True artists simply cannot shut off what they desire to do. It’s almost like a requirement to survive, an urge that needs to be satisfied. Even if it means embracing the label of a “starving artist”, a term thrown around for those who haven’t found a substantial way to earn a livelihood off their aspirations, they are willing to endure hardship, and “starve” even, just to pursue their passion.
Every Artist’s Dream
Artists, I believe, love it when others appreciate their work in some way or another. Some may pretend not to, but deep down inside, the littlest of appreciation goes an incredibly long way.
If left unchecked, that feeling can become an addiction.
Labour of Love
A “Labour of love” refers to work or effort undertaken not for financial gain or obligation, but out of passion, enjoyment, or a deep personal commitment.
It’s usually associated with the artist’s dedication to their creations or the outcomes of their endeavours, and is sometimes incomprehensible to many. I don’t think true artists at heart really focus on the monetary value of their efforts as much.
At their core, an artist’s dream is wanting their work to be seen, consumed or appreciated in any way by as many as possible. They want to make the most impact, even inspire. Some want to change things, break the rules, redefine them, be disruptive, and become legends.
The Problem With Artists
Reaching a wide audience—gaining recognition, appreciation, or even notoriety—requires far more than talent.
First comes inspiration: the spark.
Then comes time, energy, and the will to follow through.
Then comes the need to balance real life with creative life.
And after surviving all of that, the next obstacle is usually the largest one: money.
Financial stability has been the greatest challenge for countless artists across every field. Most would give anything for the freedom to create without worrying about survival.
However, at times, there are bad apples or bad actors who, when they’ve found a source of funding, can misuse, abuse or not utilise this opportunity to the full extent. Some have talent but lack management skills. Some aren’t true artists and succumb to the allure of a large sum of money, which leaves many to doubt artists’ potential.
It’s usually why artists are typically portrayed as wild cards, unreliable, or polarising in narratives. In some circles or situations, being referred to as an artist can be a negative thing.
An Artist’s Vision
It’s not always clear what motivates an artist to do what they do. As important as wanting to create, they need motivation, either in the form of inspiration, a drive or a muse.
If an artist loses their immense motivation along the way for whatever reason, they would rather the dream die than see it in the hands of another or see it mutate into something it wasn’t intended for.
Hollywood is the perfect example. When studio executives meddle with a director’s vision, it almost always ends in disappointment: reshoots, failures, wasted budgets, and devastated creators.
Nine out of ten times, interference ruins the masterpiece it could have been.
It’s rarely a good thing when someone interferes with an artist’s vision.
What to Do
Artists just have to do what they have to do, and it’s a gamble, really. There’s no other way to put it. There’s no playbook or guaranteed formula for success. Sometimes it can be a monumental failure, sometimes it can be a tremendous success. That’s the life of an artist.
All artists have is their dream, their will, and their burning desire to make it extraordinary, great even. Everything else is left up to…