Deep inside the brain of each and every creative, there’s this sense of altruism that plagues us. We want to remain true to the nature of our artistic spirit, not bending our creative ideals for any man. “Sell outs” are deemed pariahs by the starving artists as if it’s a rebellion we’re fighting against the establishment.
Each and every piece I create comes with it’s own duality. One side wants the work to represent who I am and not be bartered or auctioned against. Then there is the other side that will happily take your money in exchange for a small piece if my artistic soul. Jackson Pollack suffered for his art while Pablo Picasso thrived. Tolouse-Lautrec hung out with the glitterati and the celebrities while VanGogh cut off an ear and starved. I’m not sure if Leonard DaVinci was a rich man, but remember, the Mona Lisa was a commissioned painting.
I have no illusions about being anywhere close to the artistic competency of these men, but while I’m sitting here debating with myself about whether to post my work on various websites like Etsy, Zazzle and Imagekind because I’m afraid to damage this false sense of credibility, I’m missing out on opportunities to make a better life for myself. Maybe I will look like a sell out if I pimp my shit all over town, but if I can put a little extra food on my table, and give my family a little more financial security in the meantime, then a pimpin’ I will go.
Dollah dollah bills y’all.
