Agree with your statements with the exception of your comment on art materials costs. I do not work in gold, but I work in fiber and glass. Both are much more expensive than canvas and paints. Both, of the kind I need, are not usually found in the art store on the corner but must either be traveled for or incur large shipping costs. In hard times, I can do some work in recycled material, but other requires specific characteristics and uniformity. In hard times I can't afford the larger studio I need, or the kiln or furnace rental. My materials cost is a much larger part of the final product than yours. Thanks for letting me add my thoughts... I love hearing from you, but please remember we are not all painters...

I am reminded of art that has survived from the last Great Depression. One example I can think of where artists took their art from place to place is the art of the tramp artists. Tramp art is highly collectible today even in these difficult times, and very pricey, but when it was being made, I think probably a lot of the tramp artists were just working for food and lodging, or perhaps whatever little money they could get. There were also other artists - painters - from the 30s, and many of those artists created work that dealt with the turbulent times, and today it is recognized as great art, though again, at the time, it might not have commanded much money.

One thing I always think about artists is how flexible and resilient we are. We struggle to survive through this crisis and that, this challenge and that, and yet, here we all are, still doing our art in some form or other. We may not be able to afford to paint or sculpt or create pottery the way we did in better times, but we will find some form of art that we will be able to create. It seems like I am seeing a lot more art created in recent times from found objects and from improvised tools and supplies.

It is easy to do art when we have everything we want or need at hand, but a major challenge when we have to think not only of our subject matter, but what we are going to use to create it. But I have a feeling that when we all get through this (and we will), that someday we will look back on some of our creative efforts now as some of the best we ever had.

Hard times give us the benefit of regressing , going within and visualizing, this is an opportunity for artist to create from the soul.

I think it was the Canadian painter David Milne who once said he didn't notice the 1930s depression because he was already poor. I guess I'm wondering Robert why you are getting so many anxious queries from artists worrying about their financial future. To be brutal - if you want to make money don't aspire to become an artist. Very rarely indeed do artists such as Jeff Koons and Damien Hirst catch the zeitgeist and make millions. Most work hard for twenty years and then achieve a measure of financial comfort. A lot fall by the wayside.
If it's money you want, give up now. If you want to make art the that will drive you and you will find ways and means.
This may be a good time for a determined young artist to start out. The economy will reshape itself in 10 or 20 years, by which time the artist will be ready to enjoy the fruits of his or her apprenticeship.

I recently had a reception, a two-day event, and sold a lot of work. I think people need soothing in this economic environment. Beautiful art provides peace and takes people away to places they now cannot afford to go. The landscapes I paint also take people back to happier times.

My work is not revolutionary, but it is easy on the eyes. I have also priced my work the lowest I can, so my materials and marketing expenses are covered.

I have also found much less traffic in the old mill where I have my studio. The general population is really afraid to explore the purchase of "luxury" items. I find these are the people who don't normally buy art anyway. But getting them into the studio to buy a card, or small piece of pottery is a big challenge. This segment thinks of big bucks when they think of art. So I have been marketing my art as affordable. I have signs everywhere, shamelessly advertising. I even have a "kid's corner", with supplies for youngsters to experiment and play.

I am hopeful the holiday season will bring out even the most frugal clients. And for me, it is important to continue to paint from my heart, in order to produce authentic work. The work from my soul sells first. Peace, Cathy

Thank you! I don't think this could have come at a better time for me and my work. It's wonderful to see the positive side for once.

I told my students today that during financially hard times we must be aware of our vibrational energy as that determines our future. If nothing is selling take that time to work and develop your style, produce a series of work that will be ready to sell when things loosen up. This is our breathing time...a time to play and allow ourselves to do what we otherwise haven't given ourselves permission to do because we must paint to "sell". How lucky we are to have a profession that allows us to keep growing when times are tough.
Get in the studio and play. Put on some fabulous music and tell yourself you "get" to paint. It is amazing how our mind shifts when we change that little word "got to get".....change your "o" to an "e" ...... it works every time.

I have to admit your letter came at a perfect time for me. I am a 53 year old "emerging artist" who two years ago made the leap from corporate America to painting full time. With the recent financial troubles I was sitting here thinking that I may have made a mistake and should have remained working full time. That thought only lasted a minute as I realized how lucky I am to get to do what I have always dreamed of doing every day - creating and playing at my art. Thank you for your positive thoughts.

