I recently received an email from a student who attended my last Artists Who THRIVE seminar, sponsored by the Small Business Development Center.
“Had I heard you speak when I was coming out of graduate school, my path might have been different….” Quinne graduated in 1985 with an MFA and his remark is something that I hear all too often.
Too many graduate from art, music, culinary or other schools, with very high hopes. And too many graduate with no plan or concrete guidance. So their hopes are soon set a drift on a raft of flames when the economic reality of food, shelter, and student loans set in.
What they have not been taught, because too many academics resist the notion, is that in order to thrive as creatives they will also be required to be very savvy entrepreneurs. Why? Because there are precious few “jobs” for creatives that deliver stable and adequate income, retirement, and health benefits. Glinda, the Good Witch, is just not coming.
Why don’t they get this guidance from their professors? My theory: it’s because their professors are, just that, professors. And they are not facing the same economic realities of a new graduate. My opinion: these teaching institutions, that are often very expensive, are simply irresponsible.
I’ll never forget when I served as a panelist at UC Berkeley. The topic: How to make a viable living as an artist? The tenured professor of the painting department advised the eager audience, “Don’t worry about it. Just make art. It will all work out.” Easy for him to say! That’s complete BULL$$hit! My fellow panelist, a successful print maker, said to him in front of a large audience. “F*&#! That! People are buying art!” In that moment she became my hero and the seeds for Artists Who THRIVE were planted.
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My pleasure!
Very true. For me, the realization stopped me before I graduated. I changed my major to Art History and sought a career in publishing. However, the artist in me has kept trying to come out for these past 25 years. And sadly, it is very difficult to change midstream with a family and as the main breadwinner. I do have hope it can be done, though, and as I try to arrange my life now to allow me to finally find my painter’s voice and establish a body of work to sell, I applaud you. I think today’s artists may be more aware of the commercial side of art simply because they are more aware of the realities of the world at a younger age. Anyway, thanks Ann. You are my inspiration. Thanks for the weekly emails!!
agreed!
Love that. I believe it is true for just about everyone these days, that in order to be successful at anything, we have to be savvy at more than just the thing we’re awesome at. I’m in agreement that artists can’t just make art and expect that their greatness will put food on the table. I do agree, though, that making art for the sake of art is golden- don’t ever stop!