The artist who refused to make money.
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- Опубликовано: 4 фев 2024
- The story of an artist who discovered the true value of making art.
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That’s exactly what I’m doing, creating art for pleasure and expression. Before I felt like I was doing it for followers and trying to keep up with everyone else on social media.. it just started feeling like a rat race. I turned off my account and just practiced creating for myself and started learning new things and I’m having a wonderful time doing it. There's no pressure and no comparing myself with others.
Art is perhaps the most wondrous part of the human experience.
Several anthropologists have suggested that it is what separates us from our Neanderthal brethren . They have found some signs recently of what might have been jewelry and religious items in the Neanderthal levels of caves... but no where near the explosion of (cave) art, jewelry, and tools that they found in the Homo sapiens sapiens layers. Art and creativity is one of the thing that makes us, human.If you have never done the research, do some...You will be amazed at what our ancestors did with stone tools and mineral pigments. Amazing stuff.
..and music..😊
You are not only an artist, you are a mentor with a great heart.
Anything creative that I do is for me, not for others. I get enough criticism and ridicule at home for things that don't turn out perfect, and really, nothing is ever perfect. But, I try. And I think that is more perfect than not trying at all. I'll never earn a dime from it, but that's not why I do it. I do it because I love it, no other reason.
I would beg you not to allow the criticism and ridicule to stop you. Please don't do that. Keep strong inside yourself. So many of the things I've attempted to create fell by the wayside and were still born because I could never find the confidence to finish them. Don't let people hurt you. Don't let the worm of criticism destroy your soul.
Thank you for that reply. You understand, you get it. I'm pretty stubborn and too hard-headed to give up. I don't think anything I do will ever be perfect, but the things I make will be good enough for me.@@kathleenhensley5951
Someone who started painting at 38, only to fulfill my life long desire to be able to paint, and do something nice with the maternity leave, I totally agree. Something bringing you joy could be the only reason to do it, and I think if you loose joy, you loose a lot of art. I paint to shut my brain off and just be happy, and for that reason, my paint and paper are the best thing I got for my kids and me.
In the late 1980's I started tying fishing flies for fun. By 1990 I was facing a lay-off, so my wife suggested I turn my fishing flies into jewelry. Two things happened with my hobby, number one I learned to hate tying flies, and number two I drained my bank account trying to chase customers with too much variety. Less than a year later I stopped my hobby, and got a job.
By the early 2000's I was itching to create art, got pretty good at photography, and started showing photos in art galleries. Once again I sold little, but spent a fortune chasing customers. The only difference with the photos was I had employment. I gave up showing photos after a couple of years, and lost my job after an auto accident left me disabled.
Now I tie goofy flies for fun, shoot local intetest photos for fun, carve wooden spoons, letter openers, and canes from gifted fruit wood to give away, and have recently started sketching using ink, colored pencils, and watercolor's for art to gift to friends and family. Money never enters the equation when I receive appreciation for my effort.
Some great points here Danny! It is a shame that within this system so many of us feel we need to monetise our art practice to make it worthwhile. The truth is art takes time, and when you don't have a huge income or some kind of patron, it feels like a luxury sometimes when that time could be used to be earning money that you need to survive. It's hard to imagine all the wasted talent from the working class people who don't have that luxury of time because they have to work so much just to survive.
I have a degree in art and I used to try to sell my work. It took all the fun out of it.
I feel a lot better when I can be creative for fun and not monetize it.
I finally figured out why your video formula is so good. The soft voice of encouragement that once inspired those on public television, finds it's way back to the internet: Bob Ross. Every time I watch your videos. I feel compelled to make art the same way I'm sure my parents did growing up watching him. Thanks for all of the great advice, I'm signing up for your emails ASAP! : )
I needed to hear this! When my financially driven husband learned I had no interest in turning my art into a business, he deemed it useless. That was 6 years ago, and I still struggle with validating it just because creating makes my soul happy... my art was the only thing that eased the crippling grief of losing my mom a year ago, I don't know how I could have survived without it.
Being around someone like that is emotionally draining to an artist ... it's like the robbing of one's spirit. ☮
Please don't give up on your art no matter what your husband or anyone else says
@@barbarastclair9429 I muddle through day by day. And I've come to realize people who aren't creative don't understand that we NEED to create! It's part of who we are!
I started watercolor painting at 70 in our rv. I try to share my art with visitors but also send it to my family. Have done great grand children potraits. They love getting them. That gives me joy in painting and giving.
