In the Meantime...Illustrated...

What can artists do during the hard times that are here now and as they say are going to get worse...

In actual practice most parts of the world have been through a relatively prolonged period of happy times. With loose money lying around, as there has been, irrational exuberance has prevailed and even sub-prime art has passed both critical and commercial muster.

Now with bank credit drying up, home values heading south and the stock market tanking, the decorative art market will suffer along with the general economy. On the other hand, it’s been my experience that in times of recession, collector and investment art can continue to thrive.

Just as unpleasant regulations had to be brought into economies rife with greed and profligacy, artists, who have no creditable regulating body, must bring in more self-regulation. This may involve longer hours, better work habits, better processes and more attention to quality. This also ties in to fair dealing and realistic but progressive pricing to go with the better art. Many borderline galleries will go under during the next while—just as many inadequate or unprepared artists will look once more to other employment.

Fact is, when times are good people throw money at art, but when times are bad they turn to art as a possible life-enhancing investment. People must need art more than other stuff.

Recessions are blessings. Historically, recessions and depressions have been times when “important” work gets made. Realistically, our financial outlay for equipment and art materials (unless your medium is gold) is relatively minor. In hard times artists need to get themselves as debt free as possible and invest in the joy of their vision.

“Money is always there but the pockets change; it is not in the same pockets after a change.” (Gertrude Stein) “Live like a poor man with lots of money.” (Pablo Picasso)

Esoterica: Do not let yourself be blindsided by xenophobic myopia. Artists may act locally but are of the world and need to be on the world’s stage. Further, attitudes about art and collecting vary from country to country and even from city to city and town to town within countries. The operative word is “change.” Both adversity and good times invite change. In our case it has to come from within. Q: “How many psychiatrists does it take to change a tire?” A: “Only one, but the tire really has to want to change.”
 
Excerpted from Robert Genn’s letter…Robert Genn is a Canadian artist of international repute who runs anrt listing site called The Painters Keys..

In the meantime...

Create and create again….experiment with new techniques, new mediums, new supports...

When you live consciously, then you are no longer a part of the mainstream… Choose your own reality .. Decide whether you are going to be part of the maelstrom of panic or that you are going to ride it out calmly....

Nothing’s changed…..you still have to eat, pay bills, buy gas, in other words you still have to live...

The fall colours are wonderful, so choose some quin. golds and do a splashy abstract….buy yourself something new, or bring some flowers home…go out meet friends....

I know what you’re thinking....easy for her to say….but I and many other Canadians experienced the same huge financial losses, (I’m still in a state of shock over my September statement), as the world markets plunged to all time lows…they tell me October will be even worse...

So I went out and bought two new coats….I feel great....Janis

• Favorite
• Report Concern
• Share This
  • Facebook
  • Twitter

Add your comment

You need to login or signup to add your comment to this work.

Tags:

acrylic, art, cards, inks, janis, painting, prints, promote and watercolour