Thoughts on Art and Money

let’s break this down.

as an artist, you have creative superpowers. these are your gifts. truly acknowledge it, see it, be grateful for it. be proud of it, instead of constantly second-guessing yourself. don’t take it for granted or feel awkward around friends with money — or feel like your creativity/sensitivity can be an alienating barrier betwee... See more

When we shifted the conversation from, “How do you make money?” to “How do you create resources for resilience?” most people seriously engaged with this question. By the end, a lot of our builders would say things like, “I would feel better if I was paid for this work. It would make me feel like I’m valued.” It's not, “If we have resources, our pro... See more

Callings are different from career dreams—they suggest sustained action, rather than black-and-white achievement. All a calling requires is that you listen to it.

I wish that I had more examples or more people telling me sobering truths in my life, that these two things aren’t opposed. That you can work on a vocation and develop a career and also lead a very fulfilling artistic life simultaneously. One doesn’t have to be sacrificed for the other. And now I think that I’m trying to set that balance for myself... See more

That specific goal is so prioritized by young people. There’s this idea of, “I just want to be able to not have a job and live off my work.” But that mindset can be detrimental to your work, you know? That’s why having a job can be helpful. You don’t want to be scrambling to get some anointed status of “artist living off their work.”

“Follow your passion, but embrace the sacrifices that are required to make it viable.”

that art and business isn’t supposed to be as separable as church and state. That if you combine them in a way that fully aligns with your values, what you end up with can be a beautiful art form in itself.

It also means being collaborative, not competitive, with peers and sharing research where appropriate. If there’s one throughline in all of these conversations, it’s the power of abundance mentality.

When he received a Creative Capital grant as an artist, Gottesman said, he was struck by “the sense of community that’s built when a foundation trusts... See more