Real Artists Don’t Starve by Jeff Goins is the book all artists must-read. Talking about money is just not polite in many societies. You could wait for the person paying you to talk money and you could end up waiting forever.
But you must be able to support your work or have someone support it. Your day job may be supporting your creative life. Whatever it is, barter won’t work, neither will platitudes. You need real money in the back for your living expense and for supporting family.
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It shouldn’t be a one-off, and it definitely must be worth your work.
But why does the starving artist model made so famous? You definitely should create art for art’s sake. But for that, you need to be able to create from a place of zen. Thats, why you need the money from one or more sources coming in. Jeff Goins, doesn’t mince his words, and he is right.
When I work as a writer, I expect to be paid in money.
It’s okay if you can agree with someone’s valuation of your work who wants to give you gift vouchers of shopping sites, including their own. That could work for some people, not for all.
You must know what you need to sustain your work as an artist.
Did you know Michelangelo is one of the world’s wealthiest artists?At the time of his demise ,his estate was worth 35 million dollars in recent money
He definitely didn’t believe in starving.
His work ethic helped him thrive and not starve. The author talks about Paul Torrance and how he believed Creativity could exist in all areas of life. It was a way of thinking which could, if leveraged right, bloom flowers in desserts.
13 Zen Gems from Real Artists Don’t Starve :Rules of the New Renaissance-Principles every thriving Artist live by
- The practice is crucial for becoming an artist.
- You must always be teachable.
- But to learn, you will need patience, perseverance, and humility
- Thriving Artist makes money to make art
- The change starts with mindset.
- As Michaelangelo believed, you can live both a creative life and a prosperous one/Definitely works for me too.
- When you see the current life script doesn’t match the story you want to say, it’s wise to tweak it.
- But Creativity is work, and that must be remembered.
- We believe and practice it till we make it. Thats the spirit of the book,
- Becoming an artist has a lot to do with looking inside your own self. We are never done becoming who we are, and there is a choice to be creative at every turn.
- Grit is a superpower.
- The location of the Artist has a role to play.
- Sometimes our most apparent gifts are hardest to recognize
The thriving Artist understands that the art of making money is as important as making the art itself. Otherwise, it’s unsustainable. The money allows the work to continue. It’s not the reason artists create, but it’s essential. Let no one tell you otherwise.
We are all apprentice s in a craft where no one ever becomes a master.
Hemingway
So should you read the book or not?
Reading the book is a must for all.Because we are all artists in our work and we deserve to get paid!
This is Z for Blogchatter A to Z and Day 1 for UBC.
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Well I guess I’m the starving artist. LOL I love creating Minky blankets but I give away more than I sell. But it’s not a “job” needed to survive, I just enjoy seeing smiles on peoples faces.
Oh Martha you are the sweetest. But how do you support yourself financially? What pays for that Minky in the first place? I am curious to know.
I think you have some interesting points. I did find it hard to find this comment section. Maybe it is because I have a disability. Thanks for posting and being in the UBC.
Hi Cheryl,how may I help you with the commenting box?
These are good points. Writers like other artists do deserve to be paid. I don’t believe in writing for a client for free either. I have lost clients because they expected to get articles for almost nothing. ANd when you mention the cost, they stop communicating! I might have to check out this book.
Oh you will love this.