I was in line at a register the other day

Comment

Comment by Pranesha Bunsee on August 11, 2011 at 3:18pm

I think that one needs to classify what "real" means.

If real means bringing in a (fairly) reliable paycheck, then maybe that girl was correct. However, in the current economic climate those "real" jobs evaporate really fast and finally.

An office job which is not loved by the employee is really a master/slave relationship - the employee is totally dependent on the employer until such time they seek another master/slave relationship with another company or they are sacked or they decide to become the master by running their own business.

If "real" means the ability to originate, create, to be the producer instead of the consumer, to always be the master, then being an artist is definitely a real job. It is an authentic thing that is done out of pure passion. The money is not the rope that binds one to it. The creative process is the thing that holds us all in a mesmerized state of being.

I don't take offense at what other people think anymore. What I think is most important because my own thoughts are the most real to me. I find it easiest to live in my own world, removing the clutter of everyone else's thoughts from my mind.

Sure I am that office worker during the day and aspiring artist at night and on weekends. I have to pay the bills. It does not mean that my entire world is not permeated with creativity.  I happen to thoroughly enjoy my day job so it is very real to me. I adore learning about art and creating art so that too is very real to me.

As I write this, I think that what is real can be quantified as what takes up space in our minds. So a real job is that which takes up residence in our minds and which we do not want to let go of...it consumes us.

Comment by Loryn Spangler-Jones on August 11, 2011 at 10:06am

Mitsi....only if you are editing.......just sayin'

Comment by mitsi on August 11, 2011 at 7:29am

when ever i read your blog posts i think of carrie from sex in the city! hmmmmmmmm.........do you like shoes?

art in the suburbs?....i feel i film comming on!!!!

 

Comment by Loryn Spangler-Jones on August 11, 2011 at 5:04am

well said Nic!

Comment by Nicole Umina on August 10, 2011 at 11:57pm

it's always bothered me - why is Architecture considered a real job - set design - graphic design - conceptual character designers - illustration - musicians - hell the list goes on. Why are all these artistic disciplines considered Real Jobs in todays world and the term Artist isn't. Is the term just to wide for people to grasp or is it that when people say Artist they still have the stereotyped image of a Painter at home trying and failing to make money, that it's a hobby not a job. That old voice that goes like "You can't be an artist you wont make any money" - do it in your spare time and get a real job - that thing our parents said to us growing up - Study something substantial if you want to be creative study architecture or illustration don't do *fine art* Painting and Sculpture isn't security - It's perceptions and it sucks. We choose our securities - times, money and social pressures make it difficult but we still have a choice.

 

Maybe all those other artistic disciplines are seen as real Jobs as Careers because people can see the Use of it how it benefits society in its current climate. Each offers jobs to more then the single artist - each can be seen to produce a usable commodity.

 

Your Job is what you do to create or try to create income - a person can have more then One Job at a time - There is nothing wrong with being a checkout chick to make ends meet before you can attain your ambition of being able to go full time in your chosen career ARTIST and there is certainly nothing wrong with standing up and saying I'm an Artist it's my job and career choice. For me a Job is just that, something one does to get money and get by - a Career choice is something we aim for, developing ourselves in and choose a proactive atitude to fulfilling that work experience goal. Being an Artist is a Career choice and pffft to the society that scoffs at that. What was once considered a noble and respected way to work through life has become thought of as a flighty and less then substantial or socially accepted way to make money. This i think has to do with many factors but Mainly it's Society/Peoples perception and it's Money driven nature with focus on survival and the amount of artists flooding the market due to the ability to self promote these days. I don't think it's a bad thing, just something that society hasn't caught up with yet. We create beauty and in a society that struggles to get by financially and can't afford the luxury of art - it's seen as soft.

 

I know it's more then that and lack of sleep hasn't allowed eloquence, but I think people just find it hard to place us so it's not seen as real work. We as artist internalise this and look for ways to justify what we do as being Real so he hesitate in claiming what we are and what we do as a Career and main business. It's sad really.

Comment by Tammy Seaman on August 10, 2011 at 11:13pm

Great blog Loryn. If your work is also what you love then you are living the dream. If not, then you have to do what you have to do to get there...both are valid ways to create art. One is not better than the other...it just is...what it is...focus on what you love and you can't go wrong.

Comment by Loryn Spangler-Jones on August 10, 2011 at 10:49pm

thank you Steve.....i plan on it! xo

Comment by Steve Hosch on August 10, 2011 at 12:11pm

Good piece, Loryn. You're more brave than I'll ever be...brave to say "adios" to your job and brave to open up your heart on this site. Keep fighting! BTW: I'm like John; I tell people I work in order to support my habit...my art habit.

Comment by Loryn Spangler-Jones on August 10, 2011 at 9:46am

Gary>>>>

Comment by Greef on August 10, 2011 at 7:55am

I think non artists are always going to see what we do as not a real occupation. I am always reminded of an Oprah Winfrey show with Denzel Washington. He said, " sometimes we have to do what we don't want to do in order to do what we want to do". And that is true!

While it is a very romantic notion to follow your passions and quit your job and dedicate 100% of your time to creating art (and it is something i use to truly believe in myself)and I applaud your bravery and dedication to your passion Loryn! The reality is for 99.9% of the people who do that, they end up looking for work again after a few months because reality and passion don't pay the bills.I hope your the 1%!!

Personally all of the successful artist stories I have heard, are from artists who do the 'normal' job during the day and then come home and spend many hours late into the night building their art empires, promoting themselves, selling their work online, researching and looking for every opportunity.

So to end I do agree with Terri Guillemets " Follow your passion, and success will follow you" but i also think that it takes many years ;) Enjoyed this blog a lot ;)

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