What a wonderful hobby and wonderful gifts you must be making ! You’re the living proof that it’s never too late to start something new successfully ❤
I get kinda militant about democratizing art. I really dislike the idea that art is only "real" if it's worth money to somebody. Like saying that a bunch of friends singing around a campfire isn't music.
I’ve started mailing pieces that I’ve painted to random friends. The best thing is giving a little of myself to make someone happy and maybe getting a little thanks in return (although I don’t care about that).
Wonderful
I donate my art to charity and it is a great feeling to do this. One charity is an op shop. One group raffles my work to raise funds for an outing. There is less pressure to produce by not selling. I hope this helps people to feel valued by our art as i think we all need this. I enjoy your videos. Good luck to all artists.
She can also give art as gifts. Such gifts can be specific to the person. This develops intuition as well. To contemplate the person while doing an artwork.
So true. I've decided I won't sell my art unless I get to the point where I have to. I enjoy making art right now because I give it all away to friends and family as gifts. That makes me happy, to think and learn about that person and what they like and dislike, and make something special just for them.
Great advice. Spot on. I create everyday. Never sell or even try to sell anything. I give some away and hang the rest in my house. I have been thinking of how I can give my art to charity. That would make me happy. I have no desire to gain financially from what I create.
Dear Mr. Danny, you inspire my art and heart. Listening to you feels like a good friend is talking to me. I appreciate your authentic ways of creating and thinking. Sending Love, Silvia.
Reframing the way you look at a situation is great, and in this instance it was brilliant! I don’t paint to earn money, the wealth is in the joy I gain from it.
I think your advice is spot on. I think your essay about how art helps your immunity was a good point to make I'm glad that she already read it and watched the video I enjoyed your video on it I haven't read the essay yet but I will I just subscribed to your essays. One of the thing though is the proverb there's more happiness in giving than in receiving. So by giving she's going to gain so much happiness emotional mental well-being is Prime real estate these days I think it always has been. And there are so many people out there that would love to appreciate art in their homes but don't have the means to do so think I'm happy that she'll make them as well. I love the content of your channel and I've told so many other people about it as well I'm sure they will enjoy it as well in the days to come. Thank you
Thanks Danny! Kat and I very much relate to this story and your words. It helps us to hear from you to keep our focus on doing art, not for the final product, but rather make the focus on "doing" the creative work.
I came from an economically challenged childhood. It was understood that when we created it should bring profit. I have struggled with this feeling all my adult life. Your essay has helped me to let go the last of this old belief. In other words it helped to set me free to truly enjoy creating art just for fun. Thank you.
I thought your advice was right on. I don't sell my art. I love it and the feeling I have when I am through creating something. I show my art to my family and friends. I was in a lot of art shows in my high school days. 1975-1977. I am making art again for that feeling of "I can't believe I made that!". Also so I can be in the Zone. It stimulates my brain and I am sure it slows aging down.
So beautiful and true! ❤ I believe sharing joy and spreading love is art's true purpose, at least for me... Being an art conservator who grew tired and drained of this beautiful but tedious job and felt an urge to create something of my own, to express myself, I started doing paintings for my friends birthdays. The joy and surprise I get from them is so rewarding! Although I might never achieve such confidence to switch careers, I hope I'll allways find some inspiration and will to create and give art, to look at the world through a loving lense of artistic feeling and observation, no matter how hard life can get... Thanks for this! ❤
Beautiful and meaningful advice... love the comment about buying art supplies to make you feel better being the same as fulfilling a prescription for health :)
Hi Danny, thanks for this video, super advice! There is just one thing, Van Gogh did sell one painting during his lifetime. It is called “The Red Vineyard”, it was bought by Belgian fellow painter Anna Boch. They were part of “Les vingt”, a painter’s group. She later sold it on with great profit. Love from Alsace, France 👍👍❤️❤️
Mr Gregory, you are not only an artist. You are a truly wonderful person. Everytime I watch your videos I get to improve as an artist and seeing this video may be I will improve as a person. I love you. Please keep doing videos and may you have good health always
Such good advice from you! 👍
My motto is the lyrics of a song that says: "... not everything that has a value must also have a price ..."
Great story, great essay! hope it will have millions of views. Thank you sir.
Once the whole panic over AI stealing Artist‘s jobs came up, I kept saying:
„Humans will always value Human Art over machine art. The value of Human Art will change for the better in many ways, because of this development.“
With this sentence in mind I started rediscovering the value of Art for my Self as the Artist, much in the way, that you are describing in this video. It‘s almost like I had forgotten why I had started to make Art to begin with. But at the same time I became way more aware of the change my Art brought about in my own Life.
