I came across a couple of comments on a certain submission that got me thinking: As taxing as being an artist can be these days, is it really as bad as being in retail? Because, from what I've heard, having a retail job in the USA can be on of the most miserable affairs out there. At least with being an artist, you're given the opportunity to get your feelings put at any time.

So, what about this comparison between art and retail is actually true?

If you filter a lot of replies or just make sure you don't interact much with your fans and just post your art I think your mind will be better.

But yeah if you really need feedback and do comissions, probably.

No, being an artist is not one of the most taxing or traumatizing jobs. You are at liberty to create art of any number of subjects and make (or at least supplement) a living without being under the shadow of people who can end your career at any moment for any reason. Yes, you are at risk of public backlash over your own actions, but the barrier for mass criticism or loss of business is far higher than regular employment, which could fire you for something as inoffensive as saying "fuck" once under your breath after 20 years of carefully watching your every action and mannerism. There are also plenty of physical jobs that can result in loss of life or limb if you let your guard down even once.

It can get bad if you gain a following that feels they have a social connection with you, which invites stalkers and other garden variety idiots, but that situation is typically the exception and not the norm based on my experience talking with many artists over the years. It's important to keep a broad perspective and recognize that if you can make a comfortable living making art, you are in a better situation that most people.

song said:
No, being an artist is not one of the most taxing or traumatizing jobs. You are at liberty to create art of any number of subjects and make (or at least supplement) a living without being under the shadow of people who can end your career at any moment for any reason. Yes, you are at risk of public backlash over your own actions, but the barrier for mass criticism or loss of business is far higher than regular employment, which could fire you for something as inoffensive as saying "fuck" once under your breath after 20 years of carefully watching your every action and mannerism. There are also plenty of physical jobs that can result in loss of life or limb if you let your guard down even once.

It can get bad if you gain a following that feels they have a social connection with you, which invites stalkers and other garden variety idiots, but that situation is typically the exception and not the norm based on my experience talking with many artists over the years. It's important to keep a broad perspective and recognize that if you can make a comfortable living making art, you are in a better situation that most people.

Exactly what this rad peep put so awesomely, LuznoLindo, Dood!
◠‿◠)~★

The hardest part of Art as a career is Marketing since
being an artist means you're a One-peep marketing
service that specializes in making things, Dood.
╹‿╹)

It can be stressful being your own marketing team
like this rad peep said but it's Faaaaaaaaaaar~ more
liberating than being under the thumb of your boss
that can axe ya with little to no warning and customers
as unpredictable as the weather in the eye of a hurricane
on Jupiter that who you have to be kind to, less you
attract the attention of corporate, Dood...
=‿=;)

Being an artist is fun, enlightening and as long as you
draw a Hard Line between Fan and Friend, pretty easy
to deal with in most cases, Dood!
◠‿╹)~★

luznolindo said:
So, what about this comparison between art and retail is actually true?

Four parts:
a=The one where a human being is expected to be a perfectly, inhumanly optimized interface between the establishment and the consumer base, between the points where work hours begin and end, with a maximal mechanical efficiency and peak performance that can meet, to an exactly appropriate level of response, any level of demand, from both establishment and customer,
b=That period of work is 24/7/365 and the artist is not the establishment, the art market is, which is what the commissioner also represents,
c=The Commissioner, through having no in-person contact with what is essentially a faceless "brand" (style) of art, does not recognize themselves as the establishment, but the artist themselves, and under their conceptualization of the artist,
d=The Customer is led to unconsciously regard the Artist, as a Brand, more or less as a "Content Factory" whose sub-optimal performance (According to the customer's confusion about the artist) and inconsistency in both output and the quality of,

.
For Free.

That, more or less, is the comparison and the resulting problem.

The solution to that problem, I would like to feel, is maybe a little simpler than it's construction:
Recognizing that the artist is not a Content Factory, their Art is not a brand, and that the body of the Artist's Work is not merely the raw material for AI (Which actually functions as a Content Factory)...... Even if it can produce free toe ring porn........
And that the Artist is,
In Fact,
Not A Machine,
But A Fellow Human Being.

That you're asking another person (With your payment) to produce an original work that, depending on your degree of imagination, visualization and your ability to communicate those two things, exceeds the criteria of Content, and instead meets the subjective standard for what constitutes "Art".

And all things considered that really is asking a lot, so maybe a little patience and empathy ought to be expected.

If you can set boundaries and have clear goals, nope.

Definitely not.
I gave myself burnout back in 2017 trying to do too much that didn't actually interest me on top of holding a retail job. At worst the art itself and doing commissions was kinda annoying and stressful. My clients though were universally good to work with and, if anything, more accommodating and understanding than I deserved.

If I remember correctly, pediatricians and veterinarians have the most mentally and emotionally taxing jobs and extremely high rates of depression and suicide. They get a one-two-three punch of high-pressure learning environment designed to 'weed out' people, a job with life-and-death stakes, and being exposed to (and thrown into the middle of) absolutely horrible, bleak situations. I can say that drawing dog dick for cash is. Not that.

regsmutt said:
If I remember correctly, pediatricians and veterinarians have the most mentally and emotionally taxing jobs and extremely high rates of depression and suicide. They get a one-two-three punch of high-pressure learning environment designed to 'weed out' people, a job with life-and-death stakes, and being exposed to (and thrown into the middle of) absolutely horrible, bleak situations. I can say that drawing dog dick for cash is. Not that.

Dear heck m8, the peep wanted an example
and you gave him one. Makes a lot of sense
though. and my heart really goes out to the
peeps who get into the occupation because
they love kids or Love pets. Can't think of a
more twisted turn of fate given what REALLY
goes on in the heat of healthcare and the
difficult situations it drops ya in with no
warning, Dood.

regsmutt said:
Definitely not.
I gave myself burnout back in 2017 trying to do too much that didn't actually interest me on top of holding a retail job. At worst the art itself and doing commissions was kinda annoying and stressful. My clients though were universally good to work with and, if anything, more accommodating and understanding than I deserved.

Can't agree more, While there were a few bad eggs out there.
All and all, the spectrum of people commissioning is a lot
tighter than the level of mean or entitled some customers
can be in retail. They're usually already warmed up to ya
because of the art you do and more times than no come in
with a really respectful tone. Setting Lines as thick as
Jörmungandr between Fan and Friend is key, but
once you do, it's pretty fun, Dood!
◠‿╹)~★