I'm again amazed at how positive people can be when things turn sour economically, especially with artists. I think we artist have more that a leg up when it comes to persevering in tough times. I’ve come to know that there is always “hard times” in art. Either you can’t create to your ability or your ideas don’t seem to gel or the galleries won’t carry your work or the world refuses to understand what your painting. The creative process seems indelibly linked to struggle and strife. The world believes artists by nature are meant to suffer. Just look at all the euphemisms there are – “Starving artists”, - “suffer for your art”, or “the pain of creation”. Traditional images show artists painting in garrets with no heat or warmth, little or no light, fingers wrapped in cloth or sitting in a field being eaten by the indigenous bugs, selling our work for food or shelter.
These may be exaggerations at best but the struggle is real for many artists no matter his or her success or anonymity. And it’s as it should be. If the process of creating art were easy, everyone… you know the rest.
If our art is benign and not heartfelt, there will be little inner turmoil and this email will be dismissed as so much misinformation. But if your want to try and create art that moves the world, expect struggle and hard times most of the time. A bad economy makes it harder for some for sure, but artists will always be working in good times or bad. It’s what we do.
Take stock and while things look bad, create something you didn’t have the time to do when times were good and you were busy trying to sell you art.
Take risks ordinarily not taken. If your pallet contains nine or ten colors, use a limited pallet. Change subject matter. Most of all take the time that was allotted for other tasks.

Good advice since I would starve to death on the money I make from Art so..........I am in the Stock Market which is making me very unhappy these days. By the way, funnily isn't really a word - strangely would have been better.

I was watching a documentary movie last night, "The Impressionists," artists living in poverty and hard times but they kept working on their art. Such artists as Renoir, Degas, Monet and others did not lose their creativity at those times. Perhaps I may not sell any of mine but no one can take it away from me.

I just had to say thank you for the wonderful letters, how I appreciate them, and I have shared them with many';'

One friend lives in Scotland and just wrote me the other day to say Thank you to me for connecting your site to her, as she needed to be inspired so, and your letter had arrived just in TIME smile.

Have a most wonderful day, and thank you so for all your time and care to share so much with so many.
Vancouver BC

Given these tough times I thought you might like to read a story showing the power of what we do and how it affects people. Check out this blog which talks about the opening of an art exhibition by myself and Patrick Hedges. The show is raising money for Chimpanzee conservation and had a very positive impact on all who passed through.

I heard an interview a long time ago with Janis Joplin telling the story behind her song, "Try a little bit harder." It was about getting out and strutting your stuff. We should just keep going, do our best to produce our best art.

A quote my mom used to say, which unfortunately I never knew the source, "Give to the world the best you have, and the best will be returned to you."

We made it through the mid-eighties, we'll make it again. Keep painting, keep smiling.

Art in Hard Times is indeed very topical. It raises very pertinent questions. I am a painter who has been painting for more than 4 decades. Art is expression. Expression needs Contemplation.The silence of inner voice transforming into a visual voice is indeed a journey that demands total intensity and involvement. Such Stock market cries and crunch has nothing to do with the creativity of art. It is said that Money makes the mare go but in art it is quite contrary to this proverb.

But I hope the Socialists Democrats don't gain any more power in Congress. Already I'm paying over 30% of what I make to the Government because of being a self employed artist. If Obama gets in it could most likely increase to 50%.

I suspect that many who are not secure in their status as collector/investment grade would like additional suggestions other than your excellent - get debt free as possible.

Mine go like -
- do what you need to keep body and sole together - get another job - if you can
- apply for all the grants you can = helps that investment grade status
- be careful of scams and contests that want you to pay up front
- be efficient in the use of materials (they are expensive)
- figure out better, cheaper materials - reuse where possible - study your work flow
- learn to do it yourself when possible
- band together for mutual support
- price to sell
- price to sell
- be very careful of the bleeding edge - but understand the truly unique and solid eventually is what becomes investment grade - imitations fall away eventually.
- take advantage of opportunities or commissions (even if they aren't normally your gig).

Am sure that you can come up with several other things. And note, many of these thoughts apply to good times as well.

Leigh, wonderful chimp art work, (you should be proud) -thanks for sharing the link.

Charities are also feeling the hard times, consider finding one that likes your art style, offer them 50% (what you would pay to a gallery), and ask if you could bring some art to their next fund raiser.

I realise now that I am inadvertently doing what you suggested in my own way with art - hunkering down and painting some pleasing things to make myself feel better. I know from people's responses that my current works are making others feel good too. I am surrounding myself with my work, being prolific and feeling more and more the diversion from money issues surrounding our home. Creative avoidance!

This one really struck a chord... For heaven sake let's get real... Here in our so called civilised society, western economic system, 1st world - take your pick from a range of misnomers - we live in a totally artificial bubble and right now it may be bursting - though the frantic attempts to do open heart surgery on the mess that global capitalism has got us into may just keep the patient alive for a bit longer until the next seizure.

We are so addicted to and blinded by our insane way of living that we dare not look up for a minute and see that what is falling apart around us is built on totally transient values of greed, selfishness, arrogance and unquestioning belief driven by our desire for more off an endless production line of meaningless and empty commodities.