Money can be a tough topic for us sometimes. But I would question if it might not be a good thing, that the companies that are just looking for cheap solutions, flood the markets with generic computer Art, in order for our true work to rise above.
I took on a commission in my thirties when a coworker asked me to. It was a bad experience. For me, it's not as fun being paid to do something of another's choice. It adds stress. Art shouldn't be stressful. It's joyful to gift my pieces as a surprise to someone.
You have a gift for explaining art in such a way that makes me feel great. I have always struggled with it not being good enough or the fact that I can't make money doing it . Thanks for this story and for digging me out of the trenches again today.
You perfectly explained what I was trying to put into words, so…ditto
Bartering with interested people for things that interest you or trading for supplies you might need- that would not break the rules, would it? Hope you continue making art and creating something new! You're still the chef ❤
Or JSG Boggs… an artist who made money literally and it was only worth something if he spent it at face value. A bit off your topic, but I was reminded of an artist who “made money”, but really didn’t want to make money. Just found your videos yesterday and I’m enjoying them so far.
Hi Danny, I think it’s excellent advice and right up to speed with the way I see things changing. Offering an idea that changes something that feels like restriction and limits and stunting your growth, into an idea that feels like a blessing and opens up possibilities and takes her toward thriving is wonderful. She’s not becoming less, with this idea, she’s becoming more. Awesome!
I have a lifelong close friend who was diagnosed with schizophrenia in his mid 20's and is in the same situation with SSDI. It's a tradeoff. He has the freedom to make music any time he wants, and he does. But he will lose his SSDI and get kicked out of his assisted living program. Life deals strange hands, the question is how you choose to play them.
Thank you from the bottom of my heart for this video. It talks to me so much. I am employed part-time and my job brings me all the money I need to support my family and my needs. My husband doesn't really want me to risk job security, especially for our future, our house, our daughter. etc. I've been getting back into making art for myself for 5 years, and I always thought I had to monetize, had to make a career of it (as an entrepreneur). but that doesn't make me happy: I've tried and every time I feel trapped by the marketing machine, I burn out. I'm starting to understand, at 40 years, that I can just paint and draw for myself, because it brings me peace and joy. My sketchbook is my little place of freedom. I want to get back to illustrating, painting life scenes in my sketchbook. I don't plan to make paintings / canva and sell them. I admit that I felt guilty about this for a long time. so thank you for this video
The power of your words is stunning. Much love for your words of inspiration and how to be a little bit better...❤
What an amazing reframing of this lady’s story!
Thanks for your inspiring words. I really like your ideas and videos.
This is so sad I see in the art commuinty. Somea artist tend to stop have unique style and only make art only because of the money it makes.
While they sometimes make a lot of money. Some of us make art because it is our only or a few of or biggest passions and the one thing that keeps us alive. Sadly that authentic art is not always the one that sells the best. And those authentic artists become less and the art that is produced is less authentic. And the art that is authentic becomes less value. Since the market sometimes focus on piece that have intrest or buyers.
Or, I’ll send you this painting, but please make a donation to the charity of your choice.
Excellent video. I personally decided a long time ago that I would never even attempt to sell my artwork, because then I would never have to worry about whether it was "successful" or not. In my opinion, the quickest way to ruin a hobby is to turn it into a "job".
Thank you Danny. I am in exactly the same position as your friend. But I did not make art to sell. It is to heal from all my past traumas, so I make it for myself. Rarely do I even let anyone see it as it is very personal. But I also do make some "pretty pictures" and those I give away. I can not earn too much money from other sources otherwise "Theo" will be cut off. Thank you for allowing myself the permission that what I do is OK.
We like to create for fun, making money would only make it a chore…if anybody would want to buy our creations that is…😃✌️
Interesting! My husband equates selling art with success but has had to change his tone in his senior years. Now he does art for art sake. I, on the other hand, have always said that the act of creating my art is reward enough. We have adequate retirement funds so we are blessed to be able to do art without restrictions or fear someone may or may not like what we do. Such artistic freedom!
Truth! Wise comments, Danny! I have started doing this same thing…making art for the pure joy of it. I left my art group, no longer am interested in selling my art. I have discovered the joy of making tiny books(3 1/2X3 1/2”). Each book will have a different theme. The first one is all about birds.
