Fewer Singaporean are choosing Artistic careers and Why?

Your career is one of those labels you will wear throughout your life and like most labels, it's bound to come with a variety of stereotypes and cliches. This can definitely be said for people who hold artistic jobs, many of whom have experienced firsthand the misconceptions about people who work in creative fields. It's easy to be misguided when the work we do is too often done free outside in that grey area. Unfortunately, these misconceptions often mean that creative employees and solo artists are frequently made used, not appreciated by people who are not in similar industry and also diminished by others. Some people may even considered Artist as people who don't have "real jobs." In reality, though, nothing could be further from the truth: Of course artistic jobs are real jobs, and of course Artist work hard for what they are paid for. Just that it is probably not a 9-to-5 job nor the ones that stick to a set of rules that lessen their creativity.

Credit: economictimes

Many great artists don’t stay artists because the economics are too difficult. Maybe if you’re talentless in arts and creativity, your passion is just supposed to stay as a hobby. You’re a person with an interest not an art ambition. It takes a few years for a talented Artist to build his/ her career, and a few more years for the ones with less talent. It is definitely not an effortless job, therefore it needs to be paid for what it is worth.

Why Fewer Singaporean are choosing Artistic careers and how we can prevent losing few more talented Artist: 


1. It's that whole "starving artist" thing - which usually includes a question along the lines of, "So, like, what do you do for a living?" Well, we work, because (as previously explained) this is work. It seems like we are earning good money as some people conclude that design or artwork is expensive. but the fact is that we don't make a lot of money for the time spent for their artwork. Believe it or not, there are people out there in artistic fields who bring home a regular paycheck just like yours, however they may even work harder than you. Creating nothing to something and matching pieces together for their clients.

Credit: TMIS

2. The misconception, Everyone can be Artist - there's this misconception that what artists do doesn't take brain capacity. A lot of the work is deemed "artsy fartsy" as a way of dismissing the skill, effort, and practice it takes to achieve it. But artists go to school. They learn, they study, they refine their skills — just like a doctor, accountant, or school teacher. Not everyone can be doctor, so as artist. Furthermore, money can't buy Artist's talent and instinct.

3. Art isn't always art - art is like beauty, often in the eye of the beholder. It can be subjective and ambiguous and abstract, so it's important to remember even if you are not trained to view it as art, it still very well can be art. It's easy to look at the product of a creative person's efforts and dismiss it, but you don't necessarily know the thought or hours that went into it. With any creative field, it's crucial to have a mind that's open to new ideas.

4. The good artist serves the audience, the bad artist exploits it. - the best work does not come as a result of giving the market exactly what it wants, but by sometimes subverting their expectations in exchange for something better. This, of course, was the magic of Apple. But it was also what made Disney great. Being more inwardly focused, artists have a sensitivity for what people really need even before they realize it. People tend to evaluate their experiences of a product or service based on what is expected, so we need to understand this things works and not based on judgement in a single aspect.

5. No Arts will sell itself. - no art sells itself. If you're early in your artistic career or just starting out, you're mainly the one who has to sell it. Hopefully as you advance in your career, others will recognize your talent and start start selling it for you.

6. People don't give to arts because... - there isn’t enough media attention on the arts, which doesn’t help foster or sustain public interest. To keep community engagement alive, there needs to be consistent discussion on the arts. Otherwise people will never see its value.


Credit: explosm.net

7. Art and Struggle walk hand-in-hand. - developing as an artist may not always be pleasant. Furthermore, it does not always result in praise. Even when praise is achieved... it is often fleeting. The need for recognition is a sad reason for entering the world of art marketing, if passion is lost in the process.

>> Help Artist Grow: and not killing the Art market. Support, and appreciate their hardwork and talent. Same goes to Sculptor, Print maker, painter, illustrator, graphic designer, photographer and many other form of Artist.

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Don't give up, Artist!

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