What is happening economically and environmentally will of course impact on all our lives and it will be painful, difficult and probably pretty f----ing scary. Of course the rich will survive and just move on. Down payments/investments in hydroponic domes/condominiums on Mars anyone?

I don't have any answers, but if I was younger I'd probably be out on the barricades (wherever they might be and whatever form or shape they might take) shouting and fighting for a revolution. But I'm too old for those kind of simple and direct responses (though still very valid and necessary) so I write emails in response to other people's emails, try and make art that communicates something about real issues and human emotions while shaking my head in disgust and disbelief at how easily we are fooled by the stupidity, arrogance and egotism of those who call themselves 'our leaders'.

I like Gertrude Stein's third part of that quote: "The money is always there, but the pockets change. It is not in the same pocket after a change, and that is all there is to say about money." Ties up the subject succinctly - if more words can be said to be more succinct!

My Portfolio is shrinking every day. So with all the doom and gloom, I am thankful that I can indulge myself with art. When I work on a painting, I am so involved that it's an escape from the news of the Dow and Presidential politics. Perhaps during this uncertainty, I can work on perfecting my style and perhaps something good will evolve from this.

Gordon – I detect that you and I are of the same age and I share your thoughts wholeheartedly. I’ve lived through a period called the sixties and was active in making changes in the way our “leaders” do business. I am dumbfounded that it has taken this long for the system to implode. Maybe this is a credit and testament to what the founding fathers initially intended. It took this long to screw it up. We’ve taken what is good and perverted it to our own greedy purposes and now we live with the results.

What saddens me the most is that we’ve done this to ourselves. I look at the television and see all the ads for item that only divert and mislead and amuse us and made to subvert us from the real issues. People want the latest IPOD more that they want personal freedom and right to privacy. We diverted our attention from our leaders and what they are doing to erode our system just for want of frivolous mind numbing toys or the promise of a better life without researching what we had to give up to get it.
Now the American dream of everyone owning their own home, having an education, and a better life has disintegrated by greed and misdirection.

The future is in the hands of those who are willing take back the power and give where it belongs…to the people. The current struggle for president by the incumbents isn’t going to change much. We need true leaders and the current pick isn’t going to change much working within the system that has brought us to our present situation.
This isn’t a political site and not a forum for politics so I’ll stop here and say many feel the way you do.

Wow, interesting to read the responses to the original letter. The effects are very much the same down here in NZ. The difficulty I find is because no one is buying it is extremely hard to remain positive and creative. I look back through my portfolio and see the amount of work sold over the past few years and know that right now it almost seems impossible to see that movement. I have backed out of some shows simply because with recent experiences it is a waste of time and money. I see people at shows almost shell shocked by what they are dealing with right now and short of jamming a business card down their throat it feels like a pointless exercise.For me , right now I am going to change direction, use the downtime to work on new art and reduce debt (Could be interesting!)

To Maureen O'Keefe West. Please look up funnily in a dictionary. It is an adverb and commonly used, especially in the UK. Speaking of fun....everyone remember to have some, it's vital in these stress filled days!

The reason that the people who are buying art in this downtime, are buying it, is that they somehow understand a fundamental truth, expressed so succinctly by Rollo May
"What if imagination and art are not frosting at all, but the fountainhead of human experience?"

This came to me as I contemplated our present world fiscal crisis and what it means to us as artists: "Art is about good times as well as lean times. You can paint against the current and you can surf the wave that comes from far out at sea; ride it right in to the beach, turn around and paddle back out again. Either way you are in your element."

Greetings Robert, interesting that I could not find a single letter about the cyclical aspect of all this. It's not like the markets haven't done this before. My spouse who works in marketing, calls these events 'corrections', as in the market went up too big and too fast, and now it's correcting or readjusting. I see that not just in the stock market. Look at the glut of art shows that have sprung up in the last few years. Talking about your gurus, everybody thinks they can be an art show director. Another kind of glut, how many people think that because they know how to hold a paint brush, they should make giclees of everything they paint? As the economy thins out the "get rich quick people" from the stock market, and the "I want a bigger than I can afford house people" in the housing market, and the "I want to drive a 10mpg vehicle people" from the roadways, what about artists? Are there too many of us? And amongst that number, how many are really dedicated enough? What are the odds that the division between "painting to make money" and "painting because I have to " is going to shift in the next year? Now there's something you can bank on! :)

I just watched a documentary that some of you may be interested in. Just think of the documentary as someone's art---maybe like a photograph so this fits into the discussion. I wrote a short note about it here.
Rick, your last post prompted me to post this.

I've never had a portfolio. Is it Painful ?

