Demystifying the Starving Artist

There’s a certain magic around the “starving artist.” I felt it when I read Just Kids Patti Smith’s memoir. How she and Robert Mapplethorpe slept in doorways and begged for food—having only each other and their passion. Young, wild, and broke.

Their journey as starving artists was hard and ugly, but through a mix of persistence and talent they break through and find success.

They are the ideal.

For most following in their footsteps, their journey will stay hard and ugly. Some of it self-inflicted. They just refuse to do anything they deem as “selling out.”

But this artist’s journey is hard enough. Throw in enough nights eating Top Ramen, and anybody can go crazy.

It doesn’t have to be black and white. There exists a middle ground.

As a freelancer photographer pursuing a career in fine art, I’ve had to tangle with the issue of “selling out” many a times. Here’s how I’ve found my balance.

Expanding Your Definition of an Artist

Some artists see their job merely as a creator. They create art, people love it, and they buy it. They don't see marketing as part of their job at all. Some avoid out of it of fear, some avoid it out of principle. 

Unfortunately, no matter how great your art is, if nobody sees it nobody is going to buy it.

This isn’t to say artists should go on the corner spinning a sign to get people to look at their art. Just as there are consumer brands, there is consumer art, luxury art, and everything in between. And marketing each is completely different.

Look at being an artist as being an entrepreneur and open your mind to all the possible ways you can get your art out there.

For example, exposing your works on social media to open doors to more clients, customers, and media.

Understanding what your audience needs, and giving it to them without compromising too much of your style.

Building a niche and developing a specific style that people can instantly identify as yours.

Connecting and networking with individuals who can open doors for you.

Obviously this all sounds simple, and can be very difficult to pull off. But this only to point out if an artist were to only focus on creating, they would neglect all the other aspects of becoming a successful artist.

In an ideal world, good artists should have no qualms with promoting their art as they would be bringing awareness to something people want and need.

But oftentimes artists let insecurity and pride get in the way.

Overcoming these emotions are crucial to making a career out of your art.

Creating Better Art With a Day Job

It’s not a surprise to find a big ego hiding behind an artist. Taking on creative risks constantly almost demands an artist to have one. But sometimes this shoots them in the foot.

For some reason, there can be an ugly assumption and connotation that comes with having a day job. Like it would mean they weren’t a successful artist if they had a day job.

First off, artists are going to create rain, hail, sleet, or snow. There’s no doubt about that.

It’s just when you’re trying to make it, a day job helps you create better art

Yes, even with at least 8 hours of your day accounted for, an artist can create better art with a day job.

1. You’ll have access to better materials (if you’re reading this, I doubt I have to point out how art supplies/photography gear do not come cheap)
2. You won’t be so desperate you’ll accept just any commission and risk compromising your art/value
3. Not having to worry about bills frees up so much more mental space to just create

If you’re getting overbooked and selling your artworks consistently, then it’s probably a good time to consider quitting that day job.

But until then please don’t neglect your own personal finances for the sake of some ideal. Starving artists starve more than they create.

Conclusion

Creativity can and does exist between commerce and personal satisfaction. Many artists of the past had to grapple with this same issue. Even somebody like Michelangelo has had to deal with clients who think they know better.

But he made it work. And so can you.

A good artist understands where they can compromise without ever crossing that line. It’s a true challenge without a doubt, but for sure one worth embracing!

Written by Emily May

Emily May Gunawan from Sally & Emily photography duo was born in Sydney and raised in Jakarta, positioning her and her sister Sally to engage with both Western and Eastern worlds. Since establishing her career in 2012, they have gone on to work with global brands including Adidas, Tim Tam, to NYLON Magazine in a wide range of capacities both for print and digital publications as photographers, creative directors, to videographers. Sally & Emily’s images are fuelled by self-discovery and contemporary femininity, taking inspirations from their diverse cultural heritage and personal stories. View their works at www.sallyemily.comand follow the journey at www.instagram.com/sally_emily