Sounds familiar. From the first of Rilke's Letters to a Young Poet:When I was in art school, a professor basically stated the only reason to become an artist is because you have to, you cannot not make art. Essentially, he said if you have any other way to make a living, do that. Of course, he didn't say don't make art, just don't choose it as a career if you can help it.
I don't know...I was 34 (1988)...working in the wilderness in the summer and volunteering in the university darkroom in the winter. Not that young but still kinda dumb about a lot of things. I had gotten a scholarship to attend the workshop, which was pretty cool. I ended up be a workshop assistant for them for the next seven or eight years...a workshop/yr. (Friends of Photography, Carmel)Vaughn,...I'm sure Kenna Learned something from you....despite his fame.
Sounds familiar. From the first of Rilke's Letters to a Young Poet:
There is only one way: Go within. Search for the cause, find the impetus that bids you write. Put it to this test: Does it stretch out its roots in the deepest place of your heart? Can you avow that you would die if you were forbidden to write? Above all, in the most silent hour of your night, ask yourself this: Must I write? Dig deep into yourself for a true answer. And if it should ring its assent, if you can confidently meet this serious question with a simple, "I must," then build your life upon it. It has become your necessity. Your life, in even the most mundane and least significant hour, must become a sign, a testimony to this urge.
When I was in art school, a professor basically stated the only reason to become an artist is because you have to, you cannot not make art. Essentially, he said if you have any other way to make a living, do that. Of course, he didn't say don't make art, just don't choose it as a career if you can help it.
I don't know...I was 34 (1988)...working in the wilderness in the summer and volunteering in the university darkroom in the winter. Not that young but still kinda dumb about a lot of things. I had gotten a scholarship to attend the workshop, which was pretty cool.
I'm glad to hear that the passage is useful to you. I love it when various art forms collide or when one is bolstered by another, etc.Thanks, Mike, that quote arrives are just the right time and does answer lots of questions I've been pondering. I find that the more introspective I am, the more compelled I am to produce work. While loss of access to photography would have a negative impact, as long as I have a pencil and a piece of paper I can still create and scratch that itch.
I got to admit that this question is becoming harder and harder.Why do you make photographs?
I would hope the zen moment happens as you release the shutter, not after.I don't make photographs, I just release the shutter and let the zen moment do the rest.
I would hope the zen moment happens as you release the shutter, not after.
You press the shutter as an unconscious thought and the zen moment is either there or not. It takes many years of practice to achieve this.
There can be a stillness in the moment between opening the shutter and closing it.You press the shutter as an unconscious thought and the zen moment is either there or not. It takes many years of practice to achieve this.
For Michael Kenna, a time for a good night's sleep!And occasionally, time enough for a nap.
When I was in art school, a professor basically stated the only reason to become an artist is because you have to, you cannot not make art. Essentially, he said if you have any other way to make a living, do that. Of course, he didn't say don't make art, just don't choose it as a career if you can help it.
Strewth! I'm learning the hard way that trying to earn decent ducats via an artistic path requires an equal, or greater, business acumen. Put another way, it seems to me that successful artists are ALSO successful businessmen. Tough.
Well said. I just graduated from art school with a BFA, am retired, and 70, so I have no pressure to “make it,” financially, in the art world. After having chatted with my fellow students over the last 7 years, I’d say that many of them have a fairly unrealistic notion of what awaits them after graduation. One is loading trucks at FedEx, another works as an office person in a mortuary, and another works in an apiary. The ones who land art-related employment did the art education route and found employment in a school. I do suggest to them, when it comes up in conversation, to take some business classes along with art. Three of the required classes in the art program did directly address the business side of art so there was that.
But that is not to devalue a college education or art education in particular as for many employers the college degree at least shows the individual can complete something, has some sort of work ethic, and is probably trainable.
And, yes, “successful artists as ALSO successful businessmen.“ I’ll point to Jeff Koons.
So much has to do with luck, connections and socializing. Sure, you need to market yourself, but if you aren’t in the “in” crowd you might as well get a job as a barista.
A lot of connections are made through one’s social circles, breaking those barriers can depend on personality and the effort involved may take away from the time and energy needed to devote to one’s art. And unfortunately many artists just don’t like to market themselves. That’s why there are galleries and representatives.Connections and socializing is part of marketing… which is part of business. Says I, at least.
I’d hate to hold up Jeff Koons as an example of an artist. But he is successful. Business acumen is not the only, or even major factor for an artist’s success. So much has to do with luck, connections and socializing. Sure, you need to market yourself, but if you aren’t in the “in” crowd you might as well get a job as a barista.
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