In response to Roger of NZ, I have never backed out of a show. It requires courage to be an artist and you never know who is going to be at the shows. This has been the best year of my art life, I've been in over a dozen shows as well as doing demo's and teaching workshops. By doing some 'minor' shows I've had other shows and demo's offered or else heard of others from some of the participants. Networking has worked for me and for a couple of shows I simply got together with a couple of friends and had a mini show. I find even the shortest shows can be valuable. Don't be afraid to go out and be seen. Art in your studio will rarely be seen by the public (at least in my studio [a closet]). Share your gift and enjoy the ride.
Surrey, BC, Canada

One thing I was just thinking about is that I wonder what artists are going to have to do with pricing when hyper inflation hits us since the Federal Reserve just devalued the dollar more by creating 700 billion dollars. I wonder what would play out best, raise our prices to keep up with rising costs or keep them they way we have them in order to appeal to people as an affordable purchase? just wondering... I guess that one selling point we have is that as the dollar plunges the value of art won't.

On another note I thought it interesting to mention that the Federal Reserve has a $300 million dollar art collection.

This global financial mess is cyclical ... but thanks to the Internet and the media we are far more informed with the details of this mess which certainly adds to life's stresses. Things will sort themselves out, they always do. In the meantime, I will do my art, listen to my latino jazz, and enjoy the calm times :)

Jeanne - I've known about the these issues for some time and know that the Constitution forbids personal income tax. I will email you my thought on your blog. This isn't the site for this discussion. Thanks.

Your books are a valuable part of our studio/gallery THANK YOU!

I started a blog (from some inspiration from The Painters Keys) and my 3rd post at 2:00 am today, “Fear Sucks” directly relates to your letter today. http://apositivereflection.blogspot.com/

It mostly is the good olde Art/Fear combo- just further juiced up by economic fears.

This topic has triggered a couple of thoughts in particular for me. One is noticing that as people turn their lives homeward, there seems to be emerging both a stronger sense of community and a tendency to put what money people have toward making home more of a place to be, not just come back to. I wonder if this might not, in the long run, end up creating more of a market for talented regional artists. Time will tell.

The other thought is that, as an artist who isn't even really "emerging" yet, I feel freed. I can create what I darn well want to, and explore directions I might have felt constrained for if I really had a market I felt I needed to cater to. I have a small income that gets me by (barely), so the only real limit is what materials I can afford. Painting isn't terribly expensive in terms of materials, but I also love kilnworking glass, which has high material and equipment costs. I will probably have to forgo a "grownup" kiln and keep working with my mid-size. So... that means I get creative about using componants to build larger pieces, and make fewer of them.

The key for me is I get to be creative. I can't imagine living any other way, even if I end up scrounging materials and making art from "found objects"!

This current market financial meltdown has somehow freed me from all thoughts of buying and selling so that I can focus the energy of pure creativity - the life force burning clean. When money becomes meaningless (7 billion what?) the art we make becomes priceless. Although I'm glad that I'm somewhat of an art supply hoarder for times like this: a stack of 30" X 40" canvases primed with four coats of gesso glow happily expectant in a corner of my studio. My second 48" X 36" is almost finished (or at least not yet ruined). And although I may need to find a cheaper source for oil paint, I still have enough to last me for a month or two. I agree that in times like this the artists who paint for money may be dropping like flies, but for the "art for arts sake" lunatics like myself, we're just getting warmed up. Grants, non-profits, artist run spaces and even museums are great for times like these. When least expected, I just sold another painting. Go figure. Keep painting and view this as an opportunity to do the work you always wanted to do, but didn't because you thought it wouldn't sell. Let the surprises begin!

In 2001 I quit my day job to become a full-time artist. My transitional strategy was a part-time consulting practice in my old field (marketing for the telecommunications industry) to pay for my art studies. Things were going well--my first solo show nearly sold out. I could charge top dollar for the few hours I spent consulting to support my growing art habit. And then, the terrorist attacks of September 11 brought the consulting biz to a crashing halt. I had been planning a painting trip to Venice for the first week in October, and despite needing calming drugs to get on the airplane, I went. Venice, devoid of tourists, was magical. I divided my time between making art and viewing great art. The Tintoretto murals at the Scuola San Rocco, which depict the life of Christ but are as much a reflection of the horrors of life in Italy at the height of the bubonic plague years, resonated deeply. If anyone ever needed proof of art's power to heal and transcend adversity, to me, this was it. Fast-forward to 2008. I opened my own studio/gallery on the coast of Maine in 2002 and have had both successes and setbacks over the years. But the work has gotten better and the marketing has gotten smarter, and this year has been my best ever, with the most sales coming since the banking crisis came to a head in August. While I doubt my work will ever approach the ability of Tintoretto's to heal, people take solace in my landscapes that serve as reminders of happy times in favorite places.

I really LIKE your "new" word, "funnily".