Destroying the Myth of the Starving Artist

It’s a popular stereotype: disheveled-looking people who don’t care about their sloppy appearances or tiny apartments stacked full of clutter and unfinished works. All that matters is their art, and soon they’ll catch their big break.

We see this stereotype in almost every medium, including books, movies, television, and theatre. It is an inaccurate portrayal of the creative world that discourages many from pursuing a career in the arts.

What Is a Starving Artist?

A starving artist is someone involved in creative pursuits who disregards anything else for the sake of their chosen art. Every ounce of their resources is spent on furthering their creative careers.

In the late 18th and early 19th centuries, there was an overwhelming belief in “art for art’s sake,” that art must be made without serving any other motive than the simple pursuit of art.

Adding to this was the fact that some of the most successful artists were actually wealth-deprived. Van Gogh, one of the most accomplished painters in history, could be considered the epitome of the starving artist. He died unknown, and struggled with his physical and mental health. It is hard to judge what he is best known for: cutting off his ear, or painting Starry Night.

There is a romantic appeal to being poor yet achieving the heights of your passion; of living life without material possessions. And so the starving artist was born, a character that was meant to portray artists pursuing their passions no matter the consequences. The term was first mentioned by Henri Murger, who wrote Scènes de la Vie de Bohème, a book that romanticized the lives of four starving artists. The idea caught on and was later repeated by other artistic mediums, ensuring its survival.

Over the years, the stereotype evolved to indicate that to be an artist, you need to subject yourself to a poor lifestyle. By “artist,” I mean any person whose passion in life is the expression and application of creative activities; this can include painters, writers, musicians, actors, and other such occupations.

And although it’s an effective and intriguing character, this cliché greatly influences how creative people are viewed today. One of the biggest misconceptions is that unless you’re wildly successful, being an artist isn’t a real job. And even if it were, a lot of artists only achieve success late in their lives, or after their deaths.

Yet, why do we not hear of the starving teacher, janitor, cook, guard, and so on? Let’s admit it. There are a lot of jobs out there that aren’t given enough compensation. And while artistry isn’t the most profitable occupation in the world, it can bring some serious cash.

“We have bought into the myth of the Starving Artist, thinking of artists as unfortunate Bohemians who struggle at the lowest end of society,” says Jeff Goins in his book Real Artists Don’t Starve. A 2003 study by the Urban Institute found out that 96% of Americans value art, but only 27% value artists. If we start appreciating these artists on the same level we do their work, perhaps the negative opinions on art will start to dissipate.

Reality of the Starving Artist

It is certainly smart to be cautious when considering an artistic career. It’s a high-risk move with a long gestation period. It’s normal for an artist to spend years building their reputation and craft before they see a payoff.

During that time, you still need to support yourself. Most artists have second jobs from which they draw an income while pursuing their artistic careers. For that matter, many artists prepare backup plans just in case their careers don’t take off. Most of them take minors or major in another subject.

Earnings can also vary wildly, with many artists earning very high or very low salaries. You might find yourself earning a lot one month, but seeing no work the next. There are times that you might even work for free to build a portfolio or gain experience.

These facts aren’t meant to discourage, but to set you up with a realistic view of what you might experience while starting as an artist. They do not, by any means, prove that being an artist is an unfulfilling career. Like every other career path, being an artist has its risks.

In all these less pleasant truths, there exists a silver lining. While earnings aren’t stable and may vary, an artist has the possibility to earn millions. A well-received piece of work can catapult them to fame and fortune practically overnight! Most jobs, though stable, don’t have this kind of range.

Take J.K. Rowling as an example. She was “as poor as it is possible to be in modern Britain, without being homeless.” Then Harry Potter came and solved that.

Disproving the Starving Artist Myth

The starving artist is an outdated cliché that needs to be debunked, as it no longer serves its original purpose of romanticism. While there are artists who don’t achieve success, the dreary image that this trope encourages isn’t a fact. Here are a few hard facts that prove why the starving artist isn’t true:

According to Brandeis University, the 1980 U.S. census proves that artists, on average, earned around the same wages as those with non-artistic careers. They were even less likely to leave employment or change careers.
A study called Strategic Arts Alumni Project (SNAAP) regularly analyzes the data of art graduates from over 300 colleges. They keep track of how these graduates use their degrees and what careers they end up in. The latest survey (with more than 13,000 respondents) indicates that 92% of arts alumni are working, with 65% of them working in the arts industry.
Another study found that the lack of importance given to art in the primary and secondary stages of education contribute to art’s negative reputation. Furthermore, it found that artists can establish good careers with livable wages. In fact, some artistic jobs earn salaries comparable to jobs that require technical or specialized backgrounds.
Steve Jobs was a firm believer that in order for technology to be successful, it has to be linked to art. “It’s in Apple’s DNA that technology alone is not enough. It’s technology married with liberal arts, married with the humanities, that yields the results that make our hearts sing,” he said.
Banks and tech companies have started to specifically hire people with arts degrees. They believe them to be better at creativity, critical thinking, and less prone to tunnel vision than those who come from STEM backgrounds.
In an IBM survey, 1,500 CEOs from 60 different countries and 33 industries worldwide believed that the most important skill to have for the future was creativity.
Our current digital age is the perfect space for artistic growth. Graphic designers, writers, photographers, videographers, and so on are in high demand. In fact, they’re some of the most highly-demanded jobs in recent years.

These are only a few facts that illustrate why the starving artist is a myth. It has been repeatedly proven that demand exists for artistic talent. So while not everyone gets to be immortalized in history, it is definitely possible to establish a good career in the arts.

Have you ever encountered a starving artist? Share your experience in the comments below!

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