other people can be making work that\u2019s more difficult to understand, or maybe it\u2019s more difficult to like, aesthetically.\u201d<\/p>\n

With that, can a resourceful artist become popular and still create soulful art? Must there always be a line drawn between the two?<\/p>\n

The difficulties: how to stay motivated<\/b><\/p>\n

Aside from queries about artistic freedom, one of the most strenuous tasks of being an artist is finding the constant desire and devotion to be steadily creating work.<\/p>\n

Milly keeps her creativity flowing by doing daily sketches of things she actually enjoys drawing. She uses the popular social-media outlet Instagram to showcase her works to over 20,000 followers.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s nicer when you make something that you really like and you\u2019re happy doing it, and you feel excited,\u201d admits Milly. \u201cAnd when somebody actually likes it enough to buy it, you\u2019re like, \u2018this is actual happiness.<\/i>\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n

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(Photo by Jill Westby\/Nexus<\/em>.)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Perhaps this feeling of elation is why many artists chase their passion and become self-employed, regardless of the struggle that could potentially be looming ahead.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen you\u2019re doing commission work all the time, it\u2019s hard. It\u2019s more about the money and not so much what you\u2019re passionate about,\u201d warns Milly.<\/p>\n

Many artists entertain a spiritual state of mind while creating their work. Speller, for one, is in touch with his spirituality while making his art.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen I read the source of inspiration that I believe to be true, the Bible, it guides me,\u201d he explains. \u201cAnd when I can feel my artwork distancing myself from that guidepost, I am cautious of it.\u201d<\/p>\n

Speller\u2019s disposition is enticingly positive, and it\u2019s clear that he\u2019s not seduced by negativity. \u201cArtwork balances those heavier things or themes with humour,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n

Having a positive attitude can really help an artist develop their style, but it doesn\u2019t mean a victory is ahead.<\/p>\n

\u201cBeing an artist is like being a gambler,\u201d says Hoh. \u201cYou are never sure of the outcome.\u201d<\/p>\n

The questionable unknown of what one is about to create could be what drives some artists. Not knowing what will happen in the future could be thrilling, and is often when the best works of art are created, but would you be willing to gamble away your career stability in order to follow your dreams?<\/p>\n

For most artists, it\u2019s difficult to distinguish \u201cart\u201d and \u201clife,\u201d because they merge into one. Petays says this may be more difficult for a young artist.<\/p>\n

\u201cThey may still be figuring out how to relate to the world and where to find really meaningful work,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n

Expert\u2019s advice<\/b><\/p>\n

Whether you\u2019ve been creating art for decades, or you\u2019re a young artist like Milly, being sure of yourself is crucial.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou need to be confident in what you\u2019re bringing to the table,\u201d says Victoria Film Festival graphic designer Simeon Goa. \u201cYou need to be able to listen and ask really good questions.\u201d<\/p>\n

It may seem straightforward, but it\u2019s not uncommon for a designer and a client to believe they are seeing eye-to-eye on something, and then when it comes time to complete the project, the client is expecting a different result.<\/p>\n

\u201cAt the end of the day it could end up being that they say, \u2018Well, I don\u2019t want any of this,\u2019 and they go somewhere else,\u201d says Goa. \u201cAnd every single designer in the world has experienced that.\u201d<\/p>\n

According to Goa, criticism should be taken with a grain of salt. Just because someone may not agree with a particular design, photograph, or art piece, it doesn\u2019t mean that it\u2019s not good.<\/p>\n

\u201cHaving a thick skin is also really important,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n

Although the life of a designer may look a little different in comparison to the life of an artist, there are many similarities. Commission or freelance artists and graphic designers are both hired by clients to create a finished product that meets (or, preferably, exceeds) their expectations.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe hardest thing about working with clients is working with yourself, because the real challenge is to take your own preconceived notions about something and work with them,\u201d says Goa.<\/p>\n

Hoh says working for a client, instead of for yourself, can be good for artists.<\/p>\n

\u201cTo always be bound by what you like to do is always problematic, because then you always do the same things,\u201d says Hoh.<\/p>\n

It may be a tough concept to grasp, but Goa makes a valid (and somewhat depressing) statement.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think the major thing is that you can\u2019t fall in love with your ideas,\u201d he says. \u201cYou have to sacrifice.\u201d<\/p>\n

What Goa means by this is that you need to be willing to change an aspect of your art or design. He refers to a disturbing phrase: \u201cKill your darlings.\u201d By killing your darlings,<\/i> you\u2019re allowing yourself to reach for a whole new level of creativity, says Goa.<\/p>\n

Many an art professor has been heard saying, \u201cKill your darlings. Get rid of everything you don\u2019t need.\u201d Although it\u2019s easy to agree with this statement to an extent, one only needs to be reminded of Vincent Van Gogh. Van Gogh is, of course, one of the world\u2019s most renowned and celebrated artists from the mid- to late-18th<\/sup> century. During his life, however, he wasn\u2019t as celebrated.<\/p>\n

Throughout his lifetime, Van Gogh was ridiculed, and it\u2019s been said that out of the over 900 works of art that he created, he only sold one while he was alive. If Van Gogh had \u201ckilled his darlings\u201d and had taken all criticism seriously throughout his life, he may have never created such inspiring and groundbreaking masterpieces.<\/p>\n

Chasing certainty<\/b><\/p>\n

Although most artists dream of being financially stable, most of them wouldn\u2019t give up their dreams of becoming an artist in exchange for a secure bank account. But maybe we don\u2019t need to choose between the two. It must be possible to become a successful artist and<\/i> be financially sound, because anything that can be dreamed can be achieved.<\/p>\n

\u201cDon\u2019t take on everything,\u201d warns Milly. \u201cJust because its money, doesn\u2019t mean its something that you\u2019re going to enjoy doing.\u201d<\/p>\n

So, if you\u2019re going to become a working artist, don\u2019t chase income. Let your creativity flow freely and don\u2019t be bound by style, as Hoh advises.<\/p>\n

And if you\u2019re ever unsure of your future as an artist or the value of your work, rethink your process of creating.<\/p>\n

As Van Gogh once marvelled: \u201cI don\u2019t know anything with certainty, but seeing the stars makes me dream.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

What do professional artists do, exactly? Do they spend their days sitting cross-legged in a loft-style brick apartment in the city, wearing smocks and throwing paint on their canvases? And can they really make thousands of dollars for each painting? As a designer and photographer unfamiliar with the scene in Victoria, I found myself intrigued […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":9620,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[10,132],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-9619","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-features","category-october-1-2014"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nexusnewspaper.com\/newsite\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9619","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nexusnewspaper.com\/newsite\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nexusnewspaper.com\/newsite\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nexusnewspaper.com\/newsite\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nexusnewspaper.com\/newsite\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=9619"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.nexusnewspaper.com\/newsite\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9619\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":9622,"href":"https:\/\/www.nexusnewspaper.com\/newsite\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9619\/revisions\/9622"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nexusnewspaper.com\/newsite\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/9620"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nexusnewspaper.com\/newsite\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=9619"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nexusnewspaper.com\/newsite\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=9619"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nexusnewspaper.com\/newsite\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=9619"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}