Is society killing off creativity?

Victorian artist Lauren Perkins poses the question “Can artists make a living by selling through galleries?” on her blog Lauren Perkins Art

She asked my opinion on does pursuing typical avenues for selling your work really pay off considering the costs and can you sell work at all without galleries? I think it has to be tested but I do know the galleries are suffering and many closed down. People More and more people are shopping on line and possibly money once spent on art (because people were getting off their computer chairs and going to galleries more) is going toward manufactured, mass produced and often inferior imagery.

I have likened the profession of a painter to an actor; you either hit it big time or you struggle to make a living. I know so many brilliant artists that are finding the public appreciation and support is not there. Why? Perhaps because the economy is bias in the virtual world and the days of venturing out to galleries to appreciate art have declined, perhaps the economy is such that this kind of “luxury item” is suffering.

Like in the year’s Vincent van Gough walked the earth, we need ambassadors of the arts that have the finances to support immerging talent and culture conscious buyers that will invest in something creatively original. Please consider avoiding mass produced art for your walls and ensuring many more treasures are born. If not, like many other creative gems, the world will have less originality and creative beauty to enjoy. No artist or writer wants to forfeit their gifting for money but let’s face it; we have to pay our bills somehow.