Art is for Fools and Here's Why

Art is foolish. It is an industry that has existed forever and will continue this way until the end of time. All because we love looking at things. It doesn’t matter how ‘high-caliber’ the art, we like shiny, pretty, colorful objects. Why? Because it’s cool. We spend our money on these items because it makes us feel good. Is it necessary? No. Is it economical? Usually no. Does it bring any tangible use to us? Probably not. Being an artist is the true foolery, and this is why.

Idealization

Everyone wants to be an artist. “It’s freeing!” they say. “Art is therapy!” they say. “You could sell that painting for, like, thousands of dollars!” they say. Wrong, wrong and wrong.

If by ‘freeing,’ these dreamers mean you feel liberated from the normal 9 to 5, then yes, it is. Instead we get to work sixteen hours a day, seven days a week. So liberating even the eagles can’t keep up.

If by ‘therapy,’ these harmonizers mean expressing our emotions through interesting designs, then I’d have to agree. Especially when I hold my breath while holding in a fart while making sure not to let my hands waver until I let it all out, and it ends in an irreversible mistake only corrected by redoing the entire project. It’s incredibly therapeutic. In fact, I cancelled therapy the same day I picked up a paintbrush.

If by ‘thousands of dollars,’ these idealists mean thousands of dollars after at least ten years of experience, then yes, it’s true. Actually, I have a time machine in my backyard, hold on a minute….okay, all good! It’s been a few years, and now I magically have a huge following and many years of experience. It’s so easy to make money from art. Why isn’t everyone an artist?

Oversaturation

Being an artist is kind of overrated. And definitely oversaturated. The truth of the matter is that most of us dream of being able to stay at home doing art and worrying about nothing. That is why so many people become artists; they want to live their dream.

Since so many artists already exist, we are left with the problem of oversaturation. When there’s too many people making art, you have to be a lot more unique to be recognized. There are many ways to be different from the rest, but nowadays, almost all of it has been done. We are the era of art called, ‘post-genre’. Think about it. When’s the last time you saw a new genre pop up? Our current trends rely on repeating the past.

Social media has opened a new hole in the portal. Mainstream art is what is being created and fed to the populations. Trending posts are what social media users are drawn to. Reposting pages their friends repost to feel more ‘connected’ to each other. IF you happen to create something never before seen, it may never be seen. If you are THAT niche of an artist, good luck getting the algorithm to notice you.

Becoming the next big artist is not everyone’s fantasy. If you’d like to keep to yourself, create what makes you happy, and survive from that, you’ve chosen a great livelihood. However, any hopes of becoming a recognizable, influential artist in your city, country or world are little to none. This wasn’t common before either. Yet, the growing population, the rise of social media and the utter lack of newness make these fantasies dwindle into the darkness.

Reality

Art is foolish because it doesn’t make sense. It is there for every reason and no reason all at once. We can use it to beautify a space or as a tool to change the world. Art can be free or it can cost millions. Some people even argue the definition of art.

There are many downsides to being an artist, but in the end, the benefits always reign superior. Art spreads joy, love and knowledge. It is an irreplaceable form of expression. The truth of the matter is that this world wouldn’t exist without art. We want art around. We need artists. I would be nothing without it. Finally, at the end of this rant, I say thank you art. Thank you to any fellow artists for existing, and making this planet a better place regardless of the trash I just spoke. Sayonara.