Comments on: Deep Thought Thursday: Capitalism

By: Tim Tyler

Tim Tyler — Fri, 27 Mar 2009 20:59:09 +0000

Daniels first post said what I would have said. There exist odd ideas I suspect born in college art classes like canvas must breathe, art exhibition entries should all be free, money is bad (by the way so are awards). Some persons hold on to these ideas long past their usefullness -passing the art class, into their adult lives. While I’m at it-there is no such thing as “sugar high” in normal healthy people. Let that one go too. All food that goes into your mouth must be converted into blood sugar including fruits and veggies.

By: K. Henderson

K. Henderson — Fri, 20 Feb 2009 00:18:27 +0000

I am a capitalist and proud of it! I work 14 hours a day, asking for no bail outs. My art pays for the food I eat, the clothes I wear, the gasoline I buy, the supplies I use. Is getting paid for my hard word ‘Greed’? I guess some people must think so.

By: maria brophy

maria brophy — Tue, 03 Feb 2009 21:43:25 +0000

My husband is the artist, and it’s my job to sell his art so he can keep creating and at the same time support our family. Sometimes I’ll hear someone say that he “sells out” because he licenses his art for printing on products (clothing, beach towels,etc.). It hurts to hear that, mostly because we work so hard at what we do, and his art brings so much joy to people. He doesn’t consider himself a fine artist, he calls himself a commercial artist. I don’t know if that makes a difference, but I suppose a fine artist wouldn’t want their art printed on t-shirts! The bottom line is this: Why would any artist want to keep “the Starving Artist” curse alive!? It’s my plan to turn that old curse around and to see evey artist become a “well fed artist”!

By: hyokon

hyokon — Mon, 02 Feb 2009 02:19:00 +0000

Not at all. The fact that someone is willing to pay means you made something that is valuable for someone else. It is perfectly fine to create art only to satisfy yourself, which is more selfish in a way, but then you need another job to make a living. It is your choice. Life is fair. The happiest artist must be one who create art for themselves and still the art is loved by other people. I believe that an entrepreneur, which I am, is an artist. I always dream of creating something that I am passionate about and that people will find valuable. Just different tools and media. Capitalism is a very misleading terminology. It gives feeling of guilt to people who exchange goods and ideas with other people freely. We should call it free market, a much better description.

By: Tammy Vitale

Tammy Vitale — Sun, 01 Feb 2009 13:42:24 +0000

I wasn’t going to say anything since it way my comment that started all this; however, this morning I was reading ltrs to the editor in the Washington Post and one was objecting to fundng “the arts.” David Wonderling says: “People are taking pay cuts, being laid off and losing homes…Fund the arts and pet projects when the nation is once again flush with cash.” Those here who are working artists understand that selling art is part of the business of being a working artist. Those of us who are, indeed, working artists, need to take back the art world from those who review in coded language and display work that makes you go “Huh?” Art is not rarified. It is not special. It is focus and passion just like any work that makes sense. It is no less deserving than farm aid which feeds the body, for art feeds the spirit. The sooner we take back the definition of “art,” the sooner art in schools will be seen as the necessity that it is, and the sooner funding artists who work at their business will not seem untoward.

By: Tammy Vitale

Tammy Vitale — Sun, 01 Feb 2009 13:41:16 +0000

By: Julie Thompson

Julie Thompson — Sat, 31 Jan 2009 12:19:24 +0000

It’s definitely not greed, it’s earning a living. And what better ‘job’ is there, than doing what one loves doing best?

By: Chris Collins

Chris Collins — Fri, 30 Jan 2009 22:33:04 +0000

Generally, people are greedy. Money-making off of art is not greedy, but greedy people are the worst artists. Art is meant to be shared, interpreted, appreciated by an audience. I don’t understand how artists expect to make it big when they are terrified of putting their art out there for the world to see. I have had people submitting work to my website who practically need to be convinced to let me put their work up without some kind of watermark or alternative protection. I can’t accept work with a huge watermark with that person’s name over it. It is covering the art! Greed for me taints art. I would rather give my art away so that many people appreciate it rather than secretly showing it to a select people in order to earn a buck. Art isn’t about money. Sure, earning money off your art is nice… I don’t want to die and have half of my work sitting in a closet because I was too selfish to share it with the world.

By: Sheree Rensel

Sheree Rensel — Fri, 30 Jan 2009 20:44:20 +0000

This question is so timely. I wrote about a similar issue on my blog yesterday. There is absolutely nothing wrong with making money from your art. In fact, that is a great thing! What concerns me is the chance some people will misinterpret the motivations or value of artists. If making the buck is your goal, do it. However, some artists don’t see capitalism as their goal. There are many different kinds of artists. All artists have their own motivations and goals. To compare them in regards to sales or capitalism isn’t wise. It is like comparing apples and oranges. It just doesn’t work. I just hope we all realize this. Sheree Rensel

By: Ronnie Maziarek

Ronnie Maziarek — Fri, 30 Jan 2009 19:43:43 +0000

Art is not a separate issue from any other form of living. In the past artists worked to live, it was how they were able to eat, clothe themselves, acquire shelter. It was the essence of who that particular person was, they’re calling, just as some were called to be doctors, teachers, stone masons. Being an artist and being successful at it shouldn’t even need to be questioned as to it’s moral right, ie: greed. I would prefer to ask “Why not?”