Better town. Better community. Better studio. Better material. Better…

Better work?

What kind of art do you do then?

I don’t think it matters where you live on one hand.

I think cities are more tolerant than small towns. In a city one can be able to dress and love who they like without answering to superficial judgements as much as small towns. Gays and women fare much better in cities than rural areas. Soo…in that way not just art might benefit, but all people benewfit from being allowed to be who they are inside.

Isn’t art making a lot about exploring personally who we are, what we believe, what we love and feel?

What is the purpose of our existence and life?

We can explore those ideas and the human condition anywhere in the world, no?

It hink more critical than “where” we live, is who we know…our support system in any profession is usually more important. Having friends who accept your life as an artist, which means you may not have the same finaicial prioroties as others, you may make a living but you spend money on supllies. One has to have a very patient and supportive spouse or lover to live like that.

Plus, amny adults measure their lives by how many toys they have, posh dinners, eleborate designer clothes…I think artists have their own flair and style and can find something out of nothing…but again it’s not a lifestyle for everyone and narrows down those expensive dinner parties and going out for fancy dinners, holidays and toys.

Well just some ideas…

Yes, an argument deconstructionist :)

I had to keep scrolling up from your answers to see my questions :) I think I agree with you overall. #s 1 & 2 can be accomplished by travel and various kinds of correspondence, though #2 can be accelerated by spending some time in a city (arts center) or a good school program.

#3 (happiness) is vital, but is going to be drastically different for each person. For myself, if I won the lottery I’d probably move to a rural area just outside San Francisco (which is not an arts center, but a great city), and travel a lot. But since cost of living and income sources are a consideration I’m in L.A. at present (not that cheap, but I have a good job).

At the moment I’m making some sacrifices on #4 (cost of living, time to work) to move forward #5, getting exposure and making connections. I still manage to get a lot of work done, but it’s at the expense of sleep and similar luxuries :)

My personal answers are:

1 – doesn’t matter. I can travel
2 – doesn’t matter
3 – matters a lot
4 – critical
5 – would only matter if I thought that I was going to make a living this way, and anyway is weakened by the internet. See Rex’s post on selling.

Compared to San Francisco or LA, Whibey is quaint and rustic. I’m a native Californian, so I’m still am amused by the “Loganberry capital of the world!” stuff and Washingtontonians proudly proclaiming, “We grow more tulips here than in Holland!”

In one little spot north of Sacramento, they grow more rice than Japan, and near there is one ranch that produces more beef than the state of Nevada. I’m used to a state that has the economy of a large European nation.

Loganberries. What the heck are loganberries?

Fact is though, I usually live in much wilder places than this. But the housing market here is healthy. A good place to buy old houses, fix ‘em and and sell ‘em.

http://www.artandperception.com/2006/10/artists-talking.html

In my own work, I’m not pushing any formal limits, just trying to be the best painter I can. Does that make me a craftsperson rather than an artist?