From: Gary Miller (gmphotos@earthlink.net)
Date: 07/04/01-07:40:33 PM Z
All this discussion on making a living and then being an artist is
depressing, but alas realistic. I would add in that people should not loose
sight that their way of earning an income, their day jobı does not
necessarily have to be bean counting at the local factory to make ends meet
so that they can produce their art. I tried working outside the art field
and then doing my art at night, or on the weekends, but in the end I was not
fully immerse in the artistic process. Yes, I had money coming in, and
could live comfortably, but for me, it was all still very empty and my art
suffered greatly from it. There was a two year period when I did not even
pick up a camera or make a print. I wanted art to be full time, so I
decided to go to graduate school and to get my MFA, so I could teach. I am
still in the midst of getting my first full time teaching position, but I
really like teaching. It is not my day job to make money so that I can do
my art. Teaching is an integral part of my art. It exposes to me to
various students at various levels and stimulates my creativity. It also
affords me the opportunity to learn and to be immersed in art and
photography. Right now I am transitioning so I am teaching part time and
working a regular job to make ends meet. I am so busy working two jobs that
I have done very little art at all since I graduated in December. I also
feel that my students are being cheated a little because my attention cannot
be fully focused on my teaching. I would not want to continue in the space
I am in, so that is why teaching full time is my goal. My recommendation
for the would be artists here is to work in something that you really love,
not just scrubbing dishes at the local diner to make ends meet. If your job
does not fulfill you then your life will suffer and so will your art.
Remember that art is always a reflection of the self and a dialog to the
world. If you can get yourself into a creative position then your art can
grow. I am patiently awaiting returning to my growth stage. But donıt be
fooled, it is all very difficult, and you really have to want it to have it.
In one of my classes we discussed the fact that art is seen as a luxury
item. No one, supposedly, will die without it, so artists are not always
seen as that useful, except when you need a logo designed or a pretty web
page done. But as artists we have a great deal of responsibility to create
and educate other people. We are the people who look at the work
differently and I think that everyone can benefit from a change of
perspective. Several times this year I have contemplated giving it all up
and walking away from art, the love of my life that I constantly am pouring
money into. But I always come back, like some addict, art and creativity
are things that I cannot live without. While others may see art as a
luxury, for me it is truly a necessity and I must create.
GM
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