Romanticism of the Artist : The Good, The Bad & The Glamorized.

The culture of art is a fascinating one. Art is viewed as a pillar of entertainment and inspiration, something that helps us get through the challenges within our daily lives.

It remains one of the most romanticized career paths in the world.

This is of course understandable when you look at the impact art has had on the world. The pursuit of art often goes beyond financial success. its allure is tied to creative freedom, personal liberation, and a deeper discovery of self. But the romanticization of the artist lifestyle can be just as inspiring as it is superficial.

What do I mean by this? Well in today's world, the perception of what it means to be a successful artist is largely tied to popularity and sales. Of course, success is subjective and often defined by the individual, But from a general or outside perspective, it usually comes down to those two things.

Culturally, I think this directly feeds into the romanticism surrounding the life of an artist. People are often drawn to the path because society presents the idea of a successful artist through the lens of celebrity culture. We see pop stars, actors, and influencers held up as the ideal. Beauty, wealth, popularity, and fame are marketed to us as the ultimate goals that can be achieved through art.

These things are presented as the reward for creativity, as the way to finally be accepted for who we are. In that version of the story, being an artist becomes an aesthetic, more fantasy than reality.

But as most of us know, success is rarely linear. It isn't all fun and glamor. In fact, it is more often a grueling and isolating experience, with very few moments of reward outside of the internal. Think about the actors who go to audition after audition, unable to land a role or afford rent, doing everything they can just to keep their dream alive.

And what about the other artists? The painters, the photographers, the people who spend hours upon hours sketching, editing, practicing, and grinding every single day. Many of them are hoping to build an audience and sell enough work to put food on their table. The ones whose struggle is so common that the "starving artist" has become a household term.

Culturally, artists are often invalidated for not being successful enough or overly romanticized when they do find success. But that middle ground, the one most artists live in, is rarely discussed in a broad sense. Likely because its not as marketable, because companies and corporations often love using the success and face of the artist to sell something to the masses, the beauty of a successful actor is subtly used to increase cosmetic sales or encourage others to use a certain beauty filter on social media.

It is very much by design and directly feeds into how people perceive their lifestyle on the outside. Unfair as it might be, it also likely contributes to why some people consider successful artists to be pretentious and hollow.

I believe the artist’s path is a beautiful and sometimes transcendent one. But like anything in life, it comes with low points, It can be as painful as it is fulfilling. Still, is it wrong to dream of art in a glamorized way? To see the idea of creation as a path toward validation & wealth?

Its complicated, i don't believe its inherently wrong as many of us discover ourselves through the act of creating. But I do think there is a deeper issue in regards to authenticity. When someone approaches art solely from a place of seeking external reward, the work can become hollow and that in-turn can directly reflect back on the self. So even if this lifestyle led to fulfilling your desires, is it sustainable if your heart truly isn’t in it?

Art can teach us to be honest. It can help us understand ourselves and what we are truly searching for. It can reveal our motivations and show us where our desires are coming from. Inspiration still matters, no matter where it begins, but if you are going to pursue a life with art at its center, its important that we continuously ask ourselves… “Why.. why do I want this?”

What is the true value of becoming an artist without authenticity at the core? Or is the nature of pursuit regardless of why, inherently authentic?