After today's discussion about the arts and how somebody can make a living off of it, I came across this quote:
“Every child is an artist. The problem is how to remain
an artist once he grows up" --Pablo Picasso
The word problem really stuck out to me. If a child is interested in art, I think it is important to continue that hobby. I think this shows a common situation: Mom and Dad don't want their daughter to become an artist because they want whats best for her. Well, perhaps art is what's best. No, usually you won't make a lot of money, but you're doing what makes you happy. I think it would be better for someone interested in art to pursue it, rather than going into accounting (or some other common finance job) and throwing away their art talent. Like Mr. O'Connor said today, making a living doesn't necessarily mean making money. Do you think there is a 'problem' with growing up and being an artist?
(image via: http://www.flickr.com/photos/38338230@N06/3676263520/)
I think you make a very important point about what is "best" for someone. It is outrageous how many times I have heard someone, whether it be a friend, a stranger, or a fictional book character, be put down for what they do because it is not "best" for them. These people are mostly aspiring artists, some athletes, others even aspiring teachers. What do all these have in common? They don't have a very good salary.
ReplyDeleteAnd what response do these people usually get? "You should be a doctor!" What do doctors get? A very good salary.
Coincidence? I think not.
If an individual believes art is the best thing for them, then I definitely agree that the individual should pursue what they love. However, an individual needs to earn enough money in order to "make their own living". A "living" is different for each person, so if you want to be an artist and are comfortable and glad to live off a lower salary, then by all means be an artist. If this is not the case, and you want to live with more money, then I think you would need to find a job that pays a higher salary. This certainly does not mean giving up art. It seems like it would be manageable to find a job that has a higher pay yet be able to continue to work on art at the same time. So in my opinion, whether you remain an artist when you grow up or not is relative.
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