Awe, this story had me in the feels, and my eyes were wet! What a wonderful gift you gave that artist. You freed her of her bondage of that feeling of unworthiness. I’m a late bloomer artist as well. Although I’m retired from creative departments in the newspaper and magazine world, I’m enjoying creativity without corporate bottom dollar agendas. My husband is my biggest fan and my most valued critic (his medium is oil), and mine is watercolor, etc. I’ve sold a few things, but that isn’t why I paint. I’ve given away a lot of work, way more than I’ve sold by happenstance…and I’m fine with that!
One of my favorite quotes about art is "there is no must in art, because art is free" from Kandinsky. It's definitely ok to create just because!
Dr. Danny on duty! You have so much wisdom in the way you share.
I have lots of art supplies, over the years I have made a lot of art. I never sell my art I give it to people who enjoy it. I am able to enjoy my passion and watch people smile when they get a free painting. I will never be famous but that's ok I am having fun making art.😊
You have wonderful advice! I just watched a documentary about Bill Watterson, the creator of the marvelous comic strip, Calvin and Hobbes. He refused to allow the merchandising of his strips' characters even though that would have made him a lot of money. Now, granted, he made money off the strip and the sale of the books of compiled strip, but you might consider that like her annuity. He created that strip put of love and he didn't want that sullied or altered by market pressure.
I think people should make art because they can't NOT make art. That gift is a gift for everyone.
When I first started doing my art again, someone asked for a commission, I did it but for no $ b/c I was new, but even then the idea that I had to do it, the pressure made me not like it. Then a friend also wanted a commission and she gave me the colors she wanted. Thats when I decided. I do not do commissions. It's like a job. I do my art b/c I just like to do it. Thats why I like your channel as I like to draw along with other people. Thats my fun. Just the doing.
Beautiful! Thank you! 🙏
Thank you Danny, I neede d to hear this today ❤
I love it!! So inspiring!!..
The price of you art is your ultimate Happiness and peace which can't be bought by Money or any stuff
My husband always advised me to give up my dream of making money off my needlework, beading etc. (again, craft, not art) because he believed it would put too much pressure on me and we really didn't need the money. I usually gave away many of the things I made to friends at Christmas. During a period of unemployment, I did sell some beaded amulet bags, on various themes, at a local gift store, also, necklaces, earrings, etc. Now, in widowhood and retirement, I don't need the money. I think if I sold my work, now, it would be for the amusement and involvement in the local community.
Wonderful! inspiring, thank you Danny
This brilliant way of thinking great advice love it Danny
I love your story! It's actually mine too.
Loved this story. Love your Essays !!! Keep them coming ! Qweeny.
Danny, you gave great advice to this lady and all your points are valid, but you are making money with your art (I bought three of your books: "Art Before Breakfast", "Art Before Breakfast Workbook", and "Everyday Matters, a memoir". I believe this woman is very frustrated because she does make art for herself, as well as to sell her art for extra money. The U.S. government (as well as other governments all over the world) want to take away our sovereignty and threaten us with taking away the money they give us for Social Security, Disability, etc. They don't care if we have to live comfortably. We just have to live on their terms and I refuse to do that. I am a 67 year-old artist, who makes art for herself as well as licensing my art to others--nothing wrong in that and I don't need any government to tell me otherwise. I worked 53 years of my life (at 14) giving the government my money every paycheck. By the way, sorry I had to vent and this was a great informative video!❤
Van Gough, Van Gough, Van Gough,, but not for Theo there would never have been a Van Gough the painter. All the glamorising we get sucked up in it. We build on myths and suffer the consequences. Enough said. Good one Danny.
Can she maybe involve a third party charity institute for those who want her art to donate to?
love this vid :D
Love it
Start a trust fund and run all the costs thru it. It gets paid and you don't take any money out. It can be left to whomever you want when you pass etc without probate or inheritance taxes. Check with accountant first...
Interesting idea. But wouldn't it still be considered income and subject to income? I don't think they could even share how to classes or videos online unless it was purely a charity.
I think everyone wants to have some control over their own lives including how much money they have.
New cars and vacations and upgrading computers, printers, phones aren't free. Fixed income is tough
@@recoveringsoul755 The trust receives income and pays the taxes, and also loses, cost, write offs. A trust can own a computer, car, stocks, whatever. They are not just for charities. Call an accountant or trust attorney.
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She should send her art to taxpayers who are providing her disability benefits. I've been making art for friends and family and RAKs for almost 10 years. She would probably enjoy it more if she stopped thinking about the money.
People want government to address and care for their every need, then come to realize that there is no free lunch. There are always strings attached.