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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Larry Fitz" data-source="post: 632403" data-attributes="member: 3949">I'm curious, how many people on these boards have a hobby that earns them money? If the talents for being an artist is something that is somehow rarer than being say, a septic system engineer, why are there more artists than septic system engineers? There is certainly a higher demand versus supply of septic system engineers. When you need an artist and can't find one you can still get by, but when you need a septic system engineer, you need them right now. I am the proud owner of several original pieces of art (including a Doc Midnight "Feng Shui: Six in the Chamber" piece from the recent Boston Gameday). I think the inappropriate stigma people place on artists stems from something Mark Twain observed, "Work consists of whatever a body is obliged to do. Play consists of whatever a body is not obliged to do." Since most people believe that artists are not 'obliged' to create art, they don't tend to thinkof it as 'work'. People are more willing to pay exhorbitant prices to someone for something they need than something they want (as a general rule). Therefore if I'm having headaches, you can charge me $5,000.00 to see how powerfuil magnets resonate in my head, because to do otherwise might mean I die. But what is the need for art? The need is commonality and appreciation. As beings with higher thought processes we have a need for appreciation. We need to believe that someone else percieves thngs the way that we do. Art speaks directly to this need, not just visual art, but music, the spoken word, culinary art and all realms of human creative expression. We can experience that expression and think (even if only subconciously) "Yes, that's exactly how I was feeling." The real question posed by this thread is one of politeness. It is never polite to say "Your efforts are not appreciated." Which is essentially what saying "Your artwork isn't worth that much." is saying. If you don't like something and feel you absolutely must comment on it, say it isn't to your taste, or add constructive criticism, such as what might reasonably be done on future works to make it more to your liking. If you do like it, but feel the price is more than your willing to spend make an offer (not 10 cents on the dollar, but an offer that is a reasonable percentage of the asking price), or even tell the artist you admire the piece but can't afford it, many times they will ask what you could pay for it. Artists whose work is not up to commercial grade will be brought down by the economic realities, they will not sell their work. They do not need nor do they deserve to be treated to anyone's special brand of wit telling them how much talent they lack or that their efforts are wasted, so this is one of those common cases whjere if you can't say something nice, and there is no stack of drywall available, simply move on. If you're correct the market will teach whatever lessons are applicable.edited: because I hate seeing spelling errors in my posts, makes me cringe.....</blockquote>

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