The Profit Motive

I know quite a few people who have taken up painting mid life or later. Some even make the admirable decision to leave careers to pursue a long denied passion. Unfortunately too many feel the need to be "serious" artists. By serious I mean they want to turn a profit from their art. If one's sense of fulfillment as an artist requires making more money than you spend the odds are stacked against you.

Reclining Nude, oil on canvas, 12" X 16", 2016

Making a profit (not to mention a living) as a painter is no easy task. One had better be prepared to paint impressionistic landscapes or children and pet portraits from photos. If your direction is more personal be prepared to bleed. Your bank account, your ego and your physical self are all going to be tapped. The secret to longevity is to keep the hemorrhaging to a less than fatal flow.