You’ve Been Lied to About Selling Your Art

Many artists struggle with the concept of “selling out.” And in this episode you might get triggered. If you want to sell your art or if you don’t think you should sell your art you need to see this podcast.

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[nadia-bbmn]

I found myself out of work and in a bad state of health. Doctors did not recognize what was wrong and did not put me on disability. My family needed extra money, I wanted to contribute in a way where I could take a day off when I needed to if my health was not good. I had never thought of making art for a living until I was desperately trying to find a way to help my family (my husband does not make much money). We needed money to buy food and pay rent. I thought, what can I do? I know a little about painting and have always wanted to know more. I have a few old paints and brushes. I have some time on my hands. I painted my butt off for a year to up my skills and now I help my family. It is so fulfilling, and not being able to work for others due to my health had a silver lining. You are only selling out if you make art you yourself don't like so you can sell it. Thank goodness for selling art!

[timdanyo]

Great podcast. Money, shame, fear, art are so velcroed together with our value systems sometime! Really it’s about getting your value system in line with your art and deeply tapping into that.

[khalidrashidart]

art is a form of visual journaling. You will recall the moments/experience, feelings which is priceless

[graceful-shakti]

If necessity is the topic, and what is essential for life meaning keeping the body alive, then art is not going to feed you, it’s not going to close you, or give you shelter, but what it will do is feed the soul, and i it can give pleasure and joy, which is necessary to hey fulfilling life

[RuthAnnOlivares]

This was so helpful. I'm so glad I ran across this. I've been a high school art teacher for too many years, not having time to create my own work. I don't want to teach anymore. Especially with how the education system had deteriorated in our society. I do feel like a sell out in that sense because I'm a part of it. I want to create my art. I'm going to meditate on this podcast and make some life adjustments! Thank you!

[Nadinesenbergsart]

Wow, you've just changed my whole world and thought process about my work. I'm so glad I magically found you both. Sincere thanks 😊

[vivavidadela]

I’m a beginner and discovered painting as a way to express my emotions and creativity. It’s also very healing and I have a deep connection to my paintings. People have been asking me if I would like to sell my paintings but I’m not ready to let go any of my paintings yet. But since I have more than 50 now and running out of space to store them I believe at some point I will start to sell them starting with the oldest ones that I outgrew. Making money out of a hobby that gives me so much joy is a bonus and I wouldn’t mind in the future.

[dplj]

Art should cost whatever you can sell it for.
If I was an artist who sold art:
24:04 i love my $5 knickknack over my $500 painting.
Some I do not want to sell, i do not put a price on it. Not because it’s noble, but because it has a story i want to keep “reading”.
Other pieces have a story that I want to share, so i would sell them.
32:47 Let dimitra talk.
Art is not less worthy just because you paint every once in a while. A true artist is someone who loves to create.
If i was going to talk purist wanting to share their heart 37:32 I would imagine a person not asking for money.

An artist is someone who creates. Some are prolific. Some sell only three in their whole life. It’s okay to sell your art. It’s okay to just do without selling. Three gourmet meals is still gourmet.

No need to be apologists for wanting to sell your art. You are not selfish.
No need to apologize for being a comic book illustrator, a music video artist.

45:27If I had been less shy and hadn’t encountered gatekeepers back in the 1980s maybe would’ve pursued selling. Otherwise, other artists are not sellout just because they paint as a way to journal out ideas, emotions.

[jacquelinestuerzl]

I'm not convinced and here's why :) I sell my art. And that's my calling. But I'm sure there are people who do art strictly for their own enjoyment and healing, and feel no call whatsoever to sell it. Perhaps, they're already doing something else to make a living that gives them just as much life. Working for a non profit, or Healthcare, or teaching. And they get every drop of enjoyment and fulfillment they need simply by creating without having to monetize it.

I think if someone does not feel called to sell art, if it makes them highly uncomfortable and feels forced, that they would be a "sell out" by trying to put themselves in the box of feeling like they need to sell art and do it full time. They need to do exactly what they're called to do, whether that's selling their art or not

[ChooseTruthAlways]

Art is a form of appreciation and gratitude. Therefore a necessity.

[smailhamza]

True art is not intended or necessary in the eyes of everyone, but it is a necessary sign of luxury for the wealthy and for those who love and can afford it and it is a big business for Art dealers ... For an artist, art begins with passion which evolves through practice then growing up earning money through his passion must be an objective for his own development and his valorization in society or in the whole world as a recognized artist.

[BellaLaLuna]

I am not an artist, but I see it this way. An artist creates from their heart with inspiration from their soul. I suppose that is why some say that art is supposed to be counter culture, but that ideology is also placing one's art into a box. I don't believe money is the value of art, the value comes from how that art speaks to people. Money is just a method of transaction or a tool. Dimitra's art speaks to my soul, it is THAT communication that I am after not necessarily the art itself. I have one of her pieces (Steadfast Heart) that is being sold by Diamond Art Club coming my way and have wish listed several others. I only buy what speaks to me and I am willing to exchange my time earned money for that art. Art is necessary because it is the expression of the soul.

[khalidrashidart]

someone buying your art is a celebration and acknowledge of you as an artist

[Theholliewitch]

This podcast is amazing - ELLI IS A FORCE

[thgritic]

I'm so glad all of my art teachers were telling (& other students) to sell their art bc they actually want us to succeed in our crafts.
It's also a bit hypocritical of those art teachers saying selling your art is being a sell out meanwhile they're an art teacher working for a system that doesn't benefit them & they don't actually like...like a sellout.

[susanhiga-wrqk]

thank Elli for such clarifying words. it was inspiringly eye/heart opening.

what i learnt over the last two decades healing my son diagnosed with autism turns out to be really a self healing because dedicated focus of attention to anything always brings results.

but i struggled with sharing as the current consensus is that only someone with academically approved titles like MD or PHD know what they're talking about and these are the only ones who can heal, so i'd given up. but i see that i've been suffering my own Achilles heels of not having academic qualifications. but you are right. i have to share. that was why i went through what i did and with the good results i've observed my experience can help others in similar situations. just the hope of knowing things can be different can lighten the burden immensely.

thank you for speaking so beautifully and succinctly. i will be back to watch this again as there are such gems of wisdom here.

today i take with me the 3Ds - daily dedication & devotion.

thank you again

[michaelwoodmanart]

Well said around 37 mins - an artist loves to paint! A couple of paintings a year wouldn't sound like someone with a passion for painting.

[arianazimmermann]

I love these podcasts so much, please never stop making them!! You are all so wonderful to listen to, I very much enjoy your company in the studio :) :)

[myrnarichards]

Dimitra echoed my vision for myself. I want to love what I do for my work. I love to paint, there we go!

[aimenmalik]

Why does every art school say this !!!! They make huge complexes in Artists.

I'm happy that I found this YouTube channel. Thankyou