An unconventional socio-economic analysis of the economic position of the arts and artists

Van Gogh: a poor Artist? Van Gogh and Money focuses on Vincent's financial situation. Known as the ultimate embodiment of the notion of the "poor artist", Vincent was largely unable to sell his work during his lifetime. The letters between Vincent and his brother Theo tell of an eternal lack of money, and the difficulties this created when it came to practising his art. Paint, canvases and models were, as he discovered, not cheap. He was, however, more than happy to sacrifice his physical wellbeing in the interest of producing his masterpieces. Van Gogh and Money follows Vincent during two critical periods of his artistic career, his time spent in The Hague and Arles. At both stages, he was supported by his brother Theo, who sent him a monthly allowance that never seemed sufficient. This dependency on his brother caused Vincent immense guilt. From his letters we get a good insight into Vincent's financial affairs, since the brothers' correspondence often touched on the subject of money. This book presents a more nuanced view of Vincent as the impoverished artist, as Van Gogh was in fact in a rather fortunate position compared to many of his peers. Regardless of the actual amount of money he received from his brother, it becomes clear that Vincent was poor in the light of his ambition. By reading this publication, we hope that you will be able to better appreciate and understand Vincent's work by shedding light on the man behind the iconic paintings. Van Gogh and Money combines enlightening quotations from archival material with an entertaining and easy-to-read format, staying clear of jargon. Van Gogh and Money is part of the series Secrets of Van Gogh (www.secretsofvangogh.com) Secrets of Van Gogh 1: The 1-Hour Van Gogh Book Secrets of Van Gogh 2: Van Gogh's Inner Struggle: Life, Work and Mental Illness Secrets of Van Gogh 3: Van Gogh Today - Short Stories Secrets of Van Gogh 4: Van Gogh and Love Secrets of Van Gogh 5: Van Gogh and Money

"With its gentle affirmations, inspirational quotes, fill-in-the-blank lists and tasks — write yourself a thank-you letter, describe yourself at 80, for example — The Artist’s Way proposes an egalitarian view of creativity: Everyone’s got it."—The New York Times "Morning Pages have become a household name, a shorthand for unlocking your creative potential"—Vogue Over four million copies sold! Since its first publication, The Artist's Way phenomena has inspired the genius of Elizabeth Gilbert and millions of readers to embark on a creative journey and find a deeper connection to process and purpose. Julia Cameron's novel approach guides readers in uncovering problems areas and pressure points that may be restricting their creative flow and offers techniques to free up any areas where they might be stuck, opening up opportunities for self-growth and self-discovery. The program begins with Cameron’s most vital tools for creative recovery – The Morning Pages, a daily writing ritual of three pages of stream-of-conscious, and The Artist Date, a dedicated block of time to nurture your inner artist. From there, she shares hundreds of exercises, activities, and prompts to help readers thoroughly explore each chapter. She also offers guidance on starting a “Creative Cluster” of fellow artists who will support you in your creative endeavors. A revolutionary program for personal renewal, The Artist's Way will help get you back on track, rediscover your passions, and take the steps you need to change your life.

Jeff Goins dismantles the myth that being creative is a hindrance to success by revealing how an artistic temperament is a competitive advantage in the marketplace.? The myth of the starving artist has dominated our culture, seeping into the minds of creative people and stifling their pursuits. The truth is that the world's most successful artists did not starve. In fact, they capitalized on the power of their creative strength. In Real Artists Don't Starve, bestselling author and creativity expert Jeff Goins debunks the myth of the starving artist by unveiling the ideas that created it and replacing them with 14 rules for artists to thrive, including: Steal from your influences (don't wait for inspiration) Collaborate with others (working alone is a surefire way to starve) Take strategic risks (instead of reckless ones) Make money in order to make more art (it's not selling out) Apprentice under a master (a "lone genius" can never reach full potential) From graphic designers and writers to artists and business professionals, creatives already know that no one is born an artist. Goins' revolutionary rules celebrate the process of becoming an artist, a person who utilizes the imagination in fundamental ways. He reminds creatives that business and art are not mutually exclusive pursuits. Real Artists Don't Starve explores the tension every creative person and organization faces in an effort to blend the inspired life with a practical path to success. Being creative isn't a disadvantage for success, it is a powerful tool to be harnessed.

Is art for everybody? Why do art lovers attach so much value to authenticity, autonomy and authorship? Why did the arts become so serious in the first place? Why do many artists reject commerce and cultural entrepreneurship? Crucially, are any of the answers to these questions currently changing? Hans Abbing is uniquely placed to answer such questions, and, drawing on his experiences as an economist and sociologist as well as a professional artist, in this volume he addresses them head on. In order to investigate changes in the social economy of the arts, Abbing compares developments in the established arts with those in the popular arts and proceeds to outline key ways that the former can learn from the latter; by lowering the cost of production, fostering innovation, and becoming less exclusive. These assertions are contextualized with analysis of the separation between serious art and entertainment in the nineteenth century, lending credence to the idea that government-supported art worlds have promoted the exclusion of various social groups. Abbing outlines how this is presently changing and why, while the established arts have become less exclusive, they are not yet for everybody.

Goldberg juxtaposes two economic classes--poor and rich--in a way that highlights their similarities as well as their differences. All of the subjects are pictured in their homes, their photographs accompanied by comments that the subjects themselves have written.

"A fun-filled art activity book that will encourage kids to express themselves while teaching them about key artistic styles and a selection of pioneering artists from history"--

An essential guide for artist that teaches them how to skip the gallery system, find their niche, and connect directly with collectors to profitably sell their art. For years, galleries have acted as gatekeeper separating artists and collectors. But with the explosion of the Internet, a new generation of savvy, independent artists is connecting with buyers and making a substantial living doing what they love. How to Sell Your Art Online shows any artist how to make a successful living from their work. Cory Huff dispels the myth of the starving artist and provides the effective business strategies necessary to make artistic creations pay. He helps individual artists find their niche; outlines the elements essential for an effective website; and provides invaluable advice on e-mail marketing, blogging, social media marketing, and paid advertising—explaining how to tie all these online activities into offline success. Most importantly, he shares the secret to overcoming the biggest challenge artists face when self-marketing: learning how to tell their unique stories. Every artist has a reason for making art, but can’t always find the right way to express it. Huff provides exercises artists can use to clarify the intellectual and emotional process behind their art, and teaches them how turn that knowledge into stories they can tell online and in person—and expand their reach through blogs and social media to build their art business. Drawing from the stories of successful artists, thoroughly describing how art is sold today, and providing tips on how to build connections personally and electronically, How to Sell Your Art Online illustrates the countless ways artists can take control of their creative careers—and sell their work without selling out.