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• Really happy for Dave Stitch to be able to do what he wants and it's obvious he's done it out of hard work and a lot of years put into it but I don't think his method will work for everyone especially those who prefer a more stable lifestyle. I can't imagine being comfortable living a hand to mouth existence when suddenly needing to fork out for a new boiler. And thank goodness I don't live in America otherwise I'd have to worry about my health as well. I'd be much happier having a full time job and then working on my art at weekends/mornings/evenings.
  
  Also, I know that art has it's own inherent value, however that does give a lot of people a reason to take advantage of creatives paying them in 'exposure' rather than cash. Though doing art is enjoyable, it shouldn't be treated by commissioners/employers as if it is its own reward.

  

  Bella Cockrell , Illustrator , 09/02/14 , 992 AP

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• Turning your back on wider society is fine, but only if you can support yourself.
  I know musicians who refuse to get jobs because they'd rather spend their time 'focusing on their music'.
  I completely understand that notion, if I could spend the rest of my days working on all the photographs I've got stashed away in my head I'd be happy as a pig in mud.
  But I'd soon starve, and run out of petrol to reach the locations I wanted to shoot at, so I work as a full time chef (which I love) to fund myself...but due to the workload I find myself often too tired to really focus on planning shoots, and organising them around my work hours is tricky too.
  
  ....But to quit my job and go on the dole so I could 'focus my creativity'?
  Give me a break.
  
  There's no way in hell I'd ask society to pay for me whilst I swanned about taking photos, I work, and I work hard, and I fit in my creative twitches around my real world job.
  
  I don't think it's fair for creatives to expect the world to pay for their lives out of their hard earned taxes, and the people who do give artists and musicians a bad name in many circles.
  Ever get told to 'Get a real job!'? I think nearly every artist must have heard this at some point. That attitude stems from the leeches who abuse the systems we are lucky enough to have in the UK. There's no smoke without fire guys.
  
  Why should my taxes go towards paying for other people's paint?
  I buy my own paint with my own money, if I can do it, so can everyone else.
  
  I'd be interested to hear from someone sat on the other side of the fence, anyone...?

  

  00 Spiro Spero , Photographer , 06/09/13 , 1,565 AP

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