“Giving up is the ultimate tragedy.” — Robert Donovan
This is a statement that I know to be true. Why? Because for over seven years I did not paint or draw one thing. I completely gave up on pursuing my art.
What followed was indeed tragedy. After I abandoned my creative self she became increasingly deeply depressed, anxious, and sleepless.
Without an outlet my creative energy balled up inside me and stagnated. The real tragedy was that this suffering was my choice.
I thought that I should surrender my hopes of pursuing art full time because the economic odds where so very dismal.
I believed that I needed to develop marketable skills within a corporate cubicle. I most often felt like a caged animal resenting the corporate structure and culture.
But the grim economic reality of being an artist is one that my art school did not prepare me for.
I believe that this lack of preparation after demanding such high tuition was and is irresponsible and unethical.
In fact, the U.S. Department of Education is beginning to crack down hard on educational institutions graduating fine art majors with student loan debt that they have no practical means of paying back.
What I have come to realize is that art schools and programs do not know how to overcome the economic reality of the super competitive art market. If art professors did, for the most part, they would not be teaching but pursuing their art full time.
Alas, I was able to create a viable art business in my first year trying full time. My success and business approach was such an anomaly that it earned me significant media attention, including a feature in Fortune magazine.
Because of this success and insight I feel a passionate responsibility to share what I’ve learned. I just can’t abide the notion that artists must struggle. I think that the starving artist myth is fundamentally destructive and disrespectful.
So don’t give up. I know from personal experience that where there is a will there is a way.
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This is SO TRUE! I did not go to art school or any large school, I did classes here and there when I could afford them. I was very selective on the ones I took and only took them if it was a skill I use and benefit from. Art teachers/schools do not teach the business side of being an artist. Artists must learn to promote their work, they must learn the business and marketing skills to be successful. Before I quit my job years ago to become a “professional” artist I made myself learn marketing, web design, business taxes, time and money management and much more, to this day I do everything on my own and don’t pay any one to do it. You have to be self sustainable until you reach a certain platform of success. Anne, I love receiving your emails and I appreciate all the hard work and time you put into everything you do. Thank you for helping us artists of the world!
This was the first thing I read after waking up and it put a smile on my face. Thanks for everything you do.