The Myth of the Starving Artist
I firmly reject the notion of the starving artist. As artists, we embark on a journey of apprenticeships, paying our dues, and equipping ourselves with formal and informal training. This is not a struggle, but a part of our personal growth and development. Isn’t this the case for every profession? Do we speak of starving hotel managers, accountants, lawyers, or physicians? In this post, I’m referring to professional artists. I don’t envision a true professional artist as starving but rather as someone who has the potential to thrive in their chosen field.
When learning my craft, I sometimes lived out of my car. Is this a starving artist? If you think so, you missed the part where I wrote “when I was learning my craft.” When employers hire someone, they don’t want to hire someone “learning their craft” except in entry-level positions. When they want to hire a professional, they hire a professional. It’s been my experience that those who qualify as professionals get hired if they put themselves in the position to do so. It's not about being a starving artist, it's about your personal determination to succeed.
Some artists may be content with a modest lifestyle, while others may strive for a more ‘artsy’ existence. As for me, my goal was to share stories and be compensated for the privilege of doing so. I needed a place to live, enough money for sustenance and healthcare, and (forgive the nostalgia) enough funds to buy paper for my typewriter. I needed these basic necessities. Nothing extravagant. Just the opportunity to support myself while doing what I loved: storytelling.
As an undergraduate, I had three types of friends: those who wanted a lot of money, those who wanted to be famous, and those who wanted to teach. I knew very few who tried to tell stories and somehow figured out how to do it. So, from a business perspective, what do you want to do? I outlined the usual options people pick: chasing wealth, fame, or a stable teaching job. But there are other paths, like freelancing, self-publishing, or working in creative industries. Again, mine is to tell stories.
One question that has always intrigued me is why people feel compelled to conform to the stereotype of the starving artist. I’m not entirely sure. Perhaps it stems from the romanticized image of the 1950s, where it was fashionable to dress in black, be unconventional, and struggle. But it wasn’t always like that. It doesn’t have to be like that. I believe this image of the starving artist is perpetuated from one artistic generation to another, often used as an excuse for various reasons that we could delve into in a separate post. But you don’t have to subscribe to it.
You can make money as an artist or as a writer. You may not get to live as lavishly as someone else, but if your goal is not to be rich, then you’re okay. You may not have a full-time job as an academic, but those guys have a difficult time between all their staff meetings to find time to write anyway (been there, done that). Fame? Forget that one. You know someone famous now, but I bet I can name a dozen more famous people from twenty years ago that you would have no clue who they are. (My daughter asked me if I had heard of the Beatles.) So, it just comes down to this. Do you want to be an artist? A writer? If so, like the Nike brand, “just do it.”
We’ll talk more about this in the future, but think about it for now. Is your objective pure? Is storytelling the only reason you’re after this business? If it is, I’ll bring you some good news in the future. If it isn’t, if some of these other ambitions are clouding your focus, then you might need to have some quiet time and maybe see where your dreams and desires genuinely lie.
Live your life with both feet in the commitment.
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