Member-only story
If I Make Money From My Art, am I Selling Out my Passion?
I want art to be my day job, what’s wrong with that?
I offended the crochet community when I let them know I planned to make money from my crochet work.
How dare you to make money from your passion? — They said.
I received hate because I was going to profit with the passion I have for a craft. Making a profit from my passion, my time, and my effort made me a selfish crafter.
You cannot make art a business model. Art is to share!
I can understand why these crocheters called me selfish for not sharing for free my crochet patterns. I shouldn’t think about money, but share with others.
I can understand their point of view because I come from the same background but I don’t share their opinion. Read the context.
The crochet community expects crafters to contribute by sharing instead of selling because craft is meant to be a hobby, not a profession.
In Latin America, ART is not a career. Art is not a profession. — They say.
Study art, be an artist and you’ll become a professional starving artist.
In Mexico, where I come from crafting is seen as a hobby only. Art, crafting, and making, is a safe place where you come after work to relax and keep your mind occupied far from your real life.
This idea is little by little disappearing, mainly because social media has opened the eyes to new possibilities of business models and because we are closer to the artist’s job.
We can spy 24/7 on artists and crafters to realize they are indeed putting effort into creating. — They are not just playing around, as we thought.
What about if crafting could be your main income stream?
You wouldn’t have to find ways to evade real life and seek a safe place. You will always be in a safe place you love!
