I sometimes read the ramblings of others on the subject of art and its related activities. It struck me that the common perception of the artist falls into one of a few stereotypes:
1. con-man (e.g. Damien Hirst or other YBA)
2. drunkard and general ne'er do well (no need for a specific example!)
3. tortured romantic (van Gogh)
The concept of marketing probably wouldn't figure in most people's assessment of the artistic type and yet that is increasingly what art is about. The reality of making a living out of fine art - unless your relations are willing to support you, like the aforementioned Vincent - is forcing the working artist into unfamiliar and unfriendly territory.
Damien Hirst has become the richest pickler in Britain thanks to some very nifty PR. But in the wired world what is the jobbing artist-in-the-street to do? Well, pretty much the same as everyone else who has a living to make.
Artists now spend their time attending workshops on the best way to set up a website; how to market themselves on the internet; swapping links to increase their Google PR (a different PR from Mr. Hirst's); they concoct blogs to increase their search engine visibility. Every man and his blog has an internet presence. It's the thing; it's the only thing, as Mr. Toad would say.
And the art? It's done during those few minutes between lecturing the 2nd year D&P class and writing today's blog